"Be As Smart As Your Pet"

I read this on the menu of onoe of my favorite restraunts.  Thought I would share it.  There is definitly some truth to it.

Be curious about the world around you.

Take time to play everyday.

Live in the moment,

Take naps.

Give and receive affection.

Find the joy in ordinary things.

Forgive quickly,

Get plenty of fresh air.

Never be afraid to wag your tail!

Boston Blackies

The Invincible Dog Chain Toy

This weeks item for Fun Stuff Fridays is The Invincible Dog Chains.  I see these a lot as toys brought in as luggage for guests boarding in our dog resort.  We also sell them in our pet store.  They are durable for dogs who like to chew.  They are solid rubber, however I would not reccomend them for agressive chewers.  They are a great toy for households with multiple dogs, as they make a good tug toy.  They are made by JW Toys.  They have a great line of dog toys. 

Surprised Kitty

How funny is this! 

Gin The Dancing Dog

By now, you all know Toby, my blog side kick is a Border Collie.  I think Toby is pretty special and talented in his own way.  Let me tell you though this adorable Border Collie on the video definitly has Toby beat on the talent side.  Good luck to Gin and her owner.  They are contestants on Britians Got Talent. 

How Well Do You Know Your Cat?

photo and article from National Geographic

Domestic cats, no matter their breed, are all members of one species. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. Ancient Egyptians may have first domesticated cats as early as 4,000 years ago. Plentiful rodents probably drew wild felines to human communities. The cats' skill in killing them may have first earned the affectionate attention of humans. Early Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and even mummified their beloved pets for their journey to the next world—accompanied by mummified mice! Cultures around the world later adopted cats as their own companions.

Like their wild relatives, domestic cats are natural hunters able to stalk prey and pounce with sharp claws and teeth. They are particularly effective at night, when their light-reflecting eyes allow them to see better than much of their prey. Cats also enjoy acute hearing. All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.

Cats communicate by marking trees, fence posts, or furniture with their claws or their waste. These scent posts are meant to inform others of a cat's home range. House cats employ a vocal repertoire that extends from a purr to a screech.

Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last morsel from an animal bone (and groom themselves). Their diets vary with the whims of humans, however, and can be supplemented by the cat's own hunting successes.

How Well Do You Know Your Dog

photo and article found on National Geographic

Dogs were probably the first tame animals. They have accompanied humans for some 10,000 years. Some scientists assert that all dogs, domestic and wild, share a common ancestor in the small South Asian wolf.

Today humans have bred hundreds of different domestic dog breeds—some of which could never survive in the wild. Despite their many shapes and sizes all domestic dogs, from Newfoundlands to pugs, are members of the same species—Canis familiaris. Although they have domestic temperaments, these dogs are related to wolves, foxes, and jackals.

Domestic dogs still share many behaviors with their wild relatives. Both defend their territories and mark them by urinating on trees, rocks, fence posts, and other suitable sites. These scent posts serve notice to other dogs that an animal is occupying its territory.

Many pet dogs also bury bones or favorite toys for future use, just as their wild relatives sometimes bury a kill to secure the meat for later feasts.

Dogs communicate in several ways. Scent is one method, another is physical appearance. Body position, movement, and facial expression often convey a strong message. Many of these signals are recognizable even to humans, such as the excited tail-wagging of a happy dog or the bared teeth of an angry or threatened animal. Vocally, dogs communicate with a cacophony of sounds including barks, growls, and whines.

Domestic dogs serve as more than companions; many earn their keep by working hard. Dogs herd livestock, aid hunters, guard homes, and perform police and rescue work. Some special animals even guide the blind—a poignant symbol of the dog's longstanding role as man's best friend

Lucky Cat

In New Jersey this week, a feral tomcat was rescued from the prospect of spending a lifetime looking like a framed picture of himself. Seven months ago, the black cat put his head through a hole in latticework under a house, and became stuck. Animal Control Officer Don Montgomery tried to free the cat (who he has since named “Lucky”), first breaking off a section of the latticework, but Lucky had other ideas and took off with 4 inches of latticework still around his neck.

The big black cat stayed in the neighborhood but avoided capture for seven months. Miraculously, he sustained no injuries from his latticework collar.

On Jan. 8, Montgomery set a trap outside a crawlspace beneath a house where Lucky was hiding. The next day Lissy Holryd, the trap, neuter and release coordinator for the Animal Alliance of Cape May County set a larger trap and caught him. Veterinarian Matt Schwert drove to the shelter to remove the latticework and while he was at it, did some snip-snip-snipping and took care of Lucky’s boy bits.

Lucky was released back to his neighborhood on Jan. 11th. Montgomery said he would frame the latticework and hang it in his office.


[PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Farmer, Cape May County Herald]

Expedition Wild

I think this might be a new show for Toby and I this spring! Looks like it will be both educational and fun!


About Expedition Wild

Can a man teach his 800-pound grizzly bear best friend, raised in captivity, to fish like its wild cousins? Naturalist Casey Anderson ventures into the Alaskan wilderness to study the biggest bears on the planet — and pick up fishing tips for his bear pal.

Brutus the grizzly bear enjoys his 25,000-calorie breakfast — 35 pounds of treats such as raw chickens or carrot cake — but when his human best friend, naturalist Casey Anderson, presents him with a fresh, flopping fish, Brutus is confused and uninterested. Raised by Casey from birth, Brutus is used to having his food delivered. Now, Casey sets off on an adventure to the Alaska wilderness to observe Brutus’ grizzly cousins salmon fishing, hoping to gain new insight into their technique and teach it to his six-foot, 800-pound, furry friend.

Cats

Click on the photo above to see how well you know your cat!

Photo and quiz from National Geographic.

Pet Insurance

Toby and I saw this article on the I Love Dogs website. Some very helpful information. I do believe there are now more insurance agencies out there now with Pet Policies.

Progressive Insurance was of the first to offer this coverage, and is now increasing the amount from $500 to $1,000 for pets injured or killed in auto accidents. As scary as this might sound to dog-lovers like us, it is important to know how to protect our pups. Another important aspect of this coverage is its cost. Surprisingly enough, Progressive offers their “pet-injury” coverage at no additional cost to their customers. This is great news for drivers who will be keeping their furry family members in tow all summer long.

After Progressive started their pet coverage in 2007, Farmers and Auto-Owners Insurance each jumped on the idea, and began making similar offers to their animal-loving clients.

Here is something to consider if your company does'nt offer this pet-friendly service. According to an interview with Krissy Posey, a spokeswoman for Allstate insurance, “People whose pets are injured in a vehicle accident can file a claim under property damage if their insurance provider does not offer specialized pet coverage.”

However, Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute adds “What auto insurance companies consider legitimate property damage differs from company to company and state to state,” and “In traditional policies, it would'nt be unusual for a company to deny a claim of pet injuries based on property damage liability limits.”

While many of us might be appalled at categorizing our furry friends as “property,” this coverage can help defray the costs of vet bills incurred if the worst should happen.

Another leading insurance company, State Farm, offers a similar coverage through a “personal articles” policy. However, this only covers the “accidental direct physical loss” of a pet, which means it covers instances of accidental death, if your pup escapes, or if the poor guy is stolen. Surprisingly, their coverage is only available for pedigree pups, so be sure to have your documentation ready if you are interested in this type of coverage.

Additionally, coverage varies state to state. Farmers insurance, for example, does not offer the coverage in Oklahoma, but does in California. So your best bet is to call your local agent and see what your policy’s options are to help out your pooch—in hopes that you’ll never have to actually use the coverage, of course.