Pet & Wildlife Community

Changes & Thanks

2009-11-20T11:22:00.004-07:00

Thanks for your patience as we transitioned to our new website. Please find our new site at http://www.DesertPawsNM.org There is also a blog page there if you wish to post. We look forward to your participation :-)
Happy Holidays!
Krystyn & Raymond

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The Animali Farm Non-profit Horse Rescue Dedicated to Finding Loving Homes for Horses at Risk of Slaughter

2009-09-22T19:36:00.005-06:00

PMU is short for Preganant Mares Urine. It is processed into a drug called Premarin. The drug is prescribed to women to counteract the effects of menopause. Production has dropped dramatically in the last 18 months and baby horses and moms need homes very quickly or they will be sent to slaughter. TheAnimaliFarm.com is dedicated to helping these animals. These animals have spent their lives doing good for humans, now the call is for humans to step up to the plate and help.

Please consider contacting Jennifer Johns and Cheryl Forbes and adopting: 805-938-0174 anamali@aol.com
If you can't adopt, please consider donating money to help them adopt these wonderful horses
Please tell others about this so others can donate or adopt!

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October 4: St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day - Nambe Pueblo

2009-09-18T22:39:00.002-06:00

Mark your calendars - October 4th is the St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day at the Nambe Pueblo. Located north of Santa Fe, Nambe will hold its annual St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day on the saint's traditional day of celebration, October 4. The day honors St. Francis' love of all creatures and is a traditional community festival including food and dancing. Nambe Pueblo, 505-455-2036.

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Barkfeast Great Success!

2009-09-16T21:13:00.005-06:00

Cochiti Lake's Desert Paws held their first annual Barkfast a few days ago - and it was a great success. People and pets were happily fed, connections made, awareness raised, demonstrations, and most of all a lot of fun.

Their next event is a fundraiser called, Celebrity Pet Calendar Contest -- all Cochiti Lake pet owners are invited to submit their pets best 'kodak moment' to be judged and possibly featured in the calendar. The deadline is Oct. 15th - so hurry and submit your photo!

Please submit your picture to DesertPawsNM@Live.com

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Disaster Tips: For Cats

2009-09-12T19:06:00.002-06:00

Are you prepared to take care of your cat when a disaster strikes? If not, NOW is the time to stock up on the items that you will need so you will not be unprepared. Listed below is a handy shopping list for you to use. The next time you buy food or supplies for your cat, take this list with you. Don't put off doing what you should do now - it may just make the difference between being able to keep your cat alive when a disaster strikes.
Here are the supplies that you should have in a disaster kit for cats. Adjust the amounts, depending on the number of cats that you have.

FOOD
Have at least a (2) week supply at all times. Use the brand that your cat is used to eating. Buy pop top cans of food small enough to be used at one feeding since you may not have a way to properly refrigerate a partially used can of food - do not feed food that has been left out. Store dry food in an airtight, water proof container. Rotate food at least once every (3) months. Include in your supplies a feeding dish, a spoon to scoop and mix the food, and a hand crank can opener in case you do not have pop top cans.

WATER
Have at least a (2) week supply at all times. Store water in plastic containers and keep in a cool, dark place. Rotate water at least once every (2) months.

SANITATION
Have a small litter box and litter scoop in your supplies. Have a supply of cat litter to last at least (2) weeks. Have some plastic bags in your supplies for disposing of your cat's waste.

CLEANING SUPPLIES
Have a small container of dish soap for cleaning purposes. Have paper towels for drying dishes and for other cleanup.

COLLAR AND TAG
Have a proper fitting break away collar and tag on your cat at all times, and keep an extra collar in your supplies in case the permanent one gets lost. Have a spare temporary tag in your supplies that you can write on - if you are going to be living somewhere else temporarily, you should put that address and phone number on the tag. You may want to consider microchipping or tattooing your cat as a more permanent form of identification.

HARNESS AND LEASH
You should have a proper fitting harness and leash in your supplies so that if you have to keep your cat confined in a cage for an extended period of time, you have a secure way to take the cat out of the cage to get some exercise.

CONFINING YOUR CAT
Have a collapsible wire cage to transport your cat or to house him or her in following the disaster (if exterior walls fall down or windows are broken, you'll need to keep your cat safely confined). The cage should be large enough to accommodate food and water dishes and a litter box. If your cat plays with toys, include in your supplies some toys to keep your cat entertained.EvacSaks are convenient for transporting cats during an emergency because they are foldable and easy to store. You can order one from www.evacsak.net.

FIRST AID KIT AND FIRST AID BOOK
You should have in your supplies a basic first aid kit, along with a first aid book for cats. Here are some basic items to include in that kit:
conforming bandage (3"x5")
absorbent gauze pads (4"x4")
absorbent gauze pad (3"x 1 yard)
Q-tips (1 box)
antiseptic wipes
emollient cream
tweezers and scissors
instant cold pack
latex disposable gloves (several pairs)Order a complete pet first aid kit at the UAN Store.

MEDICATIONS
If your cat is on long term medication, always have on hand at least a (2) week supply, since your vet may not be able to open right away to fill a prescription. Check with your veterinarian to see if he/she has a disaster plan - if not find a veterinarian in your area who does have a plan so that you can get medical care for your cat should it get injured during the disaster. Keep your cat's medical records, including records of vaccinations with your disaster supplies.

PICTURES
You should have in your supplies some current pictures of your cat to use in case your cat gets lost during the disaster - be sure to include yourself in some of the pictures in case you have to show proof of guardianship.

Original source: United Animal Nations
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Test your Animal Disaster Preparedness IQ

2009-09-08T17:05:00.001-06:00

Are you prepared to protect your pets from the possibly devastating effects of a natural disaster? Take this quiz to determine your Animal Disaster Preparedness IQ.

1) What should you do with your pets if you must evacuate your home because of a natural disaster?

A) Leave them at home with a big bowl of food and the TV tuned to Animal Planet.
B) Bring them to my neighbor's house.
C) Ignore the evacuation order and stay home with my pets.
D) Take them with me when I evacuate.

2) Which of the following items should be included in your pet's disaster kit?

A) A one-week supply of food.
B) A one-week supply of drinking water.
C) Medications he or she is taking.
D) A pet first-aid kit.
E) All of the above.

3) What is the best way to ensure you and your pet(s) are reunited if you are separated during a disaster?

A) Identify each pet with an ID tag.
B) Identify each pet with a permanent microchip.
C) Identify each pet with an ID tag and permanent microchip.

4) True or false: You should include copies of your pet's vaccination and medical records in your emergency kit.

A) True
B) False

Answers:
1) D: The safest place for your pets during a disaster is with you. Search in advance for out-of-area pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities, or make a housing exchange agreement with an out-of-area friend or relative. Never leave your pet behind if disaster strikes.
2) E: All of the items listed are important and should be part of your disaster kit. Create one kit for each pet in your household, and store it in an easy-to-grab container. Get more detailed disaster tips at www.uan.org/disastertips
3) C: A tag is important, but it can fall off or become hard to read. A microchip is back-up insurance in case that happens. Be sure to keep your microchip registration up to date, and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who resides out of your immediate area.
4) A: These records will come in handy if you have to board your pet at a kennel or other temporary shelter, or if your pet has a medical emergency.
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Desert Paws hosts Breakfast

2009-09-05T23:28:00.002-06:00

September 13, 2009 from 8am-11am, Cochiti Lake's Desert Paws will host their first annual "Barkfast" - a meet & greet for Cochiti Lake pet owners.

Many great events are planned -
Rescue Canines demonstrate their skills - Kathy Sylvia
Wildlife and Pet Portrait artists - Annette Schreiner
Discounted micro-chipping for dogs and cats with Barbara Merickel DVM
Dog Training Classes with Carol Tharnish
Veterinary Technicians representing Smith Animal Hospital & Santa Fe Emergency Clinic
Local non-profit Pathways of Healing, Inc

A great breakfast, raffle, lot's of info and demonstrations - it will be a wonderful event and a fun launch for Desert Paws.

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Owner Died - Sweet Dog Needs Home

2009-09-01T22:32:00.001-06:00

I am posting on behalf of a friend. Their son passed away recently and they are having to find a home for his 6/7 year old female blue heeler cross. SHe is very sweet I met her today in our lobby at work and she was sitting very happily next to the dad. If you know of anyone who can offer this sweet dog a home please email me. ThanksCarol

You can email this blog and we will put you in touch with Carol: CLIPETS@Live.com
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Help the Humane Society w/o Stretching Your Wallet

2009-08-27T20:05:00.003-06:00

The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Microsoft to be a part of i'm™, a new initiative from Windows Live Messenger and now, Windows Live Hotmail!

How It Works
Each time you send a message using Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail, Microsoft shares a portion of the program's advertising revenue with some of the world's most effective organizations dedicated to social causes, including The Humane Society of the United States. All you have to do is sign up! http://www.hsus.org/shop/microsoft_im_initiative.html

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Animals Abused by China's Fur Industry Need Your Help

2009-08-22T21:01:00.005-06:00

I'm going to post exactly what was emailed to me. It's from PETA. You may like what PETA does or disagree with them, but read this. Read it and think about it. Use this info to really think about the items you purchase and what industry and country and value system you support when you make a purchase. Just think about it.

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With the fall fashion season just around the corner, we need to do everything we can to make sure designers, retailers, and consumers know the horrific extent of the animal suffering that takes place on fur farms in China and around the world.

Every year, millions of individual animals, including more than 2 million cats and hundreds of thousands of dogs, are killed for their fur in China. Some are strays, and countless others are companions who once shared homes with people who loved and cared for them before the animals were rounded up—often with metal tongs around their necks—and tossed, screaming, into a crate.

China is one of the world's largest fur suppliers, and more than 95 percent of the country's finished garments are exported—with many ending up in North America. And as we now know, Chinese companies have been known to deliberately mislabel cat and dog fur as "Asian jackal," "rabbit," or "raccoon" to fool consumers. Every fur-trimmed collar or other fur item from China, regardless of the kind of animal slaughtered to manufacture it, is the product of cruelty on a truly massive scale.

The suffering on Chinese fur farms involves all sorts of animals, all of whom are deeply frightened. Powerful video footage taken during a PETA Asia-Pacific undercover investigation documents the misery of rabbits condemned to a short, miserable life and painful death at the hands of grubby fur-farm operators. The investigator saw rabbits who were crammed into filthy cages covered with urine and feces, where they could only wait, petrified, as workers made their way along the tiers of cages.

The rabbits were yanked out of their cages by their ears or legs. The workers aimed at their heads with handheld electrical devices—often multiple times—as the animals kicked and screamed. The rabbits were then hung upside down and were crudely decapitated. The farm that the investigator visited has 11,000 cages and will be responsible for the slaughter of more than 600,000 animals this year alone in the quest to satisfy the demand for their skins.

Through difficult investigations similar to this one and through decades of relentless campaigning, PETA has saved many thousands of rabbits, dogs, cats, and other animals by convincing consumers and corporations to reject all fur. We've successfully persuaded some of the world's leading designers and retailers—including Ann Taylor, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger—to adopt permanent no-fur policies, and we've made fur so synonymous with suffering that furs are no longer considered "luxury goods," and fur prices have seen record lows. While we've accomplished much, the wholesale slaughter of so many animals for their fur in China is an urgent matter. To help these animals, we must educate consumers, corporations, and even governments about the pain that goes into every piece of fur trim and every fur cat toy produced in China. That is only part of the work, but it is a vital part.

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Lost Pet List

2009-08-19T23:44:00.002-06:00

contact all neighbors, check around area (arroyos, sheds, etc) - don't be shy.
contact Town Hall (Cochiti Lake)
contact animal control - if pet was taken, find out where taken. In Cochiti Lake, it's Watermelon Ranch.
make flyers with picture, info, contact info, state 'contact anytime', offer reward
Email CLIPETS@live.com to post info - pet & wildlife info.
Post at http://santafescoop.ning.com/ A place for everything animal in the Santa Fe and surrounding area.
Fax, call, email and physically GO TO shelters (Santa Fe, Espanola, Watermelon, Animal Humane in ABQ, all other shelters in ABQ.
Watermelon Mountain Ranch (no kill shelter - many lost pets are transported here) - Email: wmranchnm@aol.com Call: (505) 771-0140 Fax: (866) 664-5967 Web: http://www.wmranch.org/
www.petfinder.com
ABQ Journal - free lost pet ads (do this at least one month) 505-823-4444
SFNM newspaper - free lost pet ads (do this at least one month)
Contact (fax/email flyer) and call rescue groups
ALBcat.com - lost cats & dogs
Locanto.com - lost pets
Oodle.com - posts free to classifieds
Craigslist.com
LostMyDoggie.com - 65% success rate, you pay a fee and they will call all houses in surrounding area with info about your lost pet.

Animal Communicators that Work with Lost or Missing Animals (Updated August 2008, Based on the list created by Morgine Jurdan.)

Canada
Keri Davis (403) 609-5510 www.sacredkinship.com

California
Karen Berke Novato (415) 897-4011 karen@wans.com
Suzi Dalling Ventura (805) 512-1720 www.connectinharmony.com
Dexter del Monte Los Angeles (323) 953-5923 www.whispersandtails.com
Carol Gurney Agoura (818) 597-1154 www.animalcommunicator.net
Carol Robinson Corte Madera (415) 924-9094 www.lostpetlink.com

Colorado
Sue Hopple Monument (719) 481-3917 hop_house@msn.com
Carol Vaughan (303) 338-1975 vaughancar@aol.com

Connecticut
Nedda Wittels Simsbury (860) 651-5771 www.raysofhealinglight.com

Georgia
Tim Link Cummings (404) 422-6355 www.wagging-tales.com

Illinois
Karla McCoy Washington (309) 444-1514 www.AnimalTell.com
Carol Schultz Plainfield (815) 531-2850 www.carolschultz.com

New York
Gayle Nastasi Middleburgh www.gazehound.com

North Carolina
Diane Samsel Tryon (843) 884-7443 www.powerpaws.com

Ohio
Jacquelin Smith Columbus (614) 436-8831 www.jacquelinsmith.com

Pennsylvania
Whitney Taylor Mercersburgh (717) 372 -0441 www.doolittlecommunications.com
(under construction)

South Carolina
Judi Byers North Augusta (803) 278-1002 www.animalechoes.com

Texas
Myra Logan Houston (713) 805-7963 www.myralogan.com

Washington State
Annette Betcher Port Orchard (360) 871-4774 www.annettebetcher.com
Hilary Renaissance Seattle (206) 782-7815 www.calmpet.com

Wisconsin
Rebecca Moravec (815) 675-2813 www.KindredSpiritsAnimalCommunication.com

Wyoming
Heidi Grengg Jackson (307) 733-8499 www.heidigrengg.com

Please feel free to add to this list by clicking "COMMENT" below.
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ALERT: Lost Dog -- New to Area, "Pup" Needs Your Help to be Reunited

2009-08-15T00:13:00.008-06:00

Madrid area:

"PUP" is missing -- lost in Madrid while visiting. He is unfamiliar with life here in NM - he needs your help. His family has not given up and there have been sightings the past two months. He may possibly be trying to go in the direction of Cerrillos, Santa Fe, or Albuquerque. He could have traveled quite a distance. Last seen since July 1st, 2008.

"We haven't given up hope of finding him yet. We have had some sightings within the past two months. He is a black, medium sized Australian Cattle Dog/ Blue Heeler mix with a white patch on his chest. He ran off while we were visiting in Madrid and is not familiar with the local area; He is probably scared, tired, and hungry. HIS NAME IS PUP. If you think you have seen him PLEASE contact me ANYTIME. My name is William Gruenwald 267-221-5934 ".

Please note: dogs are known to find there way home days, months, even years later. But PUP is from out-of-town so he needs to be found so he can be reunited with his family. A famous finding lately is Gracie dog who was also lost near Madrid but was found all the way over here in the Pueblo de Cochiti. So please, if you have any sightings of Pup please call William 267-221-5934 or contact this blog CLIPETS@live.com

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Less Adoptable Pet Day - Pets with Needs

2009-08-12T06:45:00.001-06:00

Wednesday August 12
http://petfinder.com/images/admin/lessadoptable/less-adoptable-widget.gif

There are WONDERFUL pets here. Please click the link to PetFinder and give from your heart - you may find your best friend !

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Tips For A Happy Dog - Carol Tharnish (Prof. Dog Trainer)

2009-08-11T07:29:00.001-06:00

Please DO NOT walk dogs in the heat of the day as their pads can be burned also they also they get dehydrated quickly.
DO shorten nails frequently as growth will cause them pain by putting pressure on the nail bed and walking may help a little on rough surfaces, but remember dew claws never hit the ground.
BRUSHING at least 3 times a week will keep the dog's fur clean and release all the dead undercoat. Then, bathing need only to be done periodically.
Teaching the basics of SIT, DOWN, and COME makes for a good pet.

If you have any dog training questions, please email clipets@live.com subject: training question

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Are you an Active Person Who'd Consider Having a Furry Companion?

2009-08-09T11:30:00.002-06:00

She is a sweet lab/border collie/pointer mix who LOVES to go on hikes and run with her human companion. Her name is Gracie. She is good in the house and does well with other dogs. She needs her energy to be put to good use by keeping you company while running, hiking, walking, and playing!!

Please let us know if you would like to meet Gracie. She is being kenneled at the moment and this sweet loving dog deserves better than that!

Gracie needs of a foster home or better yet, a forever home!

Call Wendy at 505-463-5885 or email secondchancenm@yahoo.com for more info! Please forward this to all your dog-loving friends too! Thank you for your help in finding a happy ending for Gracie!

