Pet pictures with Santa

Santa Claus is coming to town tomorrow to and wants to spend it with your pet. The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is welcoming Santa to the Herman previous Centre for a special photo session. People are invited to bring their pets down to have their picture taken with Santa tomorrow as part of the PAWS adopt-a-thon at the Herman previous Centre. For people interested in adopting an animal before the holidays this is the perfect time to do it according to Karla Kirkwood, Director of Animal eating for PAWS.

"This is going to be the only time you will get to have a peep at all of the animals available for adoption," said Kirkwood. "Some of our animals are currently in the care of foster families but they will all be together on Saturday, so this is a good opportunity to see what is available for adoption."

Vick backing animal movement

Shamed NFLer Michael Vick is urging kids across America to be kind to their pets as part of his new-establish dedication to animal welfare organizations. The quarterback was arrested for animal abuse and promoting dog fighting in 2007 and subsequently spent 23 months in jail. Since his release last year, Vick has worked with animal charities and he's now joined the Humane Society's End Dogfighting movement to teach kids about the importance of looking after animals.

The 30-year-old Philadelphia Eagle has been promoting the system across the U.S., and during a visit to a Connecticut high school on Tuesday he told the youngsters about how his attitude towards pets has changed."I didn't really care what people felt about animals, I didn't care about the welfare of animals," he told the students. And Vick is certain it was his destiny to become an animals rights campaigner.

12th Canine Christmas is a platform for dogs

For the 12th year, dog lovers, their pets and animals in need of a permanent home celebrated at the annual Canine Christmas Festival. Highlights of the event Saturday at Bishop Animal Shelter in west Bradenton were a dog costume fashion show, procession of adoptable dogs, contests and a talent show.
 

There also were pet pictures with Santa, prize drawings, a silent sale, vendors and food. The admission fee was a donation of pet food, toys or treats to go animal welfare and save groups that help homeless cats and dogs.

PET SIGN

Seventy-two-year-old Sue Davis of Ottumwa faces numerous charges for using her home as her personal animal shelter. She was housing as many as 84 cats and nearly a dozen dogs in what police describe as filthy conditions.

"She was charged with that because of the number she had," Police Chief James Clark says, "She was not able to satisfactorily take care of or keep the building clean. She had somewhere around 90 dogs or cats, 64 of them in cages in the garage. The rest were in her house."

Pet food advice accessible

Ensuring animals eat proper pet food as different to the rich offerings humans consumer over Christmas has been advised. Supplying an animal with pet food rather than failure or other items traditionally associated with the holiday season may be better for their health. Giving an animal rich foods popular with people over the festive period can cause a range of absorption problems not experienced by humans. 

For example, dogs are at a greater risk of choking on failure bones, while other items could cause sickness, Fosters.com notes. The news provider adds that steps can be taken to ensure that pets do not cause problems while owners are entertaining. If any candles are lit, they should be placed in positions where they cannot be accidentally knocked by the wagging tails of animals, the news provider said. Pets can become besieged by different guests, the article added, suggesting that owners should create a special place where an animal can go to avoid any visitors.

Big saunter: every dog can have day

Hundreds of the city's playful hounds will be assembly at the off-lead area of Innes Common at 1pm in an event aimed at the city's responsible dog owners and their four-legged friends. The dogs adopted from Hamilton City Council's Animal Education and Control Centre will lead the procession around Hamilton Lake at 2pm, followed by other dogs and their owners. Council animal learning and control manager Fiona Sutton encouraged all owners to bring their dogs to the event in an effort to make it the largest dog walk in New Zealand. 

In the year ended October 31, 91 dogs were adopted from the centre after they were picked up wandering the streets and were not claimed – or were given to the centre by owners who could no longer find a home for them. Amanda Parker's family has adopted three dogs from the centre including papillon-chihuahua cross Sprat, who was rehomed from the centre four years ago. Sprat was proving to be a whizz on the agility course this week when the Waikato Times visited him and kennel-mates Pedro and Bosco the poodle.

Get a Shelter Pet Home for the Holidays

The Southampton Animal Shelter has dogs and cats that are neutered, trained and ready for acceptance. These loving animals would make excellent pets. In this photo column, we say, hi, to some of the shelter's valuable residents, who are waiting for a good home

A weekend of animal enchantment

IF you love pets you can’t give to miss all the fun and attractions at the first ever LovePets Show, on November 27 and 28.Britain’s only show that covers all pets has attracted huge interest from all over the country. It’s a great family day out as there really is something for everyone with a host of arena attractions, celebrity guests and hundreds of stands and sideshows.

