Pleasing 4 Pets

There are wide selections of snakes all over the world some of these are venomous and could kill and others are harmless and could keep as pets.

The three most common types of snakes you will find as pets in the common house hols include:

Corn snake. This is the most common type of snake that people tend to get as pets if they don’t know a whole lot about taking care of a snake. That’s because this snake is considered to be the most domesticated of snakes. It’s an easy breed to care for and it acclimates to a variety of climates so it’s the kind of snake that you can get even if you only plan to learn the bare minimum about taking care of your snake.

Kingsnake. At first glance you might think that this snake is a vicious snake because the “king” in its name comes from the fact that this snake will eat other snakes in the wild. They’ll also eat them in some cases if they’re caged together so you only want to get one of these. Despite this tendency, the kingsnake is a good pet snake that is fairly easy to take care of. It’s slightly longer than the corn snake but it’s also a thin snake.

Ball python. Those people who are seeking to get a big fat snake probably have something like a python in mind. The only downside to this snake is that it requires more attention than the other ones on the list because of a tendency to refuse food for long periods of time which causes it to get ill. This isn’t a major problem but does mean you need to watch it during feeding time.

Before you really consider buying a snake, there are plenty of things to think about. Here’s a nice long list for you, I won’t bother trying to pad it out or make it wordy. Just make sure you have a serious think about each one of these points, maybe even write down the answers.

• Why do I want a snake?
• Do I know what type I want?
• How big is it going to get?
• What size vivarium will it need as a hatchling, and at full size?
• What does it eat?
• Where will i store its food?
• How long will it live?
• What temperature does its vivarium need to be?
• Who will look after it if I’m away?
• Where’s my nearest reptile vet?
• Can you cope with killing smaller animals (rodents, worms, crickets) to feed your snake?

There are plenty of other considerations, but just bear in mind – a snake is not a simple pet to look after. They need constant care and attention and their habitat needs to have shade, water, constant heat and humidity and needs to be cleaned very often. Don’t buy a snake before you’ve thought all this through. It’s not fair on the poor thing.

Yep, that’s right – you either love them or you hate them. Very few people I know would say ‘I don’t mind snakes’ but if you want to prove me wrong, go ahead, give it your best shot.

Having a pet snake is something that fascinated me since I was tiny; our primary school had a communal pet snake – a read and black corn snake, that we got to hold on to from as young as 5.
One big thing to bear in mind is that they are not really like other domestic pets (cats, dogs, rabbits). They are closer to fish in that they will spend most of their time in their vivarium, to be looked at and fed. Many species of snake are happy enough to be handled, but they will not like being cuddled like a kitten.

Corn snakes are by far the most common species of pet snake, and that is for very good reason. They are pretty docile, don’t grow to a huge size, and they come in all sorts of colours.
I love snakes. Can you tell?

Animal lovers buying pets over the festive period this year have been alerted to an international pet scam which incorporates the advertising of cute looking pets available for purchase, which often do not even exist.

Trading standards officials have confirmed the discovery of a number of classified ads, found in free local newspapers and online were aimed primarily at conning consumers into parting with large sums of cash.

Officials also revealed that the ads offered a variety of pedigree puppies and other exotic animals at discount prices. Some even claimed to offer the non-existent pets up for free adoption.

Cash is then requested for veterinary, quarantine and delivery costs.

The trading standards manager at North Lanarkshire Council, David Roderick who is also head of the ‘Scambusters’ team who work alongside Dundee City Council, said:-

“Often these pets do not even exist.

Consumers should look out for telephone numbers beginning with ‘070′. These are known as personal numbers, but your call could be redirected anywhere in the world and cost up to 50p a minute from a landline, or considerably more from a mobile phone.

Not all 070 numbers are connected to this scam, some are legitimate sales avenues.

The other things to look out for are a ring tone that differs from the standard UK double ring; and an echo on the line. Both are indicators that the call is connecting outside the UK.

If the seller asks for a money transfer to cover delivery, quarantine or veterinary costs, buyers should be very wary.”

UK Veterinary Charity, The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) issued a stark reminder to pet owners recently, warning them of the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite in pets during the winter months.

Despite often having thick coats of fur, the PDSA confirmed that any animal has the potential to develop frostbite after ongoing contact with any cold surface, although Hypothermia is more likely to be seen in small, aged or sick animals, particularly in breeds with thinner coats or naturally low body fat.

The PDSA advises owners of small furries, such as Guinea pigs and Rabbits to house them indoors during sever winter weather. Puppies and kittens experience particular difficulties controlling the temperature of their bodies and the PDSA recommends that they are kept indoors during spells of cold weather.

The charity also advises pet owners to dress smaller dogs particularly those with thinner fur, appropriately, and to remember to clean and dry body and paws thoroughly when they have been outside in cold or wet weather.

One senior veterinary surgeon, Sean Wensley revealed that shivering in an animal is the primary sign that an animal is cold, but that shivering stops when an animals body temperature becomes critically lowered after which animals appear subdued with cold paws and ears. He said:-

“Frostbite, which develops through prolonged contact with cold surfaces, can affect a pet’s ears, paws, tail, scrotum and mammary glands. Affected skin will at first appear white and will be itchy and painful.

In severe cases, the skin will turn black. Owners should check their pet over regularly as a pet’s fur can hide frostbite damage. The first thing you should do if you suspect your pet is suffering from hypothermia or frostbite is to make sure they are dry.

Then, gradually raise their body temperature by placing them next to a well-covered hot water bottle or use a hair dryer, on a low heat. It is very important to call or visit your vet for advice.

Don’t ignore the signs of possible hypothermia and don’t take any chances.

It’s easy for us to wrap up warm and add on layers to keep us snug, but it’s not that simple for our pets, That’s why, at PDSA, we are keen to give owners some important seasonal advice to help keep their pets safe and healthy as the cold winter weather sets in.”

Many hundreds of exotic animals were recently discovered by police officers who stormed two neighbouring houses in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

In addition to the animals, a hoard of drugs, various items of jewellery and a machete were unearthed at the houses located in the Fitton Hill area of Oldham.

Startled police officers stumbled on massive swarms of black beetles before confiscating hundred of other animals, including 14 Gecko lizards, 4 snakes, a number of snapping turtles and some chickens.

One of the officers involved in the raid carried out by Greater Manchester police revealed that the house was ‘like a zoo’.

Other animals removed from the properties included an 18ft boa constrictor, a number of Macaw parrots and hundreds of lizards, mice, beetles and various other insects.

Another of the officers involved said:-

“The boa constrictor was as thick as a rolled up carpet and there were thousands of insects, they were the worst.

All the insects were running around, large black beetles, big horrible things with antennas, two to three inches long. The noise was horrendous, swarms of them. It was like searching in jungle conditions”.

After the search Greater Manchester environmental health officers and a local vet were drafted in to look after the animals and began the mammoth task of attempting to re-house them.

At least 10% of individuals will experience an intense phobia during their lifetime, and one of the most common known phobias is a fear of animals - or Zoophobias.

By definition, a phobia is an illogical and irrepressible fear of a certain entity or circumstance. Some people suffer from such extreme phobias that will go to incredible lengths in their daily lives to avoid the subject of their phobia.

An illustration of this is an individual suffering from a phobia of birds - or ornithophobia may be too afraid to go outdoors in case they encounter one.

When confronted with the subject of their phobia, some suffers may even experience panic attacks.

Others become so stressed when they encounter the source of their phobia that they suffer from panic attacks.

Rather than a general fear of animals some phobics are affected by a fear of certain animals, for example common animal phobias include dogs, cats, mice and spiders.

Regrettably, most phobics never attempt to seek help, although the vast majority of sufferers who do undergo therapy for a phobia are cured.

Some common Zoophobias are:-

Alektorophobia Fear of Chickens
Cynophobia Fear of Dogs
Gatophobia Fear of Cats
Ichthyophobia Fear of Fish
Hippophobia Fear of Horses
Entomophobia Fear of Insects
Musophobia Fear of Mice
Batrachophobia Fear of Reptiles
Ophidiophobia Fear of Snakes

This Sunday 5th October at 6.00pm, the Holy Trinity Church in Southport will hold its 3rd annual pet service
Local Reverend, Rod Warner will thanks for the animals which enhance our lives and offer us unconditional companionship and love. Each pet will be individually blessed by the reverend at the altar.
The pet service remembers the patron saint of animals - St Francis of Assisi. In 2007, the Holy Trinity Church made acquaintance with many of its parishioner’s domestic pets from cats and dogs to ferrets and hamsters and even the odd turtle!
One church goer transported her dog which was suffering from severe arthritis, to the altar to be blessed in a shopping trolley.

The Rev Garner commented recently:-

“We have an open door so you never know what will be coming down the central aisle. Thankfully, in the previous two years the animals have been on the smaller side. I always take care when blessing the ferrets, though, and the parrots always seem to be well behaved. A warm welcome will be given to everyone, whether they have been before or not. It is not just for pet owners but pet lovers too, animals mean the world to many people and this is a great opportunity to give thanks to God”

After the sermon and blessing have taken place a community vet will provide a short address on his efforts inside the local area.

A recent report has revealed that there are almost twice as many domestic pet insurance policies held in the UK as there are private health insurance policies, with 23% of our pet population insured in comparison to only 12% of us being covered by private medical policies.

The report confirms UK pet owners as being amongst the most considerate and caring across the globe, surpassed only by Swedish pet owners, who lay claim to the largest populace of insured pets in the entire world.

Ewan McNeil, a former leader of the British Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons, went on record as saying:-

“We are a nation of animal lovers, and many of us regard our pet as part of the family; I’m not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular - people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets. Veterinary healthcare has made great strides in the last few years offering highly sophisticated treatment for a huge range of animal ailments. Pet insurance helps owners choose the best treatment for their pets without worrying about costs.”

In addition to this the report revealed a 41% increase in the demand for the insurance of smaller pedigree dogs – or ‘handbag’ dogs which are often more costly to insure than other types of dogs

Household cleaning materials are the most common known causes of pet poisoning. Cats appear to be more susceptible to poisoning in this manner, perhaps because of their agility and ability to reach items that might usually be considered out of harms way.

Cats are celebrated for their spirited and curious dispositions, but unfortunately this can on occasion lead them to eat or drink hazardous substances. Regrettably a typical family home can encompass a substantial amount of potentially harmful or poisonous matter that your pet can all too easily gain access to.

Every year massive numbers of pets require medical intervention by their veterinary surgery after being exposed to toxins. The prevention of these incidents can be greatly reduced by increasing pet owners’ awareness off possible toxins.

As a pet owner it is your responsibility to ensure that as far as possible your animal companion remains out of harms way, but many owners are simply unaware of the dangers to pets that lurk within their households.

There are a wide range of substances that have the potential to poison your pet. Onions, caffeine, chocolate, and even bread can cause toxic reactions in animals.

There are also a number of household and garden plants that can be enormously toxic to pets and a vast array of household substances can be deadly to your pet from dishwasher powder and washing up liquid to scented oils and ordinary detergents.

If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned retain any substance that you consider might be responsible its original packaging if possible and seek advice from your local veterinary surgery immediately.

You could reduce the risk of pet poisoning in your home by getting rid of any pot plants, and instead using artificial plants. Cats and dogs are not likely to pay plastic plants any attention, and they still look as good as real plants.