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ALERT: Lost Cat - Same Family Needs Your Help for Another Cat Lost

2009-08-06T20:36:00.007-06:00

Cochiti Lake area:

This family REALLY needs your help. This is the 2nd cat they've lost in 1 month. The cats are brother (Neelix) and sister (Casper). Both went missing in the daytime - Neelix the beginning of July (see July posting) and now Casper on August 2. They simply disappeared !

Give Lee Anne and Bill a call - see how you can help them - pass out some flyers for them, take a walk around the neighborhood for them to look for their cats. If you live around the arroyo by them - check around, down in the arroyo, around the junipers etc. Ask your neighbors to keep a look out !

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Gracie Update: Gracie Has Been Found at the Pueblo de Cochiti !

2009-08-04T22:02:00.001-06:00

Lost: Santa Fe, Hwy 14 area. Found: Pueblo de Cochiti.

July 18 we posted an alert about Gracie dog being lost around the Lone Butte general store area. We've heard from Bill, Gracie's human companion and Cindy who headed the many who stepped up to volunteer in the search - she is happily home! A momentous occassion - Ben Swan from the SFNM wrote a great article about this wonderful story. Not only is it a celebration for Gracie's return, but this is a celebration in human spirit and community to see all come together to help. We should all do this more often.

Direct: http://www.graciecomehome.com/

SFNM: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/mobile/Blue-heeler-returns-home-after-major-dog-hunt

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Cat Lovers - You'll LOVE this short video

2009-07-31T11:56:00.004-06:00

Cats are SMART and need to be well entertained inside when you're not at home. If you don't believe it - read this little story and watch the short video. (Yes, many of us in town now have DSL - we can watch videos easily and quickly, yeah!:-)

True Story:

Jennifer and Jim kept getting huge water bills. They knew beyond a doubt that the bills weren't representative of their actual usage and no matter how they tried to conserve, the high bills continued. Although they could see nothing wrong, they had everything checked for leaks or problems; first the water meter, then outdoor pipes, indoor pipes, underground pipes, faucets, toilets, washer, ice maker, etc, all to no avail.

One day Jim was sick and stayed home in bed, but kept hearing water running downstairs. He finally tore himself from his sick bed & went to investigate, and stumbled onto the cause of such high water bills. Apparently this was happening all day long when they were not at home. Knowing that few would believe him, he taped a segment of the 'problem' for posterity! Now watch the video!

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Horizon Organics, Whole Foods .... and Puppy Mills?

2009-07-28T22:16:00.004-06:00

A recent story that ran in NEWSWEEK entitled A (Designer) Dog’s Life, highlighted the efforts of Bill Smith, of Main Line Animal Rescue. Smith has dedicated his life to fighting puppy mills. You can read the whole story here, but the gist of it is that John Stoltzfus, farmer and owner of B&R Puppies had a puppy mill yet was also a supplier of milk to Horizon. Horizon fired him when they learned about the puppy mill, Stoltzfus then dismantled his mill, and now Horizon has taken him back.

Horizon has a large presence in Whole Foods stores—which maintains a stringent stance on animal welfare. With all the publicity from Newsweek, Whole Foods has come out with a statement: vendors should not 'supply any products to our stores that have been sourced from farmers…who breed or raise dogs inhumanely'.

Encourage Whole Foods to enforce their standards and hold vendors responsible for the humane treatment of animals.

Click here to read the original NEWSWEEK article, A Designer Dog’s Life.

Click here to read the follow up NEWSWEEK article, Animal Instinct.

Source: BestFriends.org
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VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR 2 APNM OUTREACH BOOTHS

2009-07-23T19:55:00.003-06:00

“WILDFEST,” July 25, 10-4 p.m.Roosevelt Middle School, Tijeras

“DOG DAYS OF SUMMER” ADOPTATHONAug. 1, 9-1 p.m.Belen Public Library, Belen

WILDFEST is a community education day organized annually by Talking Talons Youth Leadership. At WILDFEST (www.wildfest2009.com), youth of all ages can learn about the environment, wildlife and personal health in an atmosphere of fun and discovery.

Last year over 1500 people attended WILDFEST where they had the opportunity to develop new interests and hobbies, find volunteer opportunities, see amazing wildlife up close, learn about reducing energy consumption, scale the climbing wall and much more. WILDFEST participants include animal rescuers, environmental educators, youth development groups, health service providers, musicians (including the popular folk group ‘Holy Water and Whiskey’), magicians, food vendors and more.

If you are interested in helping to staff this outreach table on July 25,10 a.m. to 4 p.m., please contact Arlene at 265-2322 ext. 21, or arlene@apnm.org.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER ANIMAL ADOPTATHON will be held at the Belen Public Library on August 1, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Events will include:* Adoption Clinic by Valencia County Animal Control* Reading to Dogs — Tail Waggin’ Tutors* Learn about Poisonous Plants from Master Gardeners of Valencia County* Building Blueprints for Dog Houses* Learn about Dog Training and Fencing Alternatives* Movies: Feature Films and Short Subjects* Safety for Kids

If you are interested in helping to staff this outreach table, please contact Arlene at 265-2322 ext. 21, or arlene@apnm.org.

Make a difference !
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3 Cheers for New Mexico Attorney General Gary King and Other Law Enforcement Agencies

2009-07-22T10:17:00.002-06:00

The New Mexico Gamefowl Association and a group of business owners asked the State Supreme Court to review the recent ban on cock fighting, stating it violated the constitution. State law makes participation in cockfights a crime. (We waited so long for this ban - now it's only Louisiana that's left in the nation to make a law banning it.)

But Attorney General Gary King's office announced last week that the justices decided not to consider the appeal. (Yipee! Gary King has really been a staunch protecter of animal rights and getting NM's laws into shape for a civilized 21st century state. Go send him an email to thank him.)
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Alert: Lost Dog -- Horse Riders Needed for Search Party

2009-07-18T20:17:00.010-06:00

Santa Fe, Hwy 14 area:

The back story: A dog named Gracie has been missing in the Lone Butte General Store (3815 State Highway 14. Santa Fe NM 87505) area for 2 weeks now. She is the beloved companion of Bill. Bill has done everything in his power to find Gracie in the past two weeks. His sense is that she is close, but on the wrong side of the highway and hunkering down somewhere since she might be injured.

The current situation: Bill had to leave the state today for 2 weeks pre-scheduled work. He is tormented that he has to give up the search for his girl while he is working out-of-state. Some friends are hoping to take up the search in Bill’s absence.

The PLEA: (HORSE RIDERS PLEASE SEE BELOW!) If you, your friends or relatives can donate an hour or two of time this weekend, I’d like to schedule some heavy duty search parties for the areas where Bill feels she might be. If you have any time to spare either Saturday late afternoon or Sunday, please call or email to coordinate efforts. If you have horses in the area (east of Hwy 14, directly south of the Lone Butte General Store area), or can trailer horses in, the area most searched will be a section of undeveloped land that would be perfect to cover on horse-back.

If you are available to ride the area, PLEASE email us at clipets@live.com and we will put you in touch with the woman coordinating this.

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On Losing a Beloved Pet by Christine Kane

2009-07-16T08:41:00.006-06:00

“Relationships are forever. They are eternal. Not just permanent in this lifetime. Once you establish a relationship, it is an eternal relationship.” – Abraham-Hicks

Years ago I was at a workshop, sitting in a circle of women. One of them was grieving a death in her family, expressing anger and isolation. She said, “…and you know what? If one more of my idiot girlfriends acts like she knows what I’m going through and shares some dumb-ass story about when her stupid dog or cat died, I’m going to explode.”

Of course, that anger wasn’t the truth of who she is. Anyone who has experienced grief knows that she was probably just trying to mask her intense sadness. Anger pretends it can do that.
For some reason, though, I thought of that woman at 1am this past Tuesday.

Atticus, who had been my special pal for 13 years, finally passed away after a long hard final week of a five-month illness. Silently, I assured that woman – wherever she is now – that my heart was shattered enough to satisfy even her needs.

Even though Mr. Patticus weighed in at only 4 pounds at his passing, I felt the grief of a hundred tons of spirit. After all, the sadness of letting go has so little to do with these earthly issues — like weight and form, or human and pet. It’s a matter of the heart. And thank goodness, our hearts don’t know such limitations.

I’ve been so touched by the number of people who have stopped their busy lives to share their stories when they found out about my beloved kitty. I love how common we all are – even the most stoic or the most mental among us can share with stunning detail an instance when they lost a dog, or a cat, horse or bird.

When a treasured pet dies, you may find yourself going through a kind of mental gymnastics – most of which is just a feeble attempt at distracting you from what you’re desperately trying to avoid: the heavy and unbearable sadness of letting go of something so sweet, so precious, and so connected to you.

Most thoughts can be noticed, accepted, or released – yet when you are in the thick of your grief, sometimes it’s hard to remember to do any of those things. So, the following items are random. I’m posting them for someday. I’m posting them because you might need a friend-in-writing at some 1am of your own. Print this out and save it for that time.

These are pieces of my experience, and pieces of stories from other people. This is my attempt to remind you of the truth, so that you can get back to doing what you are meant to do when you lose a pet – which is to purely experience the release of this being you treasure. In that alone will you find healing.

Guilt
Guilt will sneak in at unexpected moments, telling you that you did it wrong, that you didn’t do enough, that you caused this to happen, or that it’s all your fault. Guilt is tricky. It seems like situations cause it to rise up out of nowhere. But really, guilt just hangs around, waiting in the wings – and it waits to find the perfect situation to make an entrance. In the highly charged situation of a sick pet who doesn’t have a voice, guilt is always available to fill the silent spaces. And it serves no purpose. You find your pet, you love your pet, and you do the best you can. That’s all you can do. That’s what you did.

Blame
Blame is guilt going in the opposite direction. You’ll want to blame the vet, or the driver of the car, or your boyfriend for taking you out that night when your dog ran off, which wouldn’t have happened had you been there. Blame serves one purpose: to distract you. It’s not that you aren’t allowed to have moments of blame and anger – but remember that no matter how much of it you experience, eventually the sadness will be what’s waiting for you at the end of that long line of stuff. And you’ll have nowhere else to turn but in its direction. Blame might postpone the sadness – but not forever.

Second-Guessing
A friend of mine told me that one of the worst things about putting her cat to sleep was the second-guessing that happened afterward. Second-guessing is just guilt on Halloween. It puts on a mask called “Rational Thoughts” that offer you all the reasons why you did the exact opposite of what you should’ve done.

Atticus died as I held him on my kitchen floor. During this last hour, I was overtaken by fear. The second-guessing began. Had I made the wrong choices? Should I have had him put to sleep? I didn’t do any of this right, did I?

I was able to catch myself and remind myself that all I needed to do was be fully present to this moment, and we would both get through it. That’s all you need to do, too. Your presence is more powerful and more healing than your untrue thoughts.

Knowing
When you’re contemplating putting your pet to sleep, and you ask people how you’ll know whether or not to do it, and when it’s time, they will all tell you one thing, “Oh. You’ll know. You’ll just know.”

The truth is that you might know. And that’s great. But you also might not. I kept waiting to hear a “knowing.” But it never came. My homeopathic vet told me that it might never come, and that you just have to do the best you can do.

Life
It’s imperative that you experience life during this time. When Atticus was dying, Spring was in a “Hey it’s been raining for six straight days!” cheerleader-like exuberance, so I made myself go out into the woods with my dog.

I witnessed Pink Ladyslipper in bloom. I smelled the wet ground. I watched some Pileated Woodpeckers going to town on a fallen tree. I met a month-old puppy and reveled in his puppy breath.

It was as if the earth was shouting at me, “It’s all life!” I didn’t believe it. But it helped me remember that it was all there for me to return to when I’m ready.

Give yourself time for life and remember that, as Eckhart Tolle reminds us, the opposite of death is birth. Not life. Life doesn’t die.

Time
No matter if your dog was only three when she got hit by a car, or if your cat lives to be 29, you’ll want more time. You’ll bargain for it. You’ll pray for just one more year. You’ll swear that you’ll be grateful 365 days straight.

Atticus had a lifetime of me bargaining for more time. Homeopathy pulled him from the jaws of death on several occasions. I was (and am) grateful for all of it. But it didn’t make it easy to let go when the time came. I still held tight. I even made a few feeble bargaining attempts. But eventually, I had to surrender and focus on gratitude for the years he lived.

Of course, surrender doesn’t make the sadness go away. It’s just that you no longer are clinging quite so tightly. The truth about time is that it is only ever now. And all those nows that you had with your beloved animal were perfect. But this now is different from those nows.

Protection
My mom had two dogs when she was little, and both of them died unexpectedly. One day her dad announced that he refused to allow any more pets in their home because he couldn’t stand to go through any more broken hearts. He managed to hold fast to his rule, and my mom never had another pet in her life. I never said this to my mom, but I find it interesting that her dad died of a massive heart attack at a young age.

You might want to swear off animals forever. You might tell yourself that you can’t possibly go through this ever again. While it may take some time to allow another pet into your life, the idea that you can protect your heart from pain by sealing it off from love is ludicrous. As one of my Platinum Coaching clients wrote on her coaching form last week: “I’ve spent so many years, pretty much all of my life, working so hard to avoid feeling pain that I never let myself see beauty either.”

As long as we’re on this planet, we might as well experience it, revel in it, take it all in, live big, cry hard, laugh a lot, and love every being that will have us. What’s to protect yourself from?
It’s an honor to love something so much that your heart breaks when it moves to another plane. It’s an honor to be loved back, too. There’s joy to be found – even in your sadness.

Judgment
Some people will find you ridiculous. You will cancel engagements and get rolled eyes. Your family might whisper about you. “It’s just a cat.” “Why all the fuss over a dog?”
Don’t waste your energy being mad. Whether it’s the joy of a pet, or having your own business, or getting fired, or losing a parent – if someone hasn’t experienced it, then they just don’t understand. They will someday. In the meantime, be willing to be judged. You’ve got more important places to put your attention.

Surrender
Lastly, let’s talk about the moments of sheer peace, surrender, and enlightenment. You will have these, too. You will have minutes, maybe hours or even days where you feel a deep surrender to the process of life. You will marvel at your clarity, at how you are able to release with love this being that you cherish with all your heart. You’ll wonder if Pema Chodron will be phoning soon to ask you how you do it.

Love these moments. They are truth. But don’t berate yourself if you burst into tears the very next hour, and beg your pet not to leave, and bargain with God to make sure you never hurt again in your life. It’s a part of the roundabout cycle of loss.

The peace will descend again too. It’s who you truly are. And it will return. And it will last longer each time. And your heart will slowly take it in and heal itself into the full joy of being once again.

Source: Christine Kane's Blog (with permission) May 22, 2009

Did you like this article? Let us know! Visit Christine Kane's Blog here:

http://christinekane.com/blog/on-losing-a-beloved-pet/

I read her articles weekly - they're great, real and inspirational.

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Foxtails Can Be Hazardous to Your Pet's Health

2009-07-14T21:41:00.003-06:00

Foxtail seeds have microscopic barbules along their surface. If they get caught in an animal's coat, they are passively propelled forward. If not noticed and removed, foxtails can enter a pet's skin and enter it. The most common places are between the toes, the ear canal, and nose. It causes extreme discomfort. Often an infection ensues. It can cause the ear drum to rupture, get pulled into the pharynx, stomach, small intestine, trachea, situate behind the eyelid, and even into the brain. The foxtail plant is a pest that affects pets, livestock, and wildlife.

Eliminate the foxtail plants from your yard. Check your pets daily - look for moist seeping wounds between the toes, under the ear flaps, excessive sneezing (often but not always with blood), or acute eye squinting and redness. Veterinarian advice should be sought as soon as possible in any of these cases.

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Post Delay

2009-07-10T21:37:00.000-06:00

It's come to our attention that some of the articles are taking longer to post. We're in the process of fixing that - thank you for your patience!
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Lost: Alert! Missing Cat in Cochiti Lake - please look

2009-07-07T21:26:00.003-06:00

Urgent matter for Lee Anne - please look in your garage and sheds for her long-haired gray cat NEELIX. He didn't come home July 2nd which is not characteristic for him. There's a good chance he's stuck somewhere so please look!

If you have ANY information at all you can email us here (clipets@live.com) or call her directly. No questions asked! They just want Neelix home.

Thank you for your community effort!
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Snopes confirms - Sago Palm a Serious Danger to Pets

2009-07-03T21:42:00.001-06:00

"Sago Palm" or "Cycad"Poisoning Alert-

It has come to our attention that many home improvement stores are selling a houseplant that can cause serious poisoning in pets and children. The plant is called the “Sago Palm” or “Cycad”. It is also referred to as “The Oldest Known Plant”.

It is used in outdoor landscaping in Southern States, but can only survive as a houseplant in the North. All of this plant, including the seeds and root ball are toxic.

Signs of illness first appear about 12 hours after ingestion and include gastrointestinal sign such as vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
The toxins in the plant lead to severe liver failure with progressive weakness, jaundice, bruising and bleeding and other signs of liver failure that lead to death.
It is estimated that 75-80% of animals ingesting this plant will die in spite of aggressive medical treatment.

If you have one of these plants in your home you will want to be sure to keep it away from pets and children, preferably by disposing of it safely in a covered trash can or “rehome” it with someone who does not have pets or young children in the household.

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Source: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/sagopalm.asp
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Every Healthy Animal has the Right to Live

2009-06-30T21:12:00.002-06:00

More than 70 percent of cats who enter our nation's animal pounds and shelters are killed each year. That's 7 in 10 cats!