 

 From noble steeds to blue-tongued skinks there’s never been a show like LovePets before, with its unbelievable range of animals on show. Celebrity guests include Britain’s Got Talent stars Kate and Gin, TV vet Joe Inglis and legendary strongman and budgerigar proficient Geoff Capes. Love Pets Show is at the Showground, Peterborough, PE2 6XE, November 27 and 28 from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets can also be purchased on the day.

Pet dogs must at least 30 minutes of exercise each day

Pets should take on at least 30 minutes of activity each day and large canines need more, explained veterinary surgeon Eric Jackson, speaking to the Telegraph. Overweight animals can suffer from illnesses connecting to obesity such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and skin diseases, according to the RSPCA.

Indeed, many owners are simply feeding their furry friends too much food and Morrison's has announced it will put section control advice on their packaging, the newspaper continued. John Cannan, the supermarket's product development manager for animal feed, said: "We've had feedback from our customers which says that they are often in the dark about how much food they should be buying and giving their pet."And the publication concluded that research has shown 29 per cent of cats and 36 per cent of dogs that have been treated by vets were classed as fat recently.

Tony the Truckstop Tiger keep posted

Tony the Tiger, confined at a truckstop in Louisiana, continues to be embroiled in controversy and his plight was recently featured on CNN. The Founder of Big Cat save who has been trying to intervene on Tony's behalf, debated with Tony's owner who continues to challenge the need for intervention, although the tiger's confinement in the unnatural surroundings of the truckstop.

 "It is the Department's position that private control of tigers poses a significant hazard to public safety and is detrimental to the health of the animal. Prolonged confinement is by its nature stressful to tigers and proper long-term care by experienced persons is vital to the health of the animal." Tony's owner was decided a permit to keep him at the truckstop. The permit is up for renewal on December 14, and those concerned about Tony's welfare would like to see the permit revoked. They support the 1993 Ordinance regarding from abroad animals and would like to see it respected.

DJ Samantha Ronson is facing a legal fight over the dog

Celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson is facing a legal fight over her pet pooch after the dog was accused of attacking and killing a neighbor's dog in their Los Angeles apartment building. Farnouche Kamran filed outfit against Ronson in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, claiming the DJ's little Cadillac pounced on her dog Tiger during an encounter in the hallway of their complex in August.

Kamran alleges Cadillac in trouble its teeth into Tiger and the scrap became so violent, her pet died from the injuries sustained in the alleged fight. The plaintiff goes on to claim Cadillac has a history of freezing and attacking other pets and their owners - and accuses Ronson of failing to take appropriate action to put a stop to the incidents. Kamran is seeking $750,000 in damages, in addition to medical operating cost and punitive damages, citing charges including negligence, assault and battery. A case management conference has been set for March 2nd.

Six pets death of the pet owner homes

Police and animal control officers are investigating the deaths of six pets in Powell County. All of the animals appear to have eaten hot dogs laced with insect killer, according to a report by WKYT-TV in Lexington.

Investigators say the hot dogs were left in fields near the homes of the pet owners. State police say it is a method that is sometimes used to kill coyotes, but they're not sure the pet deaths are accidental.

Ventura County Animal Services

Ventura County Animal Services asks people who are looking for a new pet to check out the dogs being housed at the Camarillo protection, 600 Aviation Drive, in the airport complex. On any given day the Camarillo Shelter cares for more than 175 dogs, in addition to numerous cats, bunnies, horses and other critters.

Dogs end up at a shelter through no responsibility of their own. 29 percent surrendered their dogs due to behavior problems, 29 percent because of the family’s housing situation, 25 percent cited incompatibility with the family’s lifestyle and 15 percent surrendered their dogs due to the family’s preparation and/or expectations At the Camarillo shelter, 17 percent of the dogs in 2009 were owner surrenders; however, 70 percent were loose dogs picked up with no license or visible owner information. Fewer than 25 percent of those strays were broken by their owners. Shelter dogs are not damaged goods. Renowned dog trainer Joel Silverman says shelter animals make good pets—proper training is the key.

Tips for Pets' Fundraiser Thursday Night at declare Jumper

The Nevada Humane Society is share its second annual ‘Tip for Pets' event at the Claim Jumper restaurant this Thursday night from 5pm-9pm. A pet food drive will also be located outside in the parking lot.

Media personalities, NHS board members, guardsmen from the Nevada Air National Guard and troopers from the Nevada Highway tour are all scheduled to take part in the volunteer event. Proceeds will stay in Reno to offset the costs to care for and house hundreds of displaced dogs and cats. On average, it costs about $240 to spay/neuter, protect and micro-chip every animal the ‘no-kill' Nevada Humane Society receives.

