Pleasing 4 Pets

During the ongoing evacuation of many thousands of citizens across New Orleans in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav crashing into the US coastline , animal welfare groups are attempting to ensure that evacuees leaving the area are taking their pets with them, after many thousands of family pets lost their lives in the wake of Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

This time around US authorities appear to be far better organised ahead of the hurricane after announcing that shelters outside of the danger zone on the Gulf Coast were expected to accommodate domestic pets as well as their owners.

Large numbers of pet owners remained in New Orleans for the duration of the devastating hurricane in 2005 because their pets were unable to accompany in shelters, and as dedicated owners they could not leave them.

Animal Rescue centres in New Orleans have been supplying residents with boxes to so that small pets can accompany their owners by bus or rail. Many anxious citizens queued to receive free machine-readable animal ID tags so that if at any point during the evacuation their pets were lost the task of reuniting them with their families would be much easier

Domesticated felines can play a key role in your everyday life but like their human owners, cats require a certain amount of nurturing and attention.

Cats are renowned for their astuteness and intellect. They are also judged to be warm and faithful animals that will provide their owners with a great deal of companionship if they are cared for adequately.

The majority of cat owners are responsible and are aware of the importance of meeting the everyday need of their pets. But it should be remembered that even though your feline friend may give the impression of being extremely independent and self sufficient, they still look to their owners to afford adequate food and water in addition to sufficient shelter, care and companionship.

You should ensure that you provide your pet cat with a well balanced and nutritionally effective diet and take care that he always has access to clean drinking water. Cats also love to groom and be groomed, so try to brush him on a regular basis, as even short haired cats require grooming in order remove loose hairs.

Whilst it is true that cats do not require the same high levels of exercise as other domestic pets such as dogs, your cat will benefit from regular play with you, as this will provide him with both mental stimulation and physical exercise.

One of the easiest and most popular pets for children to look after has to be the common Goldfish.

In comparison to other species of fish that have been reared in captivity the Goldfish boasts an interesting and extended history. Today’s’ Goldfish are available in a range of varieties, but where exactly did Goldfish come from?

They are believed to originate from a variety of wild carp, know as the Crucian Carp. This is a relatively small carp which is a native of East Asia and its late descendant the Goldfish was one of the initial species of fish to be housed in ponds by humans.

It is not clear how or when they became domesticated but some of the earliest Chinese literature indicates that in China at least, Goldfish were kept as domestic pets as early as 800AD.

Later during the mid 17th century When Europeans began trading relationships with the Eastern world and Chinese culture had begun to farm Goldfish selectively, they were introduced to Europe and were housed outdoors in ponds. By the 19th century the common Goldfish had become firmly established as a domesticated pet and were housed indoors.

A recent Swedish report has indicated that a child which grows up with a pet dog has an increased chance of becoming a heavy snorer in later life.

The findings which were published by scientists at the University Hospital of Umea claim to have discovered that newborn babies having been exposed to the presence of a pet dog are 26% more at risk of being snorers than those that are not. The study went on to suggest that allergic reactions and inflammations could potentially change the contours of the airways permanently.

Airborne endotoxins - micro organisms which promote inflammation and are thought to affect the lymphatic systems of young infants which in turn is linked to permanent enlargement of the tonsils, were found to be more common in household which home dogs. of the tonsils.

The team of scientists examined almost 16,000 randomly chosen people aged between 25 and 54 from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Estonia and confirmed that of those that took part in the study 18% confessed to being habitual snorers - which was characterised as “loud and disturbing snoring at least three nights a week”.

The study went on to reveal that of the pets owned as a small child - ‘Cat’, ‘dog’ or ‘other pet’, only those who has lived with a dog as a child appeared to be at increased risk habitual snoring.

Tottington Charity Pets In Need recently held an open day to help raise funds for the Bury based organisation.

The event was deemed a massive success when it was announced that the 500 visitors to the charities headquarters at Reynard’s Bank had managed to boost the charities funds by an incredible £4,500.

In addition to a barbeque and various refreshments visitors to the event, including the towns Mayor and Mayoress were treated to a dog show which was judged by a local Animal Sanctuary Manager.

The organisation which was opened in 1990 by its founder member Dorothy Maden offers care and protection to neglected animals in the Bury area. Mrs Maden said of the open day:-

“It was a very successful event and I’m delighted that we raised £4,500. Around 500 people attended on the day. I would like to thank Bury’s Mayor and Mayoress. They were a lovely couple and he was an absolute gem and a credit to Bury. We were delighted to have them. Also, I would like to thank all the supporters and helpers who made the open day and dog show so successful.”

The day also offered the public the opportunity to meet some of the many animals that Pets In Need currently cares for.

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.

A leading Californian technology company has developed the worlds most advanced artificial animal life form.

Creative designers and engineers at Ugobe claim to have given machines a soul by creating Pleo, a robotic baby dinosaur which aims to create a union between humans and robots by combining behavioural traits and characteristics with the consistency and logic of technology.

Pleo is mechanically powered artificial animal life form with highly advanced software that enables it to interact in a manner similar to that of a real pet. The baby dinosaur can be woken up by the simple flick of a switch and upon waking will sleepily open his eyes, arch his back and sniff the air.

A chief technology officer at Ugobe said recently:

“The dream was to make something that can be alive and hang out with you, play with you and live with you. The more you interact with Pleo, the more it grows — well, the more you both grow. If you leave Pleo or walk out of the room, Pleo