It's going on all across America. And it's got to stop. Pledge to be part of the solution! >>
Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFnLP/zJDO/AvwdH
We cannot be silent as countless cats are killed every day. It is time for the nation's cat lovers and advocates to stand and be counted. Just a few ways you can help are to:

Promote feline-friendly practices at your local shelter.
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
Distribute literature about stray and feral cats and animal pound and shelter policies in your community.

Time and again, representatives of the shelter system say things like: "We kill them to alleviate future suffering; to save them from fates worse than death; because we don't have any room for them and where will they go instead?" This reasoning is wrong at the most basic - and moral - level.

Every healthy animal deserves the right to live. It is our duty as a society to find ways to make that happen >>

Sign the petition today at Care2.org: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFnLP/zJDO/AvwdH

Thank you for making a difference today!

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TNR - Unsocialized Cats Need Help Too - Sign Petition

2009-06-26T14:25:00.001-06:00

If you're like many others, you've probably stumbled upon an outdoor cat and wondered what to do to help.

What is Trap-Neuter-Return? What is the most enticing bait to use when trapping feral cats? If there is a cat in a colony who is friendly to humans, what is the best thing to do?

Think you know the answers? Take the short quiz to find out >> at Care2.com
http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFMvU/zJca/AvwdH

A feral cat is any outside cat that is not socialized to humans. Born outdoors, they will never be comfortable living in human homes. They could happily live out their natural lives in both urban and rural areas. But sadly, virtually every feral cat that enters a shelter or animal control facility is killed.

Don't let this happen - sign the petition. If you need help with a feral, please call a rescue group (see below) - they will help. (DON'T call animal control)

* Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFMvU/zJca/AvwdH

* Albuquerque's first Trap Neuter Release program:

http://www.petroglyphsnm.org/groups/NMAF_SCC_CatsOnAHotTinRoof.html

* How to train feral kittens to be loving home pets:

http://www.catchannel.com/adoption/article0003.aspx

* Albuquerque, New Mexico Cat Adoption. Adopt a Cat in Albuquerque, New Mexico ... by engaging in the trap-neuter-return (TNR) of feral cats in our community:

http://www.adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/76989.html

Let us know your experiences and your resources - we'd like to know!

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PETA's undercover investigation reveals what the horse-racing industry won't show you.

2009-06-23T21:24:00.001-06:00

While millions of viewers watched this year's Belmont Stakes, former champions like Charismatic and War Emblem are half a world away in Japan. Thousands of other less famous U.S.-bred thoroughbreds have also been exported overseas for breeding and racing. When they are no longer useful, most of these horses will be slaughtered. Slaughterhouses such as the Kumamoto Shokuniku Center, are often the last stop in a system that routinely produces tens of thousands of "surplus" thoroughbreds each year because there is no plan for what to do with them after their racing or breeding days are over.

Ten years ago Charismatic won the 125th Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He nearly went on to win horse racing's Triple Crown before he tragically broke his leg near the finish line at the Belmont Stakes. Unlike Barbaro, Eight Belles, and the more than 1,000 U.S. racehorses who suffer fatal breakdowns on the track every year, Charismatic survived and was sold soon after like a commodity and exported to Japan for breeding purposes.

While millions of viewers watch this year's Belmont Stakes, Charismatic—half a world away and with his value as a stallion plummeting—could be facing the same fate as fellow Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, who was slaughtered for dog food at the end of an unsuccessful stud career in Japan.

In 2008, more than 100,000 American-bred horses were exported to Canada, Mexico, and Japan and slaughtered for meat—many of these were thoroughbreds. While racing fans are glued to media coverage surrounding the Belmont Stakes and other horse races, please get the facts at PETA's website about the real truth behind the horse racing industry.

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Go to: www.PETA.org

Petsmart $5 off in-store coupon

2009-06-19T21:31:00.001-06:00

You can print this from your computer and save

Petsmart: http://petsmart-mail.com/P/v3/CouponWrapper.asp?E=835;036276;626690499;25;02&R=T1_CPN_50078&A=1007&ci=50078

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Warm Weather Cautions - Tularemia, Plague & Salmonella

2009-06-17T12:00:00.001-06:00

Love the wildlife, but keep a safe distance for now. As is common for the warm months, tularemia and plague are on the rise. It happens naturally during springtime and summer as the population rises and there's more interaction among the species. Then, once again, later in the year, nature sorts things out and everything's back to normal again. Francisella tularensis is transmitted by flies and ticks. The DOH says there have been reported cases in Edgewood, Lamy, west of Santa Fe, and as close as La Cienega. Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscle aches and joint pain. Humans can be diagnosed, but more commonly, cats are diagnosed ... and dogs as well. Not to worry though - antibiotics do the trick.

Salmonella has been rampant on the east coast this spring. They believe it's from the bird food that people put in the feeders during the winter which then drop to the ground, get covered with snow, thaws in the spring and creates an ideal environment for salmonella breeding.

The plague is transmitted by fleas that live on wildlife (coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, mice, etc) which can then hop to your pets and you. Being here in rural New Mexico fleas can be anywhere - walking out on the trails, hiking, and in your house. In the six years we've been here, El Dorado has had a case of plague almost every year. If you go up to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu the hiking trail states the following: "Hike at your own risk. The rodents in this natural area have fleas carrying plague". And now Cochiti Lake has it's own case of plague. This is the 4th case of plague in the state this year. Dr Paul Ettestad, public health veterinarian at the department of health, states "Everyone needs to be aware of the situation and take precautions and avoid rodents and their fleas. We are seeing plague activity in many different locations of north-central New Mexico".

In the three previous human plague cases this year (and as is suspected in the 4th case, here in Cochiti) roaming and hunting pets have come in contact with rodents or other wildlife, brought the fleas back into the home and bedroom where they often sleep. So Dr. Ettestad advises the following:

keep your pets indoors or away from hunting and roaming

get a cheap flea comb and flea spray from any pet store

and if you are letting your pets out then check them for fleas when they come in for the night and try to have them sleep someplace other than your bed.

Be aware that hiking will often put you and your pet in contact with fleas! So check yourself and your pet at the end of the hike.

There are two types of human bubonic plague - pneumonic (affects the lungs) and septicemic (gets into the blood stream). Symptoms -- ill within 2-7 days, fever, chills, painful swollen lymph nodes in the groin area, armpit and neck areas. Sometimes there is headache, vomiting and diahrrea. If it's septicemic there could also be abdominal pain. If it's pneumonic there could be a severe cough, difficulty breathing and bloody sputum. Symptoms in cats and dogs are similar to humans - fever, lethargy, not eating, and swollen lymph glands around the neck. The plague can be fatal - this year an 8 yr old boy in Santa Fe county died from the plague. The good news is all fleas do not carry the plague and with prompt diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment the plague can be treated for both human and animal and things can pretty much go back to normal.

If you or your dog or your cat have any of the stated symptoms please seek medical attention immediately - don't think it will just go away.

Other sources: NM Department of Health

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Summer + rainy season = Ticks -- What you should know about tick disease in dogs

2009-06-16T17:19:00.001-06:00

What a summer! We're having East Coast weather - humidity, rain, hot, muggy. Besides the swamp cooler being useless, what else do we need to think about? We've already had the plague here - now we need to think out tick diseases. The wildlife is carrying it - but we all moved here to be around wildlife. So here's the scoop - humans and pets can get tick diseases and here's what you should watch for:

There are 4 major tick diseases which affects dogs in the US: Lyme disease, Rocky mountain spotted fewer, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.

Lyme disease: Lyme disease, named after the town of Lyme, CT, is carried by the black-legged deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the East and in the West by Ixodes pacificus or Ixodes neotomae. Larvae of the deer tick feed on mice, nymphs on mice and small mammals and the adult prefers to feed on deer, so those are the primary hosts at each stage of the tick's life. Lyme is endemic in the Northeast and steadily growing in the Midwest and in California. The South and Southwest has a very low (1%) infestation rate.

Symptoms in dogs are generally present with signs of arthritis in the joints closest to the tick bites. Two to five months after being bitten, the lameness that is the primary indicator of possible Lyme disease can come on suddenly and severely; other times it comes on more gradually. You may see shifting lameness where the dog favors one leg, then another. Lameness may come and go, sometimes for weeks at a time. The dog may go off his food. Neurological damage is possible, seizures and changes in temperament, from dullness to extreme of aggression, have been reported in dogs with Lyme. There is no rash as it occurs in humans. Normally, Lyme is crippling but it doesn't kill and the most common signs of the disease are almost always hidden. Lately, veterinarians reported signs of kidney and neurological problems with dogs infected with lyme disease.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fewer: Despite its name, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is found mainly in the Eastern US and usually makes itself known in spring and summer (March to October) but cases of human RMSF have been reported in almost every state, Canada, South America and Mexico.
Dogs most at risk are young, generally large breeds(german shepards and dobermans especially) that spend a lot of time outdoors. Dogs over 3 or 4 years old aren't as likely to get RMSF, possibly having acquired an immunity.
The onset of the disease is rapid. Four or five days after being bitten, the dog will become feverish (up to 105 degrees). Symptoms may include depression, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, bruising on the skin or gums, tiny hemorrhages under the skin, muscle pain, retinal hemorrage, swollen or painful joints. A staggering gait, difficulty keeping his balance, is the dog's most common neurological sign. Seizures are possible. A decrease in the platelets responsible for clotting (thrombocytopenia), is the most consistent finding in blood tests.
If left untreated, RMSF either kills quickly (the disease runs its course in approximately two weeks) or the dog gets over it and is then immune. Symptoms may range from slight through severe to fatal.
It takes two to three weeks for antibodies to be detectable but then their numbers rise sharply for several weeks before they level off and begin a long, slow, gradual decline over many months. Obviously the timeline is very tight here, so, since research indicates that death from untreated RMSF is more common than previously thought, a dog that appears to have it should be treated immediately without waiting for test results to come back.

Ehrlichiosis -- Ehrlichiosis (E. Canis) has three stages. The acute stage is brief and the symptoms are easily missed; it may appear as if the dog has a mild and passing viral infection: snotty nose, diarrhea, fever, a general lack of his usual oomph. In a stoic dog especially, a change in behavior may be the only alert he gives you to get him to the vet.
It's in this stage that the outlook for a cure is best. Very early on, however, testing is probably useless; until ten days to two weeks after infection, the immune system will not have had time to make sufficient antibodies for the tests to detect.
The acute stage over, the disease passes into the subclinical stage. This simply means a stage in which no symptoms are present. Cure, or at the very least, containment of the disease so that it cannot progress, is still a good possibility in this stage, which may last for years.
If the disease progresses to chronic, the outlook is grave, particularly in E. risticii and E. canis. Symptoms show up with a vengeance at this point. There are a lot of symptoms and they are easily mistaken for other diseases: intermittent fever or loss of appetite lethargy, total loss of appetite, gradual loss of body condition (esp. along the spine and around the eyes), viral tumors on the face/mouth/muzzle, hemorrhaging even when the blood count looks normal, clotting problems, low or high calcium levels, seizures, muscle wasting, skin infections, neurological signs, diarrhea, low platelet count, urine too alkaline, vomiting, hyper-reflective eyes, low white blood cell count, bleeding from nose or eyes, signs of arthritis, pneumonia, cough, kidney failure, increased thirst and urination, incoordination, neck or back pain, bleeding under the skin or a rash, swelling of the legs or joints, enlarged lymph nodes, irreversible bone marrow suppression.

Babesiosis -- Babesiosis is a disease of the red blood cells and results in varying degrees of hemolytic anemia (essentially destruction of the RBCs that carry oxygen to the blood). It seems to hit greyhounds extremely hard but any dog that contracts it may become severely ill. It can come on sharply (acute) or violently (peracute) though neither of these stages is common in the US...or perhaps the disease simply isn't often recognized for what it is in either of these stages. It's generally found in the subclinical stage, where there are no apparent symptoms, or the chronic stage in which the disease is well-entrenched and symptoms are obvious .
The brown dog tick, is the usual culprit in the transmission of babesiosis; however, transmission has also occurred by direct, blood to blood transfer in fighting dogs, and by the transfusion of infected blood. Infected bitches have been known to pass the disease to pups in the womb.
In the United States, Babesiosis canis shows up mostly in the South but it does occur in other areas.. Babesiosis gibsoni is found all over the country but most often appears in pit bull terriers.
The dogs most at risk are those brought into an endemic area. These dogs are prone to severe infection. Evidently, those that are born in an area where babesiosis is prevalent get the infection while they're still protected by the colostrum in the mother's milk and, as a result, become immune carriers.
Clinical signs include fever that comes and goes, red or orange-colored urine, loss of appetite and the dog becomes too thin, his bones are more prominent, his coat is dull and there is at least some loss of muscle mass.
Because there is a foreign invader in the red blood cells, the dog's immune system will start to destroy them, adding to the destruction the babesia are causing. A drop in the platelets which aid in blood clotting can make things even worse; this is especially a problem in B. gibsoni. As if that weren't enough, the immune system may begin destroying uninfected RBCs as well. Half of all dogs with babesiosis will need transfusion. Severe inflammation is common and localized inflammation of the central nervous system can occur.

Testing: In order to make a diagnosis, one of the first things a vet will do is run a Complete Blood Count. A CBC can be very helpful, showing up things like reduced platelets or an increase or decrease in white blood cells. However, it's important to remember that a normal CBC does not mean that a dog is free of a tick-borne disease. The CBC alone is not enough to rule them out. In fact, a negative titer on an IFA or ELISA test is not enough. Tests are only part of a diagnosis.

Treatments: A semisynthetic tetracycline, doxycycline is the drug of choice for Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It is an antibiotic. All antibiotics destroy or inhibit bacteria and don't differentiate "good" from "bad"; they wipe out beneficial bacteria in the dog's gut right along with the disease-causing organisms. It's a wise idea, then, to give the dog probiotics as long as he's taking doxycycline and for several weeks afterward to avoid the gastrointestinal problems that can develop if he's left without this help for eight weeks or more.

Tick Removal: The Right Way to Remove a Tick
Use a tool specifically made for removing ticks, a pair of sharp tweezers (not blunt ones) or a small pair of curved forceps.
Grab the tick right behind the head, i.e., as close to the skin as you can get, and PULL SLOWLY - STRAIGHT OUT. Don't twist the tick, it isn't made to unscrew. The tick's hypostome, the part that penetrates the dog, has barbs like fishhooks, so slow, easy and straight out is the way you want to go. Do not pull out ticks with your bare hands, you are putting yourself in risk to contract the disease!

Prevention: There are no natural prevention which helps 100% against ticks. In mildly infested areas, you can try natural tick collars or sprays available in your local health food store. In heavily infested areas you need chemical based tick prevention, such as tick collars, sprays or spot-on preventatives such as Frontline. please always consult with your veterinarian about the safest and most affective prevention in your area.

Keep watchful, get things checked out if you have any concerns. These things are treatable if you tend to it early.

NM Cares About Cougars

2009-06-13T20:35:00.001-06:00

Download a print-ready pdf brochure

(http://earthwaves.net/mailinglist/lt/t_go.php?i=236&e=MTA3Nzk=&l=-http--apnm.org/campaigns/cougars/brochure.php)

Also see: Precautions for Coexisting with Cougars

(http://earthwaves.net/mailinglist/lt/t_go.php?i=236&e=MTA3Nzk=&l=-http--apnm.org/campaigns/cougars/mountain_lions_precautions.php)

Consider making a donation in their honor:

http://earthwaves.net/mailinglist/lt/t_go.php?i=236&e=MTA3Nzk=&l=-https--apnm.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/45323/Default.aspx

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Puppies & Local Fostering Needs

2009-06-09T23:20:00.005-06:00

In a previous post we talked about 3 puppies that were left at the gas station. As was mentioned, one (black puppy) disappeared and we hope the best for him/her. But we are happy to announce that the remaining two puppies found a home together ! Here's to a happy home :-)

If you would like to help in our efforts to help the pets that come into our town needing a family - please talk with us or email us (clipets@live.com). We have a wish list: foster families (approximately 2 weeks at a time), "chip-in" funds for spaying/neutering and vaccines, also dog/cat food..... toys/leashes/beds. If you or someone you know can offer small medical help on a monthly basis, please le us know. We can use your help in any way.

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Report Cruelty to 1-877-5-HUMANE - Billboard & Leadership Scorecard

2009-06-09T14:16:00.002-06:00

Have you seen the Attorney General’s new Cruelty Hotline Number? It premiered on I-40 Billboard in East Mountains on May 6. What a fantastic step forward!

This is a statewide hotline for reporting extreme cruelty to animals - and calls are coming in from several counties already. At least one animal has already been saved since the 14’ x 48’ billboard’s installation. Four callers to the new hotline number reported the same horse in poor condition, resulting in lifesaving help from the NM Livestock Board.

Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) staff take the cruelty calls and notify the appropriate authorities about animals in trouble, or people treating animals cruelly, across the state. Fortunately for the animals, many parties have contributed services, fees and space to make messaging against animal cruelty possible in this case- Clear Channel and Esparza to name a few.

Often they offer a reward for the arrest and conviction of a perpetrator - but most people have turned down the reward because they're happy that people are working together to change the way abusers treat animals.

It's now evident that New Mexico is serious about creating a humane state for animals.

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Source: apnm.org

We're Out There!

2009-06-05T16:41:00.008-06:00

A wonderful milestone to mention - the Cochiti Lake Pet & Wildlife Community blog has now reached international status! Kattadora from England was so inspired by Sunny Thornton's article on cat declawing, that she commented via the blog about the post. I encourage you to sign her petition in banning declawing

(http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=4312) here in the US and read her comments on our

(http://clipets.blogspot.com/2009/05/to-claw-or-not-to-claw-that-is-question.html#comments).
blog and hers.

We are getting lot's of exposure outside of Cochiti -- people are reading in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Chimayo, Las Cruces, Taos, etc -- and that's just the people who have voiced an opinion :-) Things are moving along nicely - thanks to the people who get involved. So a big 'THANK YOU' to everyone who's is actively involved (and would like to get involved)!

The latest word is that Qwest DSL internet access for Cochiti Lake will be available mid-July 2009 so local online readership will have a jump and everyone who wasn't able to access will soon be able to enjoy!

In community spirit - write a small article :-) Your neighbors will get to know you better in a wonderful pet-related way!

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Why do Cats?????? - by Sunny Thornton

2009-06-02T12:30:00.001-06:00

Our cats give us so much companionship, love, amusement and sometimes,
"paws" for thought. Why do they do some of the funny, wierd, or simply
cat-like things that they do? Some of the most common questions are......

WHY DOES MY CAT INTERRUPT MY PHONE CALLS?
Unlike small children, cats are not interrupting out of jealousy, or the need
to be the center of your attention. Your cat actually has no idea that you
are talking to someone else, on the other end of "that thing" - he hears your
voice and assumes that you are talking to him, so he jumps into your lap,
rubs on you, meows, etc. in response!

WHY ARE CATS SO CURIOUS?
By definition, a cat is a hunter/explorer. He needs to satisfy his quest for
the unknown.

WHY DO CATS SWISH OR LASH THEIR TAILS?
One reason for swishing is to gain balance before leaping. Another, is to
"hypnotize" his prey. If the prey becomes perfectly still, the cat cannot
see it......by swishing his tail, the cat can cause even a slight movement
in his target, which he can then spot, and descend on.
If his tail waves gently from side to side, this usually means your cat is
showing contentment. If he sits quietly with his tail flickly in a regular
rythm, he is most likely concentrating on something of interest. True lashing
is a sign of anger. It signals irritation to let you know that the cat is
upset.

WHY DO CATS SUDDENLY GO OFF AT TOP SPEED?
Just as with humans, pent up energy sometimes overflows. Cats however, are
noctunal creatures with a natural need to hunt. Even in a home situation
where there is nothing to hunt, or no need to hunt, you cat will feel the
impulse anyway. At full tilt, a cat clocks an amazing 35 mph and covers 3
times the length of his own body in one leap!

WHY DO CATS RUB AGAINST YOUR BODY?
When you cat rubs his head, or side of his chin against you (or the
furniture) he is leaving his scent on you - marking you as part of his
territory. He uses the glands in his forehead and around his chin & mouth
to deposit chemicals known as pheromones. Cats can tell how long ago a scent
was left, and how much they need to heed the warning.

WHY DO CATS KNEAD?
Your cat's purr, followed by his "kneading" on some soft part of your body
is called "milk-treading". When you are relaxed, and sit quietly, you are
giving your cat the same signal that he got from his mother as a kitten -
that it was OK for him to suckle. A nursing kitten instinctively uses his
paws to draw out the milk - gently pushing his mother's stomach to increase
the milk flow. When older cats behave this way it is a good sign that they
feel content, secure with you, and probably are reliving their kittenhood.

WHY DO CATS HISS & SPIT WHEN THREATENED?
As odd as it sounds.....they are imitating a snake! The sound of a cat's hiss
is almost identical to that of a snake's hiss - and they snake is one of the
most feared creatures in the animal kingdom. Hissing is actually quite
common in most land animals. When your cat hisses, he opens his mouth about
1/2 way, draws back his upper lip and wrinkles his face. As he does this,
he expels breath so hard that you can feel the gust of air if you are close
enough. The moisture released at this time is called spitting. This,
combined with his unnatural facial expression is usually enough to scare
off any enemy.

Of course, there are many other behaviors that we all notice, so we can
revisit this topic at another time. If you have any questions regarding
your cat's behavior let me know. If I can't answer you myself, I will
check with a vet or other expert to help you.

Till next time.............Sunshine

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Snake Season: Part 3 BUDDY AND THE RATTLESNAKE ENCOUNTER by Eunice Brooks

2009-05-30T12:00:00.002-06:00

Buddy is our very large (115 lb) Chocolate Lab. Last September he rushed out our back door (with our other dogs) to greet a dog who had come to the outside of our 5 ft. chain link fence. Unknowing to us there was a very large Diamond Back Rattler (estimated about 6 ft) coiled in the corner of our yard, looking for mice. Buddy ran right into the snake who struck him 3 times – twice on the face and once on the neck.

At first we did not know the snake was there – Buddy just looked stunned and got very quiet. However, our other dogs were barking very loudly and lunging toward the tree by where the snake was concealed. I grew up in an area where rattlesnakes were very common so I recognized the sound of the snake when I went over to see what the dogs were so excited about. I called my husband and told him, “There is a very big rattlesnake out here; I can hear him but I can’t see him.” He came over to where I was standing and we finally saw the snake – he was the same color as the tree bark of our Mahogany Tree and the old mulch underneath it.

We got the dogs in the house and immediately tried calling the Ranger who lives in Cochiti Lake. He was unavailable but we left a phone message for him concerning what had happened to Buddy. We immediately checked the dogs – the ones who had been lunging at the snake first because we were afraid they had gotten bitten. We could not find any bites on them. We then saw Buddy lying down and blood on the floor in front of him and we knew then that he was the one who had been bitten. It was already about 5 PM and we were trying desperately to get in touch with our Vet. I left phone messages on his cell phone, office phone and at his home. We grabbed Buddy and put him in the car and headed for Santa Fe.

Buddy was born without hip joints and ligaments in his hips and so he has a great deal of difficulty climbing over anything. We put him all the way in the back of the SUV on his bed so he would be more comfortable. The Vet called us on my cell phone in the car and said, “Get him to my office ASAP” . There was heavy railroad construction going on Rt. 25 and but we still somehow managed to maneuver through all of – well over the speed limit – and about the time we reached Santa Fe, Buddy’s pain was greatly accelerated and missing hips joints or not – he climbed over the back seat – into the front seat into my lap and tried to claw his way out of the car. Thank God we were only 4 blocks from the vet when that happened. When we arrived at the vet he was already going into shock. The Vet put him immediately on oxygen and worked to stabilize him. Because of Buddy’s size he survived the Diamond Back’s bites but just barely.

Here are some facts that will help you if you have an animal that gets bitten.

The Diamond Back is the most lethal of the rattlesnakes.
Anti-Snake venom does not work on dogs and it is extremely expensive.
The new shots that are called preventative – will slow the process of the venom long enough so that your dog can have a better chance of surviving the ordeal. The smaller the animal – the quicker the venom works.
If the bite is on a leg it is more lethal because there is not enough muscle to shield the animal from the fast transfer of the poison.
The vet and the emergency animal hospital both gave Benadryl to Buddy. It helps to dilate the blood vessels so that the animal doesn’t hemorrhage as severely.
The venom from a Diamond Back Rattler causes the blood to quit coagulating and the animal begins to bleed out through the wounds and the pores. It also starts to dissolve the tissue and muscle so that the rattler can eat his prey.

Buddy bled out for over 3 weeks. The side of his face went necrotic – turned black and begin to die – because he is so large, his size saved his life. His head swelled triple its size and he was in severe pain – we had to give him morphine shots every day for over a week for the pain. It was nightmare I pray we never have to experience again.

How do you help protect your animals from this snake? Here is the advice we received from the Ranger.

Keep all bird feeders at least 100 yards away from your home. Mice are drawn to the feeders; the snakes are drawn to the mice and the birds.
Place a snake fence around your yard if possible. It is an enclosure you attach to your present fence if it is a chain link; or you can simply build one. It should be 2 – 3 feet high and the bottom should be covered by soil so that the snake cannot go under it. Snakes don’t climb so it doesn’t have to be a high fence. We used 2 ft high galvanized wire for ours. The holes are very small and it is very hard and sturdy and can withstand the heavy winds we have here – it is relatively inexpensive and you can get it at Lowes and Home Depot. If the snake can get its nose into the hole of a chain link, horse fence or privacy fence, it can stretch itself small enough to get through and into your yard.
If your animal does get bitten – give it Benadryl immediately and get your animal to the vet ASAP; you only have about 45 minutes before the animal goes into shock.
If a child gets bitten call 911 or the Cochiti Lake medics ASAP – you have a very limited amount of time.

The Ranger said that there is most probably a nest of the snakes in the arroyo on the South Ridge of Cochiti Lake. We live right on that ridge and the week Buddy got bit there were multiple sightings of these big snakes on this same ridge.

Buddy is doing well now and he is happy. The part of his facial tissue that he lost is about 6 inches by 1 inch and is where his jowls were on the upper part of his mouth. You don’t see it if you are not looking for it. He could have lost the tissue on the whole side of his face where he was stuck. He is a walking Miracle!

I hope this article will help you keep your animals safe. Just quick notes for cat owners – cats very rarely get bitten by snakes.

{End}

Snake Season Part 2: Snake Aversion Training - by Freda Donica

2009-05-28T12:00:00.000-06:00

Trudi and I have been to snake aversion training twice at Acoma Training Center in Albuquerque. I’m not sure about Trudi, but it is definitely working for me; I am aversed.

Here’s how it works: And, yes, they use live bull snakes. The dogs are always on leashes. One of the trainers brings a snake to each dog for her to smell it. This is done at least twice. The owners must stand still and pretend they’re not ready to bolt for the door. Did I mention they lock the door so you can’t get out? The training takes place in a big building, with lots of concrete floor space.

Next is the really fun part. The snake is placed in the middle of the floor – loose!! Each owner must walk toward the snake with her dog. And then the trainer, whom I consider to be lower than a snake’s belly, actually pushes the snake toward the dog AND YOU with a broom. The owner is then to yell, scream, cry, make every loud and scary noise one can think of, while pulling the dog away from the snake. Not a problem. This entertaining little exercise is repeated several times.

I don’t like to brag, but both Trudi and I did remarkably well. By the end of our second visit, we were both hyperventilating, our hearts were pounding and our mouths were like cotton. That must mean we’re snake-proofed, right?

The training is $10 for the initial visit, and you may return as many times as you wish, at no charge. The website is http://www.acomatrainingcenter.com/. Located at 333 Wyoming SE (on the corner of Trumbel & Wyoming); info@acomatrainingcenter.com ; Office Hours are M-F 9:30am-3:30pm; ph 266-6436.
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This Month's Theme - Snake Season: Part 1 - Snakes Among Us

2009-05-26T00:00:00.006-06:00

With the great help of Mark Watson and his wife Deanna, we'd like to start off this month's topic, "Snake Season". Mark is a biologist and offers much help in Cochiti Lake with safely capturing snakes and relocating them as well as educating residents about peacefully existing with the wildlife in our area.

Many of us who have moved to our town have specifically moved here because we want to be in the midst of wildlife to observe it's amazing beauty. Part of what makes this beauty exist is the cycle of life and balance of the ecology. Snakes are an extremely important part of this cycle and without them there would be imbalance - they are beneficial environmentalists! Snakes help us. Among other things, they are instrumental in maintaining the rabbit, mouse, rat, termite and spider population..... and even other snakes.

We have about a dozen non-venemous snakes in our area and only two venemous. Our non-venemous include the Bull snake, the Long Nose, the Patch Nose, the Night snake, the Glossy snake, the King snake and the Coach Whip. Our venemous snakes are the Western Diamondback rattle snake and the Prairie rattler.

The smallest snake (in length) in our area would be the Texas Blindsnake - it has eyes, is non-venomous, about 4" long, and looks "pearly' like an earthworm. These little guys are your best friends in taking care of termites. The largest snake in the area is the interesting coach whip snake - adults can be pinkish in color (the young are browner), they are non-venemous and often travel at night (which is why you often find them dead on the road). They can reach about 6.5 feet. The second largest snake (about 6 feet in length) in our area, also non-venemous is the common Bull snake. I've heard many residents over the years making friends with their local bull snakes - they make their rounds and take care of any mice in the wood piles or sheds around the house. The widest snake in our area (in girth) would be the Western Diamondback rattler - they are widest when they've swallowed an entire cottontail rabbit. Diamondbacks can live 20+ years and contrary to what many have heard, the size of the rattle is not the age of the snake - they simply grow another notch every time they shed ... and they can shed several times per year. How do you tell the difference between a harmless non-venemous bullsnake vs a rattler? Well, the bullsnake does a very realistic imitation of a rattler - coils into an 's' shape, tries to change it's head to look like the rattler's 'triangle' shaped head, and it even tries to hit it's tail on something to sound like a rattle. But according to Wikipedia, the one difference you can look for is that the rattler will put it's tail up in the air to rattle whereas the bullsnake will lay it's tail flat on the ground or hit it on the ground.

So let's talk now about how we can co-exist with our snake population. First, snakes are not slimy and are not aggressive (not even the rattle snakes). Snakes would like to avoid us as all costs - they just want to get on with their day like we all do. They're not out to 'get you', they don't want to chase you, and they don't want to hide and scare you. All the snakes in our area know that humans are too big to eat so there's no need to hunt them. They have a "pit viper" on their head which is a heat sensor - it helps them distinguish whether you're a small rabbit for dinner or a big human to stay away from.

The goal would be to avoid snakes and let them live peacefully in their natural habitat. The Tribe has expressed their wish to Mark that we in the town NOT harm any snakes. If you see a snake in your yard, simply do the following: while watching the snake, move out of the immediate area quickly and get inside the house. Do not torment or poke the snake. Move out of the snake's immediate area quickly. If your pet has encountered a snake, gather your pet in the same manner. If your pet is getting close to tangling with the snake, the better method is not to hit the snake with something, but if necessary (in a life-threatening situation) hit the pet with something to control the pet and prevent it from attacking the snake. Remember, the snake will try to protect itself and go into 'survival mode' and if your pet tries to attack the snake it could potentially be a life and death situation for your pet (we'll talk more about this in Snake Season Part 2). Some dogs have a natural instinct to stay away from snakes and may even be spooked by twigs or small branches - this is a good thing. Some dogs walk right over a snake and don't even know it. Once you and your pet are in the house you can do two things:

1st do call Mark Watson (he's in our phone book under "Watson" and he's also listed in the front pages of the book under "Services -> Snake Relocation". Go get this number now and put it on your frig or by the phone. He will come and relocate the snake for you. He does this for free.
If he's not home, don't panick and don't ask someone to kill the snake. Mark assures us that snakes WILL leave that night. They travel and make rounds in their large territories and after cleaning up your yard of mice will leave - they have no intention of hanging around. They will leave that night and again, the Tribe does not want us harming snakes. So no need to panick - Mark can come and help or it will leave by itself. Aren't we fortunate to have Mark?! Thank him the next ime you see him in town.
One thing to mention - when you call Mark, try to keep on eye on where the snake is until Mark arrives - this will greatly help Mark in being able to find, capture and permanently relocate the snake.

Would you like to make your habitat less inviting for snakes? Here are some things seen around town that actually do invite snakes:

Backyard ponds -they love water and need to drink - water in the desert will attract all sorts of wildlife. So if you're trying to avoid snakes - no ponds.
Bird seed on the ground under the bird feeders. We all like to feed the birds, but remember the cycle of life and the ecological balance: the food drops to the ground from the birds and the mice and rabbits eat it from the ground. The snakes sense the mice and rabbits and come into your outside habitat to eat them. They just want to eat and go, but if you're offering them dessert, they'll make sure to come back for seconds!
Wood piles - there are many in town who have their wood piles right next to their house - this is asking for trouble. Mice will make their homes in the woodpiles and the snakes will sense this. Again, they'll eat and go ... but if you don't change your wood pile habits, they'll come back to dine again. Wood piles should be away from the house and up off the ground about 1 foot.
Garage doors - a common site in town during the summer months are garage doors partly open to let the heat escape. Don't be surprised if a mouse wonders in followed by a snake. Please remember not to panick (don't harm it), just go back inside and call Mark. You can also just let it be, keep an eye on where it is and it will go out and be on it's way in a couple of hours.
Bird ponds - yes we want to hydrate the birds, but just be aware that any water in the desert is a magnet for wildlife and insects. These insects and rodents too become buffet for snakes. And therefore you're likely to see a snake or two.

You can certainly continue to feed and water the birds and have your koy ponds, but just be aware that part of the beautiful nature scenery will be the occassional snake enjoying 'take-out' in your yard. You now know not to panic - just call Mark and/or let it be and it will move on.

Snakes are out at all times in our environment - it's not just the summer months. In the winter they may come out of their dens on a warm day, but they will not venture anywhere to forage. They do begin to travel more around April/May as the weather warms up and you'll usually see them into September/October until the weather is steadily colder. When hiking, try to avoid reaching overhead and grabbing onto a rock - they may be basking in the sun and not take kindly to you landing on them. Avoid stepping over a fallen tree without fully seeing what's on the other side - they are often nestled right under that log and again, will not take kindly to you stepping on them. In general avoid tall grass and rocks. Here in Cochiti Lake you can find snakes sleeping on driveways or the street curbs as the sun goes down because the concrete retains heat and they really like storing up that heat for their nightly travels. Another positive is that there tend to be fewer snakes at elevations higher than 7500'.

We live here because we want to be close to nature. In kind we need to respect nature and let it be in all it's divirsity. If you would like to familiarize yourself with snakes in our area, Mark recommends a fantastic book in our library (one of the co-authors is a colleague of Mark's): "Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico" by William G. Degenhardt, Charles W. Painter and Andrew H. Price. UNM Press 1996. If you would like to have some 'hands on' learning about snakes and visit with "Teddy" a captive bull snake please email us at CLIPETS@live.com or call Krys/Ray so that we can get a group together to visit Teddy. Mark and Deanna are always happy to answer all of our questions and teach us some great things about snakes.

Next in the Snake Season series: What Happens if You or Your Pet is Bitten?

Next in the Cochiti Lake Wildlife series with Mark: The Many Species of Birds in our Area

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Therapy Dogs – Who Are They? By Sue Kinzie

2009-05-22T12:00:00.001-06:00

Not every dog is suited for this work. They go through an evaluation process. During that process each handler and dog is observed for professional appearance. Each handler must be clean and each dog must be well groomed. After all, they go into places where people are already battling disease and disability. These patients don't need to be exposed to more germs! Therapy dogs also have to enjoy socializing with people and should not display aggression toward other dogs. Although therapy dogs are not allowed nose-to-nose contact, many times teams visit together so the therapy dog should never display aggressive behavior.

Handlers are responsible for managing the contact with their dogs. The dogs should allow handing all over their body because in an instant children can pull a dog's ear or tail despite an attentive handler. An evaluation also covers basic obedience. The team is observed while they perform a figure eight, change direction and speed, and stop with the dog always at the handler's side on a loose lead. The dog is also required to complete a recall and sit at his handler's side for several minutes.

The next step is an evaluation of the team as they are approach a person in a wheelchair, on crutches, and walking with the aid of a walker. They are then approached by another team. While the handlers converse, the dog should remain at his handler's side showing no interest in the other dog. The last observation is how the team reacts to distractions. How does the dog react to unexpected, diverse noises and activity? Does the dog look to his handler for direction?
Overall, the question is, "Does the team enjoy being in these situations? Is the handler engaged with his or her dog"? If so, this work brings joy to both patients and therapy teams alike. It is a labor of love!

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2nd Chance for 5

2009-05-18T16:47:00.001-06:00

We'd like to feature 5 dogs from Second Chance that need your help in finding a forever home - Tally, Callie, Dillon, Weezy, and Dori:

Dori Weezy

Dillon Tally

Callie

Second Chance Animal Rescue New Mexico, Inc., is a grass roots group that began work in early 2007 and focuses on saving abused and homeless animals and readying them for adoption to loving, forever homes. They are all volunteer and all foster-based (they don't have a facility) and their foster homes help the dogs adjust to living with people and other pets. Second Chance dogs are fully vetted (spayed/neutered, microchipped and current on vaccines) and adoptive families are carefully screened. They do many of our adoptions off our website http://www.secondchancenm.petfinder.com/ and other adoptive families are found at our adoption events (held at different venues in Albuquerque and Corrales). They try very hard to recruit new foster families; they really make the difference in how many dogs they can help at a time!

Their dedicated volunteer group believes that every dog deserves a second or third or fourth chance at a healthy, happy life. They tend to be drawn to the saddest cases: the dogs in protective custody at animal services for months on end, the dogs rescued from lives on the end of a chain - even if the chain has to be surgically removed; the dogs who are hit by cars and their owners can't be bothered claiming them and saving their lives; the situations they have rescued dogs from are vast and sad. Their goal is to also be involved in legislation and education to better the lives of the animals in our community. They have trainers who offer free training courses to our adopters and fosters.

Their funds come from their adoption fees (which range from $125 to $250) and donations. They have a couple of continuous fundraisers: they collect inactive cell phones which can be turned in to be refurbished (and they send them $) and their donation boxes which we have in several locations around town. They hold yard sales several times a year and welcome donations for the yard sales. For more information on adopting or fostering, and donating your used cell phones please contact secondchancenm@yahoo.com.

Second Chance Animal Rescue, Inc. secondchancenm@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.secondchancenm.petfinder.com/

Vote for Second Chance Animal Rescue in the 2009 Shelter Challenge!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3

Second Chance Animal Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible as provided for in the IRS tax code. Please note we are an all volunteer, foster-based group and we don't have a facility.

Within the heart of every stray lies the singular desire to be loved.

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Puppy Girls - Gretchen & Sienna

2009-05-16T15:28:00.005-06:00

Puppy girls were dumped at the Cochiti lake gas pump recently - severely dehydrated, tick infested, heat-stroked, and exhausted. Luckily Leanne notified us and we were able to get them safe and stabilized. They are currently being fostered by our town's great foster moms.

They will be spayed and vaccinated shortly and up for adoption. There will be a small adoption fee to cover the cost of the surgeries and medical expenses. Sienna and Gretchen are now happy and playful and gaining strength every day. We would love to see them go to one home, but we will consider them going to separate homes. Whatever the case, we are only looking for inside Forever home(s).

A note about this situation - at first we were horrified that someone would let their pets become so tick infested and then dump them at the gas station. We were also a bit bewildered as to why no one in the gas station brought water out to the puppies on such a scalding hot day. But then a thoughtful couple from one of the neighboring towns came by and mentioned that "more than occassionally" the usual route of puppies and kittens in our neighboring towns is to be tied up in a sack and tossed in the river to drown. Does this make you cringe? Does this make you want to support efforts to educate about spaying and neutering? So I don't know whether to be angry with the person who dumped the puppies .... or be thankful that they at least put them somewhere where someone could help them rather than drowning them. I guess we shouldn't judge? What do you think?

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Buffalo Newborns - the youngest descendents of the great herds ....

2009-05-12T21:07:00.001-06:00

On May 15, wobbly-legged newborn wild buffalo and their mothers could be cruelly chased from their birthing grounds near Yellowstone National Park by helicopters, horses and ATVs. Newborn calves could die of exhaustion during this annual hazing operation. Please send an urgent message to the Secretary of Agriculture to stop this wildlife tragedy. It only takes a few seconds -- and could save the lives of these wild buffalo newborns, the youngest descendents of the great herds that once thundered across America's plains. (Read more from the NRDC - click Read)

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Right now, newborn wild bison -- better known as buffalo -- are grazing under their mothers' watchful eyes on the lush Horse Butte peninsula near Yellowstone National Park in Montana. But on May 15, this pastoral scene could turn ugly if the government begins hazing the buffalo back into the park with helicopters, horses and ATVs, as they did last year at this time.If this operation proceeds, some buffalo could die, including young calves and pregnant cows. Please speak out immediately to stop the government's annual hazing operation. This wildlife tragedy replays almost every year on Horse Butte -- a birthing ground for the buffalo.First, a helicopter invades the stillness, circling low to scare wild buffalo out of the woods, so that government agents on ATVs and horses can chase them back to Yellowstone. With no time to rest or nurse during this relentless chase, some calves collapse and even die of exhaustion before ever reaching their grazing grounds deep within the park. The saddest part? This senseless tragedy is unnecessary. The justification for hazing and killing buffalo is that they could spread the disease brucellosis to domestic cattle. That is why buffalo are generally not welcome outside Yellowstone Park in Montana -- and why thousands have been slaughtered or hazed back into the park in recent years. But the fact is, there has never been a documented case of brucellosis transmission from buffalo to cattle in the wild. More to the point, there are no cattle at all on Horse Butte, so there is absolutely no reason to haze and endanger Yellowstone's wild buffalo.So please, help us give newborn buffalo a better chance at survival this spring. Tell the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary Tom Vilsack) to intervene right away and prevent the hazing of wild buffalo in the weeks ahead. As living links to the great herds that once thundered across America's plains, Yellowstone's buffalo are a national treasure. Please join me in urging our government to protect them -- instead of subjecting them to needless suffering.

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke

President Natural Resources Defense Council

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Adopt a Penguin for Mom

2009-05-10T07:32:00.002-06:00

-- an eCard lets her know it's coming!

http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=ruiuMEx3uznsemjKs5zlgw..

"To Claw or Not to Claw: That is the Question" - Part 2 ...... by Sunny Thornton

2009-05-03T08:27:00.000-06:00

Declawing removes the cat's claw immediately above the mechanism for extending it. The joint is cut off and the underlying tendon is cut. The result? AMPUTATION of the cat's toes!!!

According to Dr. David Hammett DVM "The consequences of declawing are often pathetic.  Changes in behavior can often occur. A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats. Biting becomes an overcompensation for the insecurity of having no claws. Bungled surgery can result in the regrowth of deformed claws, or .....in an infection leading to gangrene.  Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with the claws.  Chronic physical ailments such as cystitis or many skin disordered can be manifestations of a declawed cat's stress and frustration." Whew!

In addition to the physical pain caused by declawing, the cat often suffers psychological damage and is at a serious disadvantage in all climbing pursuits and feline social relationships.

The Department of Veterinary Sciences at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a study of 163 cats who were declawed. They found that more than 50% of these cats suffered complications immediately after surgery - including hemorrhaging, lameness, swelling and inability to bear their own weight. The progress of 121 of these cats was followed for 5 years after surgery. The results showed 23% of these cats had continued complication such as infection, regrowth, bone protrusion into the pads of their paws, abnormal standing posture and intermittent extended lameness.

70% of the cats turned into shelters are declawed cats. 25% of cats turned into various shelters are purebreds.  If you prefer to have a declawed cat in your home, please try one of the many local animal shelter/sanctuary and adopt a cat who has already had surgery. Have your vet carefully check the animal for any foot problems before committing to the adoption so that you won't be setting yourself up for unexpected health issues.

But please, do not maim a helpless animal in the interest of your home furnishings. If possessions are more important than the health and welfare of a cat, we strongly suggest that you DO NOT OWN A CAT! Instead, sponsor a needy cat at a shelter/sanctuary every month.

FOUR PRECAUTIONS to PREVENT DAMAGE to FURNISHINGS:

1) Provide your cat with a sturdy, well built scratching post. A wood log with the bark intact is an excellent scratching post!

2) Provide your cat with a multi-level climbing/jungle gym designed for cats. This will provide hours of safe play in a scratch appropriate environment so you cat won't be nearly as interested in your heirloom furniture!

3) Train your cat not to scratch your furnishings. This means that you will need to put forth effort to work with your cat, providing time and patience to help him understand what his posts & play area are for. Give the offending cat a little squirt from a water pistol or spray bottle.  Then carry him over to his scratch appropriate area and praise him when he uses it. Mimic an exasperated mother cat. When the kittens annoy mother she stops them with a low growl. When your cat is scratching your furnishings, imitating a mother's growl may be the most effective deterrent.

4) Provide your cat with nail covers from SoftPaws. The covers are temporary, take only a few minutes to attach and last for about 6 weeks.  The are available on line or at most quality pet stores. They are completely safe - even if your cat manages to get one off & eat it! They come in 3 adult sizes and in kitten size. Don't laugh! It's less expensive than surgery and does not harm your cat in any way!

Here's meowing at you, kid!

{End}. .

A Perfect World - Or at Least a Step in the Right Direction: A New Vision - "Green" Animal Community Center

2009-05-01T11:30:00.001-06:00

When you think of a shelter, you think of cages of 'throw away' pets.... a place where more die than find homes due to the ignorance of people about spaying and neutering who thought it was "cute" to have their kids experience the birth of kittens and puppies; a place where because people have changed their residence ... or their furniture .... without a thought, drop their furry family member on death row. But now, imagine this - an "Animal Community Center".

With words chosen carefully, those at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley in Milpitas, California have had a vision for 12 years and now, as of March 28th .... it's become a reality. Their Animal Community Center is an "inspiring model of humane care, community involvement and green building design for shelters and nonprofits nationwide". [Christine Benninger, president of the HSSV]

Features:

An animal adoption program
A community dog park and training center
A spay/neuter medical center
A veterinary hospital and public viewing room
Doggie day care/ boarding and grooming
A pet store
An education center offering programs for children, teens and families
A community events room
A pet-friendly café
All existing on a green/sustainable complex

The facility: 48,000 sq ft on 5 acres of cage-less habitats for dogs, cats and rabbits. To relieve stress and correct behavioral conduct - home environments, complete with beds and species-specific toys.

Clinic: The number of spay/neuter procedures is expected to increase from about 30 a day to about 45 a day. The center will accommodate 10,000 animal adoptions a year - 6000 more than previously!

Medical Center Learning Alcove: the public can watch surgeries, there is modern digital equipment, natural lighting and more prep and surgery tables.

A Dog’s Life: doggie day care, boarding, grooming and training services. Fun and good behavior are encouraged with round-the-clock supervision.

2 Dog Parks: one for small breeds and one for larger.

The entire area is "green" and sustainable: a solar system to generate 40 percent of the center’s energy needs, an efficient kennel-cleansing system to ensure proper disinfecting and reduce water use, a reflective “cool” roof to reduce energy costs, stained concrete flooring to reduce the chemicals and water needed for cleaning and lower energy bills, on-site bioswales to clean rainwater runoff before water enters the sewage system, and artificial turf and native plants in the dog park to lower the demand for irrigation.

The result?

A Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design); a change in the public's view of how animals should be treated; and very happy pets - both adopted and those looking to be adopted, in an interactive community.

Christine Benninger says,“Our sustainable, environmentally friendly Animal Community Center not only promotes animals but showcases the ease and beauty of water savings, energy efficiency and building in harmony with nature.”

California's First Regional Animal Community Center - the address is 901 Ames Ave, Milpitas. Website is www.hssv.org
Original Post HERE:
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2009/03/30/humane-society-opens-green-animal-community-center.aspx
.

Local Chat

2009-04-30T12:00:00.003-06:00

We're labeling this month's theme on the blog as Snake Awareness month and we will have a series of articles pertaining to this topic. If you have any specific questions or if you have valuable input, please let us know CLIPETS@live.com

There was no talk at the pot-luck assembly meeting on Wednesday April 29th pertaining to animal issues. Everything seems honky-dory. Do you have something you'd like to share with the community? Please say it here by clicking "comment" below this post.

On another note, since this is an internet blog, and 21st century internet access is critical, there was much talk about internet access for the town at the meeting: a Verizon tower will be installed shortly allowing those that want basic internet access that's faster than dial-up (please note - it will be faster than dial-up, but there are limits as to how much you will be able to upload and download. Those who have tried Verizon internet out here are still not able to use Skype or any VOIP); in terms of Qwest - there were apparently 3 T1 lines available .... but they were already taken before the town assembly was consulted about it; according to CCDC, Qwest has apparently agreed to dig up part of Vooscane to lay cable for basic DSL (which is faster than dial-up and better than satelite because there are no limitations in up/down load blocks) when exactly this will happen... there is no date .......as usual.

How Could You? -- By Jim Willis

2009-04-29T12:00:00.007-06:00

Jim Willis is a fabulous author on

animal topics. He wrote, "How Could

You?" listed below. Take it to

heart and share it with those that

may benefit from it. We wrote

directly to him for permission to post his

writings, and his assistant, Don Dunnam wrote us

back with great information.


"How Could You?" has been pubished in over 50

foreign languages and is published in the

current issue of The American Dog Magazine.

A fire destroyed Jim Willis' home and claimed

14 animal lives, yet he continues in his work

for animals. He now supports a dozen rescued

animals, some with medical conditions and

special needs.


Most of his book royalties go to support other

animal charities. Jim earns nothing from all his

volunteer activities, including as US ambassador

for World Animal Day:

http://www.worldanimalday.org.uk/Ambassadors/Webpages/USA.asp


If you'd like to make a donation, it is always

welcome - 100% of each goes to vet costs or

animalcare. Please send any contributions through

PayPal directly to:

tiergartenmedialtd@gmail.com


Please visit Jim Willis' website ( http://www.crean.com/jimwillis )

to enjoy more of his writings and a look at his

new book, "Pieces of My Heart — Writings Inspired

By Animals and Nature" .


Here is Jim Willis' "How Could You?"

{Begin quote}
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my

antics and made you laugh. You called me your

child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and

a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became

your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd

shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?"

-- but then you'd relent and roll me over for

a belly rub.


My housebreaking took a little longer than

expected, because you were terribly busy, but we

worked on that together. I remember those nights

of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your

confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that

life could not be any more perfect. We went for

long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops

for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream

is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps

in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end

of the day.


Gradually, you began spending more time at work

and on your career, and more time searching for

a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted

you through heartbreaks and disappointments,

never chided you about bad decisions, and romped

with glee at your homecomings, and when you

fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - -

still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show

her affection, and obeyed her.

I was happy because you were happy. Then the

human babies came along and I shared your excitement.

I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they

smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only

she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I

spent most of my time banished to another room, or

to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but

I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend.

They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up

on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes,

investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on

my nose. I loved everything about them and their

touch – because your touch was now so infrequent --

and I would've defended them with my life if need

be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to

their worries and secret dreams, and together we

waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.


There had been a time, when others asked you if

you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me

from your wallet and told them stories about me.

These past few years, you just answered "yes"

and changed the subject. I had gone from being

"your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented

every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a

new career opportunity in another city, and you

and they will be moving to an apartment that does

not allow pets. You've made the right decision

for your "family," but there was a time when I

was your only family.


I was excited about the car ride until we

arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs

and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out

the paperwork and said "I know you will find a

good home for her." They shrugged and gave you

a pained look. They understand the realities

facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers."

You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my

collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't

let them take my dog!" And I worried for him,

and what lessons you had just taught him about

friendship and loyalty, about love and

responsibility, and about respect for all life.


You gave me a good-bye pat on the head,

avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take

my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline

to meet and now I have one, too. After you left,

the two nice ladies said you probably knew about

your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt

to find me another good home. They shook their

heads and asked, "How could you?"


They are as attentive to us here in the shelter

as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of

course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first,

whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the

front, hoping it was you that you had changed

your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or

I hoped it would at least be someone who cared,

anyone who might save me. When I realized I

could not compete with the frolicking for

attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their

own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the

end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after

her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room.

She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears,

and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in

anticipation of what was to come, but there was

also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had

run out of days.


As is my nature, I was more concerned about her.

The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her,

and I know that, the same way I knew your every

mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my

foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked

her hand in the same way I used to comfort you

so many years ago.

She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my

vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid

coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily,

looked into her kind eyes and murmured, "How

could you?"


Perhaps because she understood my dog speak,

she said, "I'm so sorry." She hugged me, and

hurriedly explained it was her job to make

sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't

be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to

fend for myself -- a place of love and light

so very different from this earthly place.

And with my last bit of energy, I tried to

convey to her with a thump of my tail that

my "How could you?" was not directed at her.

It was directed at you, My Beloved Master,

I was thinking of you. I will think of you

and wait for you forever. May everyone in

your life continue to show you so much

loyalty.


{End Quote}

A Note from the Author:If "How Could You?" brought

tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to

mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the

composite story of the millions of formerly

"owned" pets who die each year in American

& Canadian animal shelters. Please use this

to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters,

on animal shelter and vet office bulletin

boards. Tell the public that the decision to

add a pet to the family is an important one for

life, that animals deserve our love and

sensible care, that finding another appropriate

home for your animal is your responsibility

and any local humane society or animal welfare

league can offer you good advice, and that all

life is precious. Please do your part to stop

the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter

campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.

Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt

them or make them sad, but it could save maybe,

even one, unwanted pet. Remember...

They love UNCONDITIONALLY.Now that the tears

are rolling down your face, pass it on! Send

to everyone in your address book and around

the world! This IS the reality of dogs and cats

given up to shelters!

Home on the Range - A Happy LIfe Begins

2009-04-27T12:00:00.006-06:00

Just a quick update on the dog that was running around town - he has a wonderful "forever" home now out of town. He's quite happy with his new family. Thanks to all who helped and were patient as all efforts were put forth in keeping him safe and finding him the right home. A BIG round of applause to his doting foster Moms here in Cochiti Lake !
{End}.

Read to the Dogs! -- Sue Kinzie

2009-04-25T12:00:00.002-06:00

Children and dogs! They just go together. However, did you know that a dog could help a child to read? It happens in schools and libraries throughout the country.

Children that have difficulty reading are hesitant to read aloud in the classroom. They are shy or are afraid of ridicule from their classmates. This prompted development of a program which uses therapy dogs. Dogs do not judge. They do not ridicule or turn their backs. Dogs sit calmly and quietly for a story. Children can practice reading aloud without fear. It's a great way for children to gain confidence in their reading skills.

Once a month in many of Albuquerque's libraries registered therapy dogs gather to listen to children as they read. This was one of those days:

I arrived with my therapy dog, Cody to join four other handlers with their dogs. The library supplies a large area so that we have room to spread out. That is important for a Great Pyrenees who weighs over one hundred and forty pounds!

So each dog has their own space, enough to lay down and for a child to sit beside them. The children choose a book to read. If the child is too young to read, they choose a picture book to show the dog.

Each child also gets a bookmark. Once they finish reading their book to a dog, they get a sticker of the dog which is placed on their bookmark. A bookmark has room for ten stickers and once it is full, the child gets to pick a prize. This day the children got stickers which featured Cody, Rufus the chihuahua, Annie the Cairn Terrier, Star the Golden Retriever, and an Australian Shepard named Zosia.

Parents bring their children and wait patiently as the child chooses their book and makes their stop to read to each dog. Two hours later each dog had heard stories of magical fairies, talking turtles, and helpful ghosts among many others. Each child went home proudly displaying their bookmarks with the pictures of five special dogs!

{End}. .

Heading to Santa Fe with Your Pup for A Bite to Eat?

2009-04-23T12:00:00.002-06:00

Word has it that the following places will let you dine outdoors with your dog! (Of course your pup must behave and be on a leash).

* The Pink Adobe
* Santa Fe Baking Company
* Atomic Grill
* La Casa Sena
* Counter Culture

Do you know of any other places? Please post a comment and/or email us so the list can be updated.
{End}..

The Cockatiel - Just A Small Parrot - by Donna Urnick

2009-04-21T12:00:00.002-06:00

Good news for anyone thinking of getting a parrot, a Cockatiel is really the bird for you. They require much of the same care, but without a lot of the disadvantages.

My family and I adopted Rio, our awesome Cockatiel, about a year ago. Rio had been in several homes, so he is not as "sociable" as most .... but still loves attention and shows affectionate behaviors. Here are some things I have learned about our feathered friend:

Rio is a joy to observe. He loves to be a clown and show off. We get lots of laugh-out-loud moments!

Rio can say, "Whatcha doing - doing doing!" We are trying to teach him more little phrases.

He trills a pretty song that usually ends with a couple of wolf whistles.

Rio loves to be spritzed with his water bottle daily.

Rio wants his cage covered at night ... helps him sleep better.

He must have his night-light on at night to prevent night terrors. (Cockatiels are frightened by total darkness).

Rio is extremely smart and curious. We change his bird toys quite often to keep him from getting bored. He loves attention and being part of the family activities .... his cage is between the dining room and the kitchen. Quite often when we eat - Rio eats too ! He loves fresh seeds, nuts, vegetables, and treats. Rio is a very messy boy, so his cage is cleaned daily.

Little Rio can be demanding, noisy, playful, curios, funny, and at times, aggressive. Rio is a very precocious bird and we consider him not only our feathered friend, but part of our family .... he has stolen our hearts.

{End}. .

Toxic "Human foods" That Can Kill Your Pets

2009-04-19T12:00:00.004-06:00

Foods To Never Give:

Avocados
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Nuts
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hypothermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat's heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal's blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him/her.

Onions
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal's red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Beer
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal's liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Caffeine
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal's central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent's medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal's pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

In case of emergency
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That's why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.
{End}

. .

Garden Mulch Containing COCOA - Fair Warning

2009-04-17T12:00:00.002-06:00

Back in 2003 an email started circulating about a particular garden mulch that was potentially bad for pets because it contained theobromine (found in chocolates). Depending on the weight of the pet, the type of chocolate, and the amount ingested, theobromine can cause seizures, arrhythmia, increased urination, and tremors. Death could occur in 12-24 hours. An internet search shows one death of a dog from eating 'cocoa mulch' and upon further investigation, there are another 3 confirmed dog deaths in the UK from cocoa shell ingestion.

Sunshine Garden Products produces a cocoa mulch made from cocoa shells. This is a commonly found product in popular stores such as Target, Home Depot, etc. We decided to contact Sunshine Garden Products directly and get their response. We just received a reply from managing director, Justin Brooking. Here is what he put together for us:

[begin quote]"

Information relating to ‘Dogs & Cocoa Shell’

Cocoa shell contains the naturally occurring substance Theobromine. It is an inherent part of most chocolate products. Being a natural plant material, concentrations of Theobromine vary. The highest concentration is found in the 'nib', which is the inner part of the cocoa bean and therefore the darker chocolates tend to contain the highest levels of Theobromine as they use the highest concentration of cocoa bean extracts. Cocoa shells, which are the outer part of the cocoa bean, contain varying amounts of Theobromine, this depends on the growing season, the variety of bean and the country of origin. Sunshine of Africa cocoa shell is sourced from a U.K. based chocolate manufacturer who in turn source their cocoa beans from growers and co-operatives all over the world.

It is fair to say that cocoa shell when freshly spread on the garden does often smell of chocolate (for many customers this is part of the appeal of the product). This can be attractive to dogs and many dogs will have eaten cocoa shell. However the vast majority of dogs do not find cocoa shell at all palatable, it is very dry and has an abrasive texture, it also contains natural mucilage that makes it very slimy and hard to swallow. Because of these factors, dogs tend not to eat very much, if any at all. Our experience shows that very few dogs will actually eat cocoa shell and of those that do, the vast majority have no adverse reaction whatsoever. However some may get an upset stomach and it can cause hyperactivity for a short period. In very, very rare occasions dogs have died from eating cocoa shell. The smell of chocolate disappears very quickly after the shell has been spread and watered as per the instructions on the bag. Cocoa shell begins its natural composting processes as soon as it becomes wet. This changes the smell to one of an earthy compost smell which is not at all attractive to dogs.

Sunshine Garden Products have supplied the retail garden market for 17 years with cocoa shell. Over this time there have been three reported incidents of dogs that have allegedly died from eating cocoa shell in the U.K. The most recent was in September 2002 when it was confirmed that a pedigree Weimaraner sadly died from eating cocoa shell. We take this very seriously indeed and have taken advice from the Trading Standards office over this issue. We first printed a warning on our bags in 1999 and have recently strengthened it to read as follows: N.B. Please note that cocoa shell contains the naturally occurring substance Theobromine. If eaten by dogs, this can be very harmful. Please keep your dog away from the treated area until the mulch has settled i.e. a couple of weeks. If concerned contact your local vet.

This warning was printed because we felt our customers should be aware of the potential danger, albeit very small. Our decision to print this warning was endorsed by Trading Standards, however we were, and still are, under no obligation to do so. The warning can found on the back of the bag in clear purple print on a white background. It is interesting to note that no chocolate manufacturers place any kind of warning on their products to keep them away from dogs.

Most vets will be familiar with the effects of Theobromine on dogs. There are numerous cases of dogs suffering from stealing chocolate bars and cakes etc each year. Most other animals are largely unaffected by Theobromine and in fact many cocoa bean processors in the U.K. supply the animal feeds market with ground cocoa shell for inclusion as a ruminant filler in livestock feeds.

It is worth noting that Sunshine Garden Products have sold several million bags of cocoa shell over the past 17 years. The product has not changed in any way during this time. If the product posed a serious threat to dogs it would have been withdrawn from the market. Trading standards have been aware of our products and its potential danger to dogs for many years. They would not hesitate to insist we withdraw cocoa shell form the market if they felt it posed a real threat to dogs.

Cocoa Shell & Cats. We at Sunshine Garden Products have never heard that cats are at all interested in eating cocoa shell and indeed a great many of our customers have reported that cats are often deterred from walking on gardens mulched with cocoa shell. This has proved to be very popular over the years by customers wishing to prevent cats from fouling their borders. We have had so many comments and letters from satisfied customers that we print "Helps to keep cats off your garden" on the bag and other promotional literature. We have never heard of any cat being ill or dying from eating cocoa shell.

Updated - 1^st January 2008"[end quote]

So that's the info folks - cocoa mulch is apparently a fantastic garden product, but please be very careful using it around animals, particularly curious dogs . If you suspect that your pet has eaten cocoa bean mulch (or any chocolate for that matter), immediately contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435). Recommended care may include placing your dog under veterinary observation, inducing vomiting, and/or controlling a rapid heart beat or seizures.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

2009-04-15T12:00:00.004-06:00

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C water

1/2 C safflower or canola oil

2 med eggs

3 Tb peanut butter (sugar free, creamy)

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 C whole wheat flour

1 1/4 C unbleached white flour

1/2 C cornmeal

1/2 C rolled oats

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix water, oil, eggs, peanut butter and vanilla with a wire whisk. Add flours, cornmeal, and oats. Combine with a mixer. Take 1/3 of the dough and place on a floured surface. Flour top of dough. Gently knead, adding more flour as necessary to form a pliable dough (this will require a substantial amount of flour). Roll out to 1/2 - 3/4 inch thickness and cut shapes using cookie cutters. Repeat until all dough is used.

Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 400F, 20-25 min, depending on thickness of biscuits. Leave in oven 20 min after turning oven off to crisp. Store in airtight container.

{End}

Let's Talk Claws this Month - by Sunny Thornton

2009-04-13T12:00:00.003-06:00

Why do cats shed their claws? Well, cats are the only animals who walk directly on their claws and not on the pads of their feet. (Think of a ballerina balancing "en pointe" - without her toe shoes!)

Getting around on tiptoe is a very useful skill when moving at high speeds. Being the great hunters they are, cats need to keep this skill very sharp. Contrary to what you may think, your cat does not manicure its nails on your furniture out of spite....nor is he just "sharpening" his claws. Your cat is tearing off the ragged edges of the sheaths of his talons. All year long, he sheds the old claws, to expose new sharp claws underneath. These claws are not just for protection. They are responsible for the cat's perfect balance and for awesome feats of climbing, running, stretching & grooming.

Declawing not only causes physical affliction, but psychological anguish, as well. He is deprived of his only defense and also, his most versatile tool for survival. Cats pull their claws IN to protect the claw & keep it sharp. Claws need to be kept sharp, for all the reasons stated above. They are also needed to mark territory. When scratching, sweat glands between the paw pads transfer a scent to the tree trunk or other object being marked. In the case of your house cat, this can be your furniture. Your cat identifies the scratched area as his own.

To discourage scratching of your furniture, be sure that your cat has multiple scratching posts and scratching pads (sold at all pet stores and discount stores, such as Target) throughout your home. A squirt bottle filled with water works wonders too! Just spray your cat each time you see him scratching furniture, and redirect him to his post or pad. It won't take long to see a change!

Next month: Detailed information on the horrors of the de clawing surgery itself! {End}.

The Chaining Issue

2009-04-11T12:00:00.001-06:00

Animal Protection of NM is making a big push to educate people about the plight of chained dogs. The Humane Society is also putting the chain issue as a top priority calling it the 'most under-talked, over-used method of abuse'. Some cities, counties and/or states are now making tethering illegal.

Through years of domestication dogs have become naturally and strongly attached to their humans. They thrive on interaction with their human family counterparts. As the APNM states, keeping a dog on a chain means that the dog:
"

is deprived of social contact with other dogs and humans
sensory deprivation becomes the norm
and boredom, frustration, anxiety, agitation, and aggression follow in rapid succession.

"
These organizations are promoting positive alternatives and information to help get dogs off chains and into the lives of family members. They need everyone's help in spreading the word. Here is a link to read a brief description about the topic from the APNM as well as the HSUS. There are also some positive video instructions on building fences and other alternatives to chaining: "Train Don't Chain". Another great website on this matter is UnchainYourDog.org {End}. .

Sat April 11 - Santa Fe Adoption Day

2009-04-09T19:00:00.000-06:00

REMINDER

When: Saturday Apr. 11th Noon - 3PM
Where: Teca-Tu at 500 Montezuma St. Santa Fe
What: cats and dogs
Contact info: Bridging the Worlds - Beverley 505-501-1887 http://bridgingtheworlds.org/
{End}..

Spring is Here ..... Get Your Dog Heartworm Tested in April ! - Raymond Sandor

2009-04-09T12:00:00.002-06:00

What is heartworm?

The heartworm is a parasitic worm about the size of thin spaghetti. When an animal is infected with the worm, it lives free-floating in the right ventricle of the heart and nearby blood vessels. The parasites are transmitted from one animal to another by mosquitoes. The first written canine documentation was in the, “Western Journal of Medicine” in 1847. The first documented cat infection was in the early 1900’s. The normal host for heartworm are dogs. Heartworms can live in animals other than dogs, but often have a shorter life, vary in size, or end up in odd locations due to aberrant migration. This is true of heartworm infections in cats. Some of the other animals that can acquire heartworm include wolfs, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, tigers, muskrats, raccoons, ferrets, otters, bears, horses, orangutans, gibbons, sea lions, and also …....humans.

Heartworm is usually diagnosed through a blood test, but the worm needs to be mature (about 6 months after entering to the pet's body) to be detectable through antigen testing. Female worms must be present for accurate test results. Cats also can get infected with heartworm. Until about 5 years ago it was believed that cats infected with heartworm are rare, but new studies show that it's more common than previously believed. There is no accurate test yet for cats, but it is in the works. Unfortunately, many cat heartworm infections are overlooked since feline heartworm disease does not commonly present with the same symptoms as dogs and the signs and symptoms look and act like other cat diseases. One worm in the cat's heart can cause sudden cardiac death or sudden (acute) respiratory signs that are indistinguishable from asthma without a medical work up.

Preventative medications

Dogs 7 months and older should be tested each year with a simple blood test. Dogs younger than 7 months but older than 8 weeks can be put on a preventative medication without testing. The most common preventative medication is Heartguard, a once-a-month chewable pill. In heavily infested areas (i.e. parts of Texas, Florida etc.) veterinarians recommend using it all year around. In the northern states with shorter mosquito seasons and less reports, it is usually recommended to use Heartguard between April and October. Holistic veterinarians try to avoid animals ingesting chemicals so many recommend using Black Walnut capsules on a daily basis as a preventative and also in addition to Heartguard. Please ask your veterinarian about your best preventative options and have your dog tested every April.

There is a low-cost clinic held the first and third Friday of each month from 8 to 11:30am and 1 to 4pm in Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter's Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic (next to the Outback Steakhouse). Their contact info: 505-474-6422 at 2570-B Camino Entrada . No appointment is necessary, but please be on time. They charge $15 for a heartworm test.

{End}

"Leave It" - Dog Training Tips by Carol Tharnish

2009-04-07T12:00:00.002-06:00

To teach the dog to, "Leave It!" (things he/she can't have):

Put the dog on a leash
Throw a treat on the ground
As you pass by, say "Leave It !"

Do this a few times a day for about a week. When the dog looks to you after hearing, "Leave It!", give him/her a treat from your hand.

At the end of the training session, be sure to pick up the 'no no' treat and praise the dog.

This exercise will come in handy for lots of things!

{End}.

Raffle Drawing April 7th 4pm

2009-04-05T12:00:00.002-06:00

New Mexico's Animal Protection Voters will announce the winner of their raffle April 7th down at the Flying Star. Tickets are $10 and the prize: Cabo Azul Resort & Spa Three Nights/Four Days:
May 12-15th, 2009 Ocean View Penthouse. Click here for info {End} .

Sun. April 5 - ABQ - 2nd Chance Adoption Day

2009-04-03T16:56:00.004-06:00

Where: Petco on the Westside. (Old Airport Road by the Loew's off Coors Blvd by Cottonwood Mall)
When: April 5th from 11 a.m. til 3 p.m. (that's this coming Sunday!)
What: Great dogs and cats available.

Message from Debbie at Second Chance:
We recently lost a couple of great foster homes (due to economic and housing issues) and we are desperate to find homes for our dogs! Please come check them out and even if you can foster for us, that would be so helpful!!

As always, we are very grateful for any help and can use donations towards our food and vet expenses. You can donate securely on our website home page via Paypal or JustGive or ChipIn.

Thank you all for your continued support - We couldn't do it without you!!

Other contact info where you can see pictures and descriptions of the pets: www.secondchancenm.petfinder.com
{End}. .

Top 10 Reasons to Love Your Pet - (From a Pet's Perspective)

2009-04-03T12:12:00.003-06:00

Top TEN.....

My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
Give me time to understand what you want of me.
Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Take a moment today to be thankful for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without life's little critters.

. Author Unknown

Snake Aversion Training

2009-04-01T12:00:00.007-06:00

An important topic has been brought up by Freda Donica - snake aversion training. With snake season right around the corner this is a perfect time to discuss various methods of ensuring our pets' safety. Freda will be trying a method of snake proofing taught in Albuquerque and will update all of us. We will also be looking at other methods (ie vaccine, after-bite/antivenin therapy, keeping cortisone on hand, and the many different techniques of snake aversion training). We'll be getting the opinion of professionals and also hearing personal experiences. If you have tried any of these methods or have researched this topic, please email us at clipets@live.com . We would like to include your opinions and concerns and your experiences in an article that will be posted here during April for all to learn from and share.{End} .

Emergency Pet Notification Wallet Cards - by David Craig

2009-03-30T12:00:00.001-06:00

To protect your pets in case of an unexpected emergency which keeps you from your home for an extended period of time, one idea is to make a Pet Notification card for your wallet.

I keep one in my wallet that says the following:

*** PET NOTIFICATION ***

We have a pet at our house. If anything happens to us, please take care of this pet.

*Pet Name and type*
*Address*

This card is printed on red paper, laminated, and appears as the first card in my wallet. Hopefully, if there is an emergency (e.g. a car wreck) someone from emergency services will at least notify someone in your town about your pet so they can help care for the pet while you're away.

.

A Quick Technical Note

2009-03-28T12:00:00.007-06:00

Due to the prehistoric internet access speed we suffer from here at Cochiti Lake, we have several readers who are not able to view and download this site properly. We want to make accessing the blog easy, fun, and informative for everyone.

So I've tweaked it by limiting the home page view of posts to 10 rather than the original 18. This is why the left column is shorter than the right column at the moment. By doing this, the site will load faster for all of us on dial-up.

Now you won't see all of the great articles in the left column - they will automatically roll to the right side column under March Archive and/or Labels . For instance, Sue's article on dog therapy can now be seen under, "What is a Therapy Dog" in the March Archive and also under "Animals Helping Humans"/"Dogs" in the Labels section. Carol's article on dog training can now be found under, "Dog Behavior: Come" in the March Archive and the, "Dogs" section of Labels. Colleen's article on, "Important Tips: How to Set Up Your Will For Your Pet's Benefit" can now be found in the March Archive, etc. The final method is to simply scroll down the left column of articles until you see the words, "Older Posts"at the bottom - click that and all the previous articles and posts will show up. Voila!

Please let me know if you are having any further trouble viewing the site (clipets@live.com). As soon as Qwest brings in the lightening speed internet access we'll double the post views. (Do I hear Qwest calling?)..

WELCOME --- A note from the editors

2009-03-26T12:00:00.001-06:00

[reprinted] Welcome to the Cochiti Lake Internet Pet Community website ! We decided to create this website because Cochiti Lake is a pet-friendly town. We know there are many pet-lovers here and those that enjoy nature. And so we wanted to create a way of bringing all of us together in community spirit.

Instead of using a one-way means of communication where you would receive a printed newsletter that you might read and then throw away, we decided to create an interactive LIVE method for all to participate. It's convenient, it's fun, and best of all it keeps us all informed and connected. And we are fortunate to now live in a time where technology can make this happen.

This blog is eco-friendly, pet-friendly, and community-friendly. You can view or comment any time of the day or night, you can post helpful suggestions, (Click, "Read More") learn something new, and if you wish - you can print articles out on your own printer (recycled paper of course :-) Each month we will have articles written by our citizens and friends. Also written will be creative information, coupons, product & service recommendations, poetry, training tips, pictures, lost & found, events, etc. Since the site is a LIVE and INTERACTIVE website blog, all lovers of nature and pets in our town are encouraged to be socially interactive, adding their input in a free and helpful way. (You may notice a slight delay in your comments being visible as we test the technology platform, but this will resolve soon).

Do you have timely information that you feel our community could benefit from? Post away on this blog! Raymond will be pulling his pet expertise into the shaping of the blog and Krys will be running the tech and social networking side of the blog. And YOU, as a member of the community involved with nature and pets will keep the site fun and lively with your comments and information to share.

Let's keep it friendly and informative :-) Pass it on - let everybody know, help those that may not know how to log on or print - help your neighbor. Bookmark this page to visit daily/weekly, you can also sign up for the RSS notifications if you wish (anytime someone posts an article or a comment, you will automatically be notified via your computer), or heck - make this your community HomePage so you're on top of things daily! If you're having any problems viewing, posting, etc OR if you' like to write an upcoming article, please email us at mailto:Clipets@Live.comIf you'd like to be notified weekly by email of all the weeks Title Posts, please use the email above and put "subscribe" in the subject line.

Tips:
* Each post shows approx. one paragraph, followed by the words, "read more". Click this link to read the entire article. A new window will emerge. When you're done reading, click it closed and you'll be back at the home page listing all the posts.
* The "Label" section going down the right side of this home page is a section for categories past and present.
* To leave a comment about an article just to say, "I love this", "very informative", "I have more info on this to add", or "thanks for writing this", etc: from the home page post, click "read more". A new window will emerge displaying the entire article. At the bottom of the article will be the word "comment", click this. A small window will come up, type in your comment. Below this it will ask who you are, you have three choices: a) if you have a google email or what's called an "open id" from aol, wordpress, type pad or live journal, you can type that in and you're done; b) you can just type in your first name, or a nickname and your done. If you happen to have a website address, you're welcome to type that in the space that says "url" - but you do not need to do this; c) you can click "anonymous" and you're done. On a personal note, we would encourage you to use some form of identity that others in the town can recognize, just so everybody can get to know each other. It's your choice.
* If you'd like the blog to notify you when there is a new post or a new comment from someone, click on the corresponding white button on the upper right side where it says, "subscribe to clipets". (The white boxes have a little orange square in it.) This is called an RSS feed and stands for "real simple syndication". This is always free. Now in order to read the feed you need a reader - also free and easy. We personally use Google reader, but you're welcome to use Yahoo or any of the other readers. Just use your Google, Yahoo, etc sign in and you're all done - the blog will automatically send you updates and you can take look at them however often you wish at any time of the day. It will 'not' bombard your email box - it does not go to your email. By clicking on those little white boxes on the top right you will be walked through the steps - you do this only once, takes about 4 minutes (depending on your internet connection speed), and then you're done and you never need to do anything more with it. It will work automatically - voila!
Please note: you do not 'need' to subscribe to the rss feeds to read and comment on the CLIPETS blog - subscribing to the rss is only if you want instant updates.

Enjoy, learn, teach, encourage, participate - be a member of this community - we'll each benefit from the collective knowledge we share :-)

Brooklyn's Wild Parrot Population

2009-03-24T12:00:00.002-06:00

This may not pertain specifically to Cochiti Lake, but it's worth mentioning since NM's own native parrot population was devestated by Mexico's bird smuggling ...... NYC may soon join San Francisco in officially recognizing and protecting it's wild parrot colonies. There is a fascinating and detailed blog (beautiful pictures as well) about wild parrots in New York City. Barry Schwartz of the Feathered Friends Parrot Adoption Services, Inc. has been sponsoring the measure to protect the birds. Read more about these great birds and the community effort to protect them: http://www.brooklynparrots.com/ According to NM's Game & Wildlife website, there was a single wild parrot spotted on one of Ted Turner's ranches outside of TorC in 2004. In that part of the state there are non-native Mondell pine with cones that the parrot was found feeding on. Prior to this the only sitings reported were in the Animas Mountains of New Mexico in 1917 and 1919.

Earth Hour - March 28th

2009-03-22T12:00:00.004-06:00

Just a reminder to turn off the lights at 8:30pm Saturday March 28th for one hour. According to New Mexico's kob.com website: "The World Wildlife Fund sponsors the international campaign to highlight the impact that electricity usage has on global warming. Last year, more than 50 million participated along with world landmarks, including Rome’s Colosseum, New York’s Empire State Building and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge". .

Wild Horses of New Mexico - 2min. video

2009-03-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

This is a YouTube video by David Cramer. .

Pet Food Pantry

2009-03-18T12:00:00.001-06:00

New ABQ food bank helping those with pets. See the full article . .

ABQ Dog Ball - Sat March 28th

2009-03-16T12:00:00.001-06:00

Albuquerque's sixth annual dog-friendly, "Mayor’s Dog Ball " will be Sat. March 28, 2009. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez and First Dog Dukes will be hosting at the Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd. Proceeds will benefit the city’s Animal Welfare Department and the Albuquerque Kennel Kompadres Foundation. For more information or tickets visit: http://www.cabq.gov/pets/news. .

Irresistible Savings

2009-03-14T16:00:00.001-06:00

Anyone using, "The Goodlife Recipe®" dog or cat food and treats? You can print coupons at this site: http://www.thegoodliferecipe.com/great-promotions/3-dollars-off.aspx?CID=DogT (click the link to go directly to The Goodlife site or click 'read more' for more info). The Goodlife Recipe® brand's Wholesome Recipes cat & dog foods are $3 off and their Snacks & Treats for cats & dogs are $1 off. Here's the link again: http://www.thegoodliferecipe.com/great-promotions/3-dollars-off.aspx?CID=DogT

The Pros & Cons of Spaying/Neutering in Cats - by Sunny Thornton

2009-03-12T12:00:00.004-06:00

So, it's time to focus on spaying or neutering your kitten. But you're not sure if it's the right thing to do? You're wondering if you should leave your cat as nature intended? Let's consider the positives & negative factors so that you can make an informed decision:

Your pet is approximately 12 weeks old....the ideal time to spay or neuter. You've heard that you need to wait until your female cat has had her first heat? Not so....in fact, spaying her sooner will provide a faster recovery time for your cat!

What is neutering? It is a procedure to "de-sex" a male animal. The process greatly controls unwanted pet population growth, reduces or eliminates unwanted sexual behavior in cats, and decreases the possibility of certain disease conditions later in life.

Castration is a term used to describe the removal of the testicles in male animals. Spaying is a term used to describe the sterilization procedure in females, most often, the removal of both ovaries and the uterus. Both procedures must be performed under general anesthesia and both involve a surgical incision.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF SPAYING FEMALE CATS......

** Removes the risk of pregnancy:
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem and by allowing your pet to procreate you are adding to that problem. Finding safe and permanent homes (Click, "Read More") for new kittens is not as easy as you may think. If you decide to keep the kittens, you will be incurring the cost of additional food, toys, vaccines, regular medical checkups, feline dental care and parasite control for the lifetime of several more pets. In addition to these costs, the health of the mother can can be in jeopardy during each delivery. Some cats can experience serious complications during delivery or develop health problems while nursing. All of these potential problems can be avoided by spaying your cat!

** Spaying makes for a calmer cat:
Without the urge to mate, your cat will be calmer, quieter, and won't suffer the overwhelming urge to seek for a mate - no more "cat calls" and writhing, etc. The spayed female no longer attracts males with all their "calling", spraying and agressive behavior (a cleaner yard for you!) These females tend to be more gentle and affectionate than their unspayed counterparts.

**Spaying keeps your cat Healthier:
A final positive factor in spaying your cat is that she will tend to have fewer health problems later on. Without ovaries/uterus, the risk of ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer of the reproductive organs is no longer a concern.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SPAYING or NEUTERING

**Spaying/Neutering May Cause Weight Gain:
Some cats gain weight after sterilization (and as they grow older). Unaltered animals typically have a strong mating desire and expend a great deal of energy to this end. Without this burden, your cat may become too sedintary. Cutting back on the amount of food offered or changing to a lower-fat food will be beneficial. Most importantly, increasing your pet's activity level though additional play time or harnessed walks will be a big help. Remember, just as with humans, your cat needs to burn the claories that she takes in to maintain a healthy weight.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF NEUTERING MALE CATS........

** Removes the risk of pregnancy:
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem.....See paragraph 1 under, "Positive aspects of Spaying".........if you still don't get it, see paragraph 1 AGAIN!

** Neutering makes for a Cleaner, Calmer Male Pet:
Another positive aspect of neutering is that your male pet will be calmer and no longer feel the need to seek out a mate. He will not experience the stress of needing to mark his territory (your home & yard) by urinating on everything! He will feel the desire to roam less, and get into fewer fights with other animals which lessens the chance of disease. A neutered male tends to be more gentle and affectionate as well.

** Neutering Keeps Your Cat Healthier:
Neutering is the removal of the testicles. Without these organs, testicular cancer is no longer and issue, and the risk of prostate cancer is reduced by up to 87%.

You may have noticed that I mentioned a lessened desire to roam........ALL cats have this desire to some degree. As a responsible pet companion it is up to you to curb this desire. Your cat should be kept indoors at all times, or at least strictly supervised in your yard. Before you tell me that, "Kitty just wants to be Free" remember.....your 3 year old child probably wants to be "free" also. Free to run in a parking lot or on your block. You would never dream of allowing your child this freedom, so why would you allow your pet the "freedom" to be hit by a car, attacked by a larger predator, or taken by another person????

Last year approximately 17 million animals were turned over to animal shelters....these were the unfortunate ones. Only 1 in 10 found a home. What this means is that 13-1/2 million cats & dogs had to be destroyed. The sad part is that this is totally unnecessary! Much of the problem can be eliminated by simple surgery. Spaying & Neutering operations are performed under general anesthesia. It is quite painless and recovery is quick and easy in nearly all cases. Pet owners can and should help to ease the plight of unwanted and homeless creatures.

Next month's topic: Should I declaw my Kitty?

Important Tips: How To Set Up Your Will For Your Pet's Benefit - by Colleen Jones

2009-03-11T12:00:00.005-06:00

When remaking my will, I always include my furry children and birds. Whether we like to think about or not, we all will pass over the rainbow bridge one of these days. This is what I do and suggest you do according to your situation:

Make a bio of each pet - include idiosyncrasies, age, any medical info, your veterinarian's name and phone number, food likes and dislikes. How they act around other cats/dogs, etc. Sometimes a cat/dog needs to be in a single cat/dog environment despite the fact he/she lived together with other pets previously. For instance, I have two cats who live together, but are not friends. However, my other pets need to be kept together, if at all possible.

Canvass your friends, children, relatives - who will take one or more of your pets and treat them in the same style in which you treat them presently. It is important that none of them go to shelters, especially shelters where the usual holding time is limited to 7-10 days. Although, most shelters do try to prioritize older pets who's owners have died, 2 weeks is often not sufficient time to properly place a frightened, withdrawn pet into a loving home. Pets get depressed too! Non-kill shelters give a better chance and more time to find a new home, but most often they are full and unable to take a new pet on the short notice. Rescue groups are usually very willing to help, but again, someone needs to foster your pet for a time while paperwork and the necessary connections are made.

Once you've made arrangements with your friend or relative for your pet's care in the future, list these people in your will along with pet's name(s) and designate money to each for their care. (Leona Helmsley overdid it a little!). Please be reasonable, but not stingy - we all have an idea of how much feeding and veterinary care costs on a yearly basis for each pet. You should also make a provision as to what should happen with your pet if the designated person no longer wishes or cannot keep your pet after a time. In other words – a backup.

Although you can, I do not use an attorney to revise my will periodically. Instead, I follow the original form and add two witnesses at the end with a notary. Please don't forget to leave a copy with the person who will be the executor after each revision. This is perfectly legal, but you can check with an attorney. You can also have the attorney prepare your will and update it time to time.

Check with a professional to make sure you are legally secure.

Dog Behavior: "Come" - by Carol Tharnish

2009-03-10T12:00:00.005-06:00

The most important thing you can teach your dog is to come when called. Start with the dog on a long line or flexi leash, say the dog's name and the word, “come” [do not repeat]. If your dog comes on the first request have a treat ready and be sure to praise him/her.

If your dog ignores you, turn away from him/her and put pressure on the leash and walk in the other direction. No treats or praise. Start again, say the dog's name and the word, “come”. It may take a couple of times of you walking away with pressure on the leash for them to get the idea.

You can practice in the house off lead by going to another room or around a corner and call the dog – don't forget to have a treat ready! Remember, say the dog's name and then the word, “come”. Keep your voice very happy and always smile when your dog comes to you. In the house, randomly give treats and other times just really happy praise. [“Good dog” … “Yes, good boy”....Yes, good girl”.]

“COME” can save your dog's life. If you need any help, contact me.

Next month – another command that could save your dog's life, “Leave It”.

What Vaccines Are Safe & Neccessary?

2009-03-09T12:00:00.001-06:00

Are vaccines safe and necessary on a yearly basis? Should our pets have all vaccines on the same day or should it be split into 2-3 visits? Should all pets have the same vaccines year after year? These are serious questions in every pet owner's mind and the answers are not always clear or comforting. Let's look at the pros and cons: A search on Google for pet vaccination dangers will return tens of thousands of links on this topic reported by veterinarians and ordinary pet owners..... and show all kinds of facts, answers and experiences. So who do we trust, who do we believe? Are yearly "booster" vaccines really necessary or are they just a part of the "veterinary money maker machine"?

Let's not forget some facts: In dogs these days, we rarely see a distemper case. But 40 years ago many dogs died miserable deaths or had to be euthanized due to this disease. “Parvo” (parvovirus) can be a deadly killer to dogs, but the vaccine to help protect dogs from this disease is very effective and has prevented innumerable deaths. Cats – we rarely see cats with feline distemper anymore (also called panleukopenia) thanks to effective vaccines. But are vaccines giving 100% protection against these diseases? “No”, according to Dr. Foster (of Foster & Smiths), "If a veterinarian had ten dogs in front of him to vaccinate, there would be ten different immune systems that would accept the vaccine each in a unique way. Pet owners should keep in mind that no vaccine for humans or pets is 100% protective, 100% safe, in 100% of the recipients of the vaccine."

Dr. W. Jean Dodds, a noted researcher and immunologist in Santa Monica, CA, suggests that when giving a rabies vaccine, not to administer it at the same time as other vaccines. She suggests waiting 3 to 4 weeks before giving additional vaccines. Dr. Dodds believes that, “after ten years of age, booster vaccines are generally not needed and may even be unwise”. She states, "For animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (Weimaraners, Akitas, Harlequin Great Danes etc.), alternatives to booster vaccinations should be considered”. These include avoiding boosters except those required by law such as the rabies vaccine. Measuring serum titers annually for specific diseases and considering homeopathic alternatives to vaccinating are another alternative. “Some homeopathic approaches are considered "unconventional" by some so the pet owner should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and should give informed consent to this approach."

Although vaccines are researched, tested, and perfected year after year, every pet owner needs to be educated about them. Look to your veterinarian, the veterinary associations (conventional and holistic), books, magazine articles and via the internet. You need to find your comfort zone so you have peace of mind about these issues. At the same time, give your pet the maximum protection against these diseases. If you have the means to split the vaccinations into 2-3 visits, please definitely do so - it is much easier on your pet's immune system. If your pet is allergic to anything in the vaccine dose including stabilizers, preservatives, or antibiotics, please seek conventional AND holistic veterinary advise about future vaccination possibilities.

If you live in areas where you are not in the middle of an epidemic (such as the east coast's Lyme Disease), the vaccine against the disease is less likely necessary. If your cat never leaves your house, the danger is very slim he/she will contract diseases such as feline leukemia. Use your knowledge and judgment about vaccines for your pet and don't be afraid to ask questions! Never let your pet relapse on rabies vaccine (it's a law) - even if your area hasn't had any reported rabies cases in the past decade.

Working 11 years in the veterinary field I've seen both sides of the aisle and have my own opinion. One product that I've found helpful and highly recommend (recommended and used by many holistic veterinarians), is a homeopathic liquid called “Vaccination Detox” manufactured by Nature Sunshine. It is made for humans and works very well in pets to take away harmful side affects of vaccines and to help your pet's immune system bounce back quickly. We use it after every vaccination for our pets. Keeping your pet's immune system healthy is not just a great preventative measure against horrible diseases such as cancer, auto-immune disease etc., but also helps with allergies, skin and ear problems and other "annoying" chronic diseases.

Adoption and Rescue

2009-03-08T12:00:00.007-06:00

Santa Fe Adoption Days: Cats and Dogs

Saturday March. 28th Noon - 3PM at Zoe Guido's 1441 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe
Saturday Apr. 11th Noon - 3PM at Teca-Tu 500 Montezuma St. Santa Fe

Local Rescue Websites we personally work with:

Second Chance Animal Rescue - Rio Rancho
Bridging the Worlds - Santa Fe

There is an interesting group we recently found - they rescue Blind Cats: Blind Cat Rescue

What is a Therapy Dog - by Sue Kinzie

2009-03-07T12:00:00.002-07:00

I didn't know the answer to that question until I was blessed with my first Great Pyrenees. He came to me shortly after I moved to Cochiti Lake. I took him with me to the airport to meet relatives who were coming for a visit. Well, "Bart" as I called him caused quite a stir! People surrounded us to pet him and ask me questions. After all it isn't every day you see a 175 pound white dog at the airport! In the midst of all this a woman approached and said,” he would make a great therapy dog” and slipped me her card.

I called the woman after the holidays and inquired about the process. She explained that after the initial evaluation and two observed visits there were also five training visits in different medical facilities in Albuquerque. After sailing through training, Bart graduated as my first therapy dog. I began this to spend time with my dog and give to the community. Little did I know how enriched my life would become and how important this work is. The incident that follows is an example:

One day Bart and I went to Juvenile Detention. When we visit there, we have to be signed in. Then someone walks us to a big room where they lock the door behind us. There are other therapy dog teams there so I took Bart off to one side because he was so big. Soon we were joined be three inmates who earned the privilege of coming to see us. As the boys approached they said, “I have never seen such a big dog” and, “I didn't know they allowed bears in here”.
One of the boys came over and sat down facing Bart and began to stroke his head. Then he said, "I just got sent back here. I have been here before. I should have gotten a dog, but I made the mistake of returning to my old friends.” He started crying quietly so that the other boys wouldn't notice. He said things to Bart that he didn't dare bring up with them. That wouldn't be cool or macho.

This boy had no one else to share his feelings with so Bart laid his head in the boy's lap as he continued to talk. He cried,” I miss my father and my sister and brothers. I miss my little daughter. My mother was a drug addict. She is dead now. My family struggled with her addiction all my life. I got high with my friends and tried to impress a girl by stealing a computer out of a cop car. What a mistake! Now I am not getting out of here until I am twenty-one and I just turned sixteen.” He continued to cry softly as he buried his face in Bart's woolly coat. He sat with Bart like that until he was called to go back to his cell. As he left he said, “I hope to see you next time. Thanks for listening.” This was the first of many experiences I had with Bart and continue to have as I visit with my other therapy dog, Cody.

So the answer to the question, “What is a Therapy Dog?” It is a dog that is able reach people who do not or can not trust enough to communicate with other people. It is my privilege to facilitate their work!

Next month - learn about Sue's great organization she recently founded!

The Rhythm of Hoof Beats - ChristiAne Wolski

2009-03-06T14:00:00.006-07:00

Horses nourish the soul of humans. A quote often attributed to Winston Churchill allures to this: “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Riders of any discipline know this. Especially trail riding is often credited with mind refreshing and relaxing qualities. Add to that the experience of the sights, sounds, and smells of an unfamiliar or exotic landscape and you have the perfect setting for an (Click, "Read More")
invaluable experience that can transcend all aspects of life.

Lynn Webb counts herself lucky that she had plenty of such riding experiences. Her pleasant personality, a background as a barn manager for a private dressage barn, and her degree in graphic arts led her to work in the horseback riding vacation industry for over 10 years. Her profession came with the perk of going on ‘test’ rides in locations such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Ireland, England, Scotland, Italy, France, Spain and Greece! First hand she felt the exhilaration of galloping across a beach in Costa Rica and the peace of mind a truly trustworthy equine partner offers you in the breathtaking but foreign countryside of Scotland.

Beyond the opportunity of going on equestrian trips what Webb loved most about her job was the personal contact with horsepeople. Through email and phone conversations she learned not just about customer’s riding preferences and vacation styles but also about their families, including the family members with four hooves. Many customers kept up a friendly acquaintance with Webb after returning from their vacation. As Webb says, “once you start talking about horses you are family.”

Like her clients, Webb is a horse person in private life as well. Nearly fifteen years ago her Thoroughbred/Quarter horse gelding Cherokee River developed equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). This was when little was known about this neurological disease and its treatment. She purchased Fulton, a rather grumpy Thoroughbred/Oldenburg gelding a year after she had to put River down due to his severe symptoms. Fulton didn’t like either dressage or trail riding, which were the activities Webb and River enjoyed together. He only seemed to like jumping, which Webb however doesn’t count to her fortitudes. Webb invested in training herself and her equine partner and they formed a long lasting partnership. Now, at 30 years old Fulton is still going steady. He and Webb jump up to 2ft obstacles on trails and do hunter paces together.

Webb’s private and professional life always has been determined by the rhythm of hoof beats. And she loves it that way. A couple of years ago Webb cut back her work schedule to just assist with the content and design of the promotional material of the company she worked for. But she realized how much she missed the personal contact with clients and the horseback riding trips. It wasn’t long when she was approached by some of the facilities she had visited on her trips with the request to represent them. Webb jumped on the opportunity and established her own equestrian travel agency Hoofbeats International, Inc.

Webb proudly represents nine different equestrian facilities in as many countries. She is able to offer over two dozen different riding trips through Hoofbeats International, Inc. Whether it is a once in a lifetime dream trip or an annual group vacation, Webb is happy that she can offer to make people’s dreams come true. She thinks “that everyone who loves horses should experience the excitement and fun of taking a riding vacation!”

Hummingbird Ready - by Raymond Sandor

2009-03-06T12:00:00.006-07:00

One more month and the first hummers are due to arrive here in Cochiti Lake! They'll be hungry after their long journey. If you're into gardening, here are some tips about which plant families are the best to have in creating your hummingbird friendly garden: (Click, "Read More")

According to, "The Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds", often the best choices in each family are the red or orange varieties, and sometimes blue/purple. Plants that are native to our area have the best odds of survival and are familiar to the hummingbirds … but be imaginative!

* Mint Family: Salvias (Salvia spp.), Bee Balm (Monarda spp.), Giant Hyssop (Agastache spp.)
* Columbines: Aquilegia spp.
* Honeysuckles: Lonicera spp., esp. Trumpet Honeysuckle, (L. sempervirens)
* Bignonia Family: Trumpet Creeper, Cross Vine, Desert Willow, Yellow Bells
* Penstemons: Penstemon spp.
* Lobelias: Lobelia spp., esp. Cardinal Flower (L. cardinalis) and L. laxiflora
* Mallow Family: Turk's Cap, Flowering Maple (Abutilon pictus), Hollyhock (as Alcea rosea), Hardy Hibiscus, Rose of Sharon.
* Evening Primrose Family: Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), California fuchsia (Zauschneria californica), Fuchsias (Fuchsia spp.)
* Morning Glories: Ipomoea spp., esp. Cypress Vine, Red Morning Glory, Scarlet Creeper, Bush Morning Glory.
* Acanthus Family: Desert Honeysuckle, Flame Acanthus, Chuparosa (Justicia californica), Mexican Honeysuckle (J. spicigera),Shrimp Plant (J. brandegeana).

One well known source for seeds is the Park Seed Co. I've enclosed a link here:

Best Friends: A Parable - Author Unknown

2009-03-05T12:00:00.002-07:00

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" "This is heaven, sir," the man answered. "Wow!" Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked. "Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open. "Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked. "I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?" "Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there" The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in." "How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog. "There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked. "This is heaven," was the answer. "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was heaven, too." "Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell." "Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."

Homemade Cat Treat Recipe

2009-03-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Do you see the spark in your cat's eyes when you open the "pet" draw in your kitchen or the door to the cupboard? "It's cat munchies time!" Interestingly, as soon you open that draw/door, your cats mysteriously appear – sometimes even running to the sound in their sleep.

Cat treats are a great way to enliven your cat's day and although they don't do tricks for them like dogs, you definitely win their hearts over for that moment. Stores have a great variety of treats available for cats. Some cats are very finicky and if you don't buy their favorite treats, they'll walk away disappointed. Most cats prefer crunchy treats, but soft treats are a hit as well. Unfortunately some of these store bought treats are not as healthy as they should be - many of them contain BHA/BHT, a commonly known carcinogen (used as a preservative). Organic or “healthy” treats can often be expensive due to the cost of quality ingredients and for some reason most cats prefer the junkie stuff (just like their human counterparts).

Here are some easy, tasty, and cost-efective recipes to try at home. These recipes are preservative and "bad" ingredients free, you can use organic or just regular high quality ingredients to make them. Give it a try!

Chicken/Turkey treats

1-1/2 cups cooked chicken or turkey
1 large egg
2 Tbl. chicken broth
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup whole wheat flour

In a blender or processor whirl chicken, egg and broth until smooth. Scrape into bowl. Add cornmeal and 1/2 cup flour, stir until moistened. Cover dough and refrigerate at least 2 hrs. Then roll out 1/4 in thick on lightly floured board. Cut into 1/2 in squares or triangles. Scatter on 3 greased 12 x 15 baking sheets. Bake at 350 until golden (about 15 min.) Remove from oven, stir in pans and let cool. Refrigerate airtight up to 2 weeks, freeze for longer storage. Makes about 3 cups.

Lost and Found

2009-03-03T12:00:00.004-07:00

Post your lost and founds immediately so that the community can be on alert to help. Here is the format: Date, time, last seen, type of pet, distinguishing characteristics, how to contact you, comments.

Need Home: "Poochini" 2 yr old, male Australian cattle dog/Akita mix, good disposition, friendly with dogs, quiet and calm, gentle. Email clipets@live.com

Remembrance

2009-03-02T12:00:00.003-07:00

This post is reserved for our beloved pets who have passed on. We can post a picture and a small write-up of your pet for your remembrance. To the left is "Louie" who we recently lost at 18 years. There is a well-known poem about pets and people called the, "Rainbow Bridge". If you'd like to read it, click, "read more".

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...

Local Chat

2009-03-01T12:00:00.001-07:00

Any questions to ask the group? Ask the town? Any comments?. Continued...

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Advocacy Corner

2009-03-01T10:00:00.007-07:00

International, National, and State - take 5 minutes and make a difference. This is where we dispay organizations who are doing a great service for animals. We're not particularly endorsing any one organization, but they each offer much info and list various ways that you can help. Celebrate in their winnings for animals.

Visit the New Mexico link for APNM and find out the great things accomplished and how you can help too. There are some really happy stories: Animal Protection of New Mexico

There is an HBO special on Monday March 16, 2009 at 8pm MST:
Here is the link for the documentary with a preview video.

Three Ways to Help Horses in 2009: A) World-renowned natural horsemanship trainers, Pat and Linda Parelli will use their methods to help rescued horses find forever homes through the HSUS. Special opportunity to help rescued horses and see humane training in action. B) Bid on Exclusive, VIP Packages to Indy Motor Speedway Races and help the HSUS help neglected horses by promoting responsible horse ownership and combating equine abuse and cruelty. C) Ask Your Member of Congress to End Horse Slaughter - with a new Congress, we have an amazing opportunity to make this the year to finally ban the cruel transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption on U.S. soil as well as in other countries. Ask your Representative to co-sponsor and vote in favor of H.R. 503. It's just a click and/or a phone call - real quick to do, but makes a great impact!

Liven up your desktop: Download this kitty!

2009-03-01T08:00:00.001-07:00

To download this funny, captioned photo of Isaac and make it your new desktop background, follow these simple instructions: Click on the image at the left to launch the larger file. Right mouse-click on the large image and select "Set as background." Choose "Stretch" to fill your entire desktop screen or "Center" for a smaller image.

Pet Coupon Links

2009-03-01T07:00:00.005-07:00

This is our coupon link section. If you know of other great deals, let us know so they can be posted for the pet community. We are also working on a printable product coupon feature, hopefully we'll be able to add it on shortly.

The iPet GlucoMeter and Kit - just like the ones for humans, but it's calibrated for companion pets.

Petsmart - Free Shipping with $75+ Order Petsmart Coupon: SHIP Expires: Unknown

Petsmart - $10 off $100+ Purchase Petsmart Coupon: LUCKY Expires: 3/10/2009

The Company Store: Dog Parkas Was $39.00 Now $8.99 The Company Store has these dog parkas on sale for $8.99 after $30 savings. Shipping is free if you enter the coupon code at checkout. They have 5 colors to choose from. The Company Store Coupon: T8NFDLAST

Expires: Unknown

SierraTradingPost.com: Pet Ego Small Dog Bag Was $130.00 Now $59.95 + Shipping

Sierra Trading Post is selling this Pet Ego Small Dog Bag for $59.95 after a 53% savings. Folds easily into its own backpack. Standard shipping is $9.95. Expires: Unknown

REI-Outlet : Ruff Wear Palisades II Dog Pack Was $79.95 Now $29.93

REI Outlet has this dog pack on sale for $29.93 after $50 savings. Shipping is $5.99. This pack comes in blue or red and lets your dog help carry some items on a hike. Expires: Unknown

PetCareRx : Free Shipping on $35 Orders Expires: Unknown

Target - $5 off $50: Target Coupon + Free Shipping on 30,000+ Select Items *Online Only* + Clearance Sales + Click through to save an extra $5 off your purchase of $50 or more at Target.com. Some exclusions apply. See pop up when you click through for more details. Look for the free shipping icon next to the product to see if it qualifies for free shipping. Expires: Unknown

Wanted: Funny pictures

2009-03-01T06:00:00.003-07:00

Send us your funny pet pictures along with a caption and we'll feature one each month! Send to clipets@live.com or have Krystyn or Raymond scan it in for you. ......

Startup - Almost there!

2009-02-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

We're revn' up! Articles are almost ready to post, we're almost ready to publish in March. Stay tuned :-)