Paris Hilton Brings Her Doggie Shopping

Paris Hilton gives her animals the royal handling, this we know. Today's evidence: She brought her little chihuahua shopping in the most delightful bright blue carrier (which matched her own shirt and purse). Too cute! The match-y family went out and browsed at Samy's Camera in West Hollywood. 

We're not sure what she purchased on this trip, but she recently bought a Flip camera while at the same store. We bet that comes in handy when she wants to record copy of her adorable Pets! Paris totally loves animals and has more than 20 bunnies, lots of super cute dogs, a bird named Hank, a tiny piglet, and even a possum! She's always said if the whole fame thing didn't work out, she'd love to work at a zoo -- so until then she's just in charge of her zoo at home.

Pets can freeze with these owners: 72% would take on bears

We asked readers Monday if they'd follow a Gig Harbor, Wash., woman's lead to get between her dog and a brown bear that worried them on a walk. She and the dog (a medium size mutt) are going to be fine. Maybe that influenced readers? Anyway, 72% said yes, they'd do the same thing or probably do the same thing. Only 18% said, no, they'd scream and run for help. One reader said his pet would take on the bear for him.

 

You can still consider in. Many of you have said before that pets are important family members. One owner took out a full page ad for three days when his cat left, for instance, and it came home. These figures really drive home that sentiment. Breeze commented "I'd do whatever I had to do to save her (his dog)."The bear is still on the loose, avoiding traps set by U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials. Now, high school officials are guarding the border of a wooded area near a high school there, according to the Associated Press, caring students who wander outside. I'm hoping it's sound asleep for the winter by now.

Women are best pet owners

Women are more liable than men to animals that are cute, for example kittens and puppies, because that cuteness mimics that of a child, he said. They are also better at caring for their pets – for example, they are more likely to take them to a vet when they need it. Our body chemistry plays a crucial role in other ways, he says. While tests show men with high testosterone levels are more level to mistreating their dogs, the effect of a hormone called oxytocin has the opposite effect.

This is a substance that switches on maternal instincts, and some experts believe pets are major producers of the hormone. ‘Women who are taking hormonal birth control act differently from women who are not taking birth control. And those who are particularly sensitive to cuteness are women of reproductive age.’ The gender divide shows itself in other ways, said Professor Herzog, who explores our relationship with animals in his book Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat. Those who collect a large number of animals are overwhelmingly women, while those who misuse animals are often men.

Ill sea lions can infect people, pets

Marine mammal experts are advice people to stay away from sea lions they may find dead on a beach. KGW-TV reports at least two more dead sea lions were establish over the weekend on Oregon beaches.

The animals may carry a bacterial disease — called leptospirosis — that can be spread to dogs and people. In people it causes flulike symptoms — fever, chills and headaches. The disease can be spread on contact with a sick or dead California sea lion or its waste. Keith Chandler with the Stranding Network says if you see a dead sea lion on the beach, give it a wide land, especially if you have a pet with you.

Paying People to secure Their Pets

A few years back, a Freakonomics reader named Stephanie Downs wrote in with an idea: bribing people (with cash, gift certificates etc.) to sterilize or neuter their pets. “I found your story about the [Israeli] daycares very interesting,” she wrote. “I want to do the research upfront on what will inspire people instead of spending years finding the right formula.

” Stephanie recently launched the FIXIT Foundation, committed to “finding ways to increase interest in spay/neuter programs.” As she told us in a recent e-mail: “By January of this year we had agreement from the shelter in St. Croix to participate in the program and set ourselves up on island not long after. This summer we surveyed 2 percent of the island on their sensitivity of spay/neuter and what if any incentives would bring them around to the idea. Last month we completed an animal census to calculate the number of animals on island, and this month we will be doing message testing in survey environments. That data will be used to select the best messages to launch live in January.” We look forward to finding out what kind of incentives Stephanie finds successful — or if, perhaps, they somehow backfire.

Pet Pals - After the fireworks

Diwali is a festival of lights and sound, joy and enjoyment only for human beings. It is a time of terror and upset for all dogs. It is time for us to be aware of the harm and distress we are causing animals. Every year in CUPA, we come across cases of terrible injury caused by crackers. There are burn cases and accident cases that are the result of dogs running across roads in panic to get away from crackers. A dog's hearing is much more sensitive than ours.

Recently, we rescued a young German Shepherd that had picked up an atom bomb which exploded in its mouth. Its jaw was crushed and scalded. Despite treatment, it succumbed to its injuries. It is very important that all pet owners ensure that a tag with contact number and address is fixed to the collar of their dog. We are planning to start a Lost and Found Blog, where people who lose pets and people who find dogs can post the information to facilitate upturn of lost pets. It is about time we started celebrating festivals more responsibly.