Does your kitty look like Adolf?

Kitlers... while a warped, but appropriate call for those who secretly feel their little feline has a Hitler mustache, this site is for you.

I scrolled thru many a kitty and found this one alarmingly close. Sure, the mustache should be a little bigger, but compared to the rest, he's got the classic Adolf comb-over... poor cat.

The Cat That Looks Like Hitler
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/

My cat Chardonnay, however, would be part of the Aryan race.

A Labra-foal?

You've heard of Labradoodles, right? Well, riding on the tails of hybrids, I thought it would be fun to create our own hybrid of dog and horse.

If you're not hip to that idea, then you might warm up to a Shetland pony who thinks he's a dog. He doesn't canter thru fields, but chases sticks and licks bones.

The video is oh-so-cute.

-Reuters

Human Zoo Cages

In Australia, humans and a pscyhologists are caged together. It is hoped the research will increase the well-being of apes kept in enclosures.

Reuters Video

Stem Cells Helping Muscular Dystrophy in Dogs

"Two dogs that were severely disabled by the disease were able to walk faster and even jump after the treatments."

How cool is this? Need I say more?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/ap_on_he_me/stem_cells_dystrophy

Party for Animals: October 8

Humane Society Legislative Fund is announcing a drive: Party for the Animals day this Sunday, October 8, with less than one month away from the 2006 midterm elections. All parties can dial in to the nationwide conference call on October 8 at 7:30 p.m. EST and hear from advocates working to pass state and federal initiatives to advance animal protection issues.

If you live in Raleigh, you can join the already formed party on NCState's Campus:
http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/parties/index.cfm?e=wolfpack

Or can join your own local party by finding your city & state here:
http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/findparty/index.cfm

Of course, if you can't make it, you can always contribute a donation to the organizer of your local party so that she can make her goal.

Loss of Pet

Unfortunately, it's inevitable, the loss of our beloved pet -the little guy who was a part of our family for so long.

Here's a grief resource to help you understand the process as well as factors of complicated grief, including euthanasia.

http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/famtoc.htm

H. Katrina Pet Remembrance Day - August 28

Hurricane Katrina Pet Remembrance Day - August 28

North Shore Animal League is planting a tree in remembrance of the pets lost and rescued in Hurricane Katrina.

You can take a photo journey and donate here:

http://www.nsalamerica.org/feature/katrina_year/remembering_katrina/

Are You a Young, Technologically Savvy Pet Owner?

If so, Purina is doing a good job of keeping you and your pet fed. From serious discussions on podcasts to whimsical barktones, Purina is just a paws reach to keeping you mobile.

While cellphone wallpaper isn't necessarily news on the frontlines of marketing, I think Purina dialing into the hands of grandpa's grandkid is definitely a good way of keeping the traditional connection of family and pets leashed.

Purina
http://www.purina.com/downloads/Podcasts/Index.aspx

June 11 - Party to Protect Animals from Disasters

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast last year on August 29, many evacuees faced a horrifying choice: abandon your animals and live, or stay together and face life-threatening risk.

Hurricane season officially started June 1, so passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act is a critical priority for the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF), the lobbying arm of The Humane Society of the United States.

Party on June 11: Host or Attend
Join thousands of people in more than 45 states (and in Ontario, Canada) coming together to fight for this important cause as party animals.
http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/

Host: http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/hostparty/index.cfm
Attend: http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/findparty/index.cfm

I don't have the space to host such an event in Raleigh -does anyone have space on such short notice? I'd be happy to send out APB to my friends.

Darwin Hybrid?

The other day, I happened to notice a fat squirrel with extra fur, thicker tail, and a wonderful racoon face.

Am I witnessing a hybrid? Or perhaps just one who hasn't shed his wintercoat yet?

Who's Not Supposed to be on the Counter?

After weeks of being consummed by tradeshow preparations and finally being physically gone for 8 days, Bacchus couldn't contain his good behavior any longer. Baccha-the-Hut exposes his charms on the kitchen counter after our return from NYC and we didn't argue since he's such a good cat that hams it up each chance he can.

Notice the paw in motion: he's kneeding the air.

Early in bed early in the next morning after our return, I found him curled up inside Andrew's arm purring loudly and both paws were kneeding the air. Talking, purring, kneeding... and I was too exhausted to go get the camera.

God what a huge belly.

Disaster Preparedness

Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. If you think you will never have to evacuate unless you live in a flood plain, near an earthquake fault line or in a coastal area, you may be tragically mistaken. It is imperative that you make preparations to evacuate your family and your pets in any situation. In the event of a disaster, proper preparation will pay off with the safety of your family and pets.

For your files: The Humane Society has created a list for Disaster Preparedness for Pets.
http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/
hsus_disaster_center/disaster_preparedness_for_pets.html

It's about time.
Now folks are 'officially' welcomed to bring pets during evacuation. Last week the House voted 349 to 24 to approve the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, requiring state and local disaster preparedness plans to take into account the needs of people with pets and service animals.

More tips:
1) Take photos of you and your pet 'together.' This is proof to get reunited should you get separated.
2) If you feel you need to run an errand during an emergency and believe you'll only be a few minutes, take your pets with you. You never know if you'll be permanently separated due to a fallen tree or worse.

More tips in NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/us/nationalspecial/01pets.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Leader of the Pack http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif- NYTimes Article

An insightful interview with Cesar Millan in NYTimes Mag today (05.07.06). Millan is the author of Cesar's Way, producer of tv show, "Dog Whisperer," and founder of the Dog Psychology Center in LA.

Millan's contention about people projecting their own neuroses is one I've been saying for several years. Dogs, like children, pick up on frentic energy and respond in kind. Thus, if a person is neurotic, so is the pet. Unfortunately, most people are not in touch with their own bodies to understand how they might constructively change their stance or response to any given issue. When this happens, pets and children don't know how to appropriately react since their owner/parent doesn't know how to play the part of alpha.

I know when I'm finished with tradeshow prep, I'm going to TIVO "Dog Whisperer" and picking up Millan's book. Hopefully, we can save this world from going to the dogs. They're the one's sitting on sofas ruling the house -and the senate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/magazine/07wwln_q4.html

Update Millan's Web Site: cesarmillaninc.com

Katrina Rescues: CupCake

An associate has rescued a number of dogs from Hurricane Katrina and is now looking for homes. Main Web site: Carolina UnderDog Rescue

Cupcake Profile:
I have an amazing yellow/white lab (pure), who needs a loving family. He is one of my fosters who came off a transport from MS last weekend. He is 14 months old and an absolute Cupcake! Dog, cat, child and oppossum friendly. He is very calm (especially for a lab!) And very smart! We are getting attached and want to find him a home quickly (already have 4 dogs) He has been abused, which astonishes me, and has spent some time in an animal trap (scarred leg). I'm guessing the oppossum friendly part is what got him in trouble with his previous owner who probably had visions of a ferocious hunting dog and dumped him when he went belly up to a duck.

Cupcake's photo (not a very clear one) on our Web site.

Choosey Squirrels Choose Jif

We're resolved to feeding the incessant little rodents that populate our yard and deck, partly to keep them happy while feeding songbirds.

Having finished our jar of a popular brand of peanut butter, we decided to have a little fun with our resident squirrels. Tossing a handful of wildbird food into the sticky, but mostly empty peanut butter container, we've been having a little fun watching them contend with peanut butter stuck to the roofs of their little mouths.

New Camera - Better portraits

Incredibly frustrated by a little cam my husband bought for me a few years ago, I desperately needed to update it. With pleasing results, take a look at a few experimental shots recently taken.

Pip, Pip + Bacchus

Merck Veterinary Manual

The single most comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information. Includes over 12,000 indexed topics and over 1200 illustrations. Rapidly search by topic, species, specialty, disease, and keyword using advanced search.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

AniMall

I've recently been introduced to AniMall, a non-profit Pet Adoption and Outreach Center here in Morrisville, NC. Interestingly, this is one of only three centers run by this business model in the US.

Additionally, Talena has invited me to sell CalligraphyPets products in her new location.

This is a center well-worth serving patronage. I know my pussycats love the catnip stuffed mousies they sell!

Learn more about AniMall.

Top 9 Mistakes by New Cat Owners

Adopting kitty is a huge step, so before you rush to purchase, research the needs of your new family member; you'll be rewarded in a very rich companionship.

While we know that cats are low maintenance, this doesn't mean that they're completely without needs. Here are some of the issues you'll want to address when considering Fluffy for adoption:

• Adopting in Haste
• Failure to Spay or Neuter a New Cat
• Neglecting Needed Veterinary Treatment
• False Economy in Cat Food Choices
• Declawing Without All the Facts
• Allowing a Cat to Roam Free Outdoors
• Neglecting Litter Box Maintenance
• Considering a Cat Property
• Not Allowing a Cat to Be a Cat

http://cats.about.com/od/newtocats/tp/topmistakes.htm

February is Litter Prevention Month

Celebrate Spay and Neuter month by spaying or neutering at least one dog or cat. You'll save potentially thousands of lives. 3-4 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year due to a chronic problem in this country: pet overpopulation.

This tragic predicament could be easily avoided if each pet owner spayed or neutered their pet. It'’s safe, affordable and improves pet health. Yet many pet owners say they simply have not bothered to do it yet!

In addition to decreased populationn, there are several benefits to the cat to whom is being spayed or neutered.

Neutered Male Cat Benefits are:

• Neutered cats are less likely to spray strong urine
• Neutered cats will lose the urge to fight
• Neutered cats will be less likely to try to escape
• Neutered cats will not suffer the abscesses from fighting
• Neutered cats will be less likely to contract diseases such as FeLV and FIV
• Neutered cats will not be subject to testicular cancer
• Neutered cats will not likely develop "stud tail," caused by overactive glands in the tail
• Neutered cats have a decreased risk of mammary cancer

Spayed Female Cat Benefits:

• Decreased Risk of Mammary Cancer
  Ideally, to give a female cat protection against mammary cancer, she should be spayed prior to her first heat. Each subsequent heat brings a greater chance of mammary cancer at a later time.
• Eliminates Risk of Ovarian or Uterine Cancer
  Spaying a cat involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries. No organs: no cancer; simple as that.
• Eliminates Chances of Pyometritis
  Pyometra is a virulent bacteria that attacks the uterus of cats, usually a week or so after estrus, and is a potentially fatal infection.

Please take the time to call your vet right now to do your part in the prevention of unwanted babies. Kittens & puppies are cute, but for many people, the cutess ceases when people lose interest.

Get Oprah to Help!
Meanwhile, you can also sign a petition to get the marketing highness, Oprah, to advocate for spaying and neutering.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/328724678?ltl=1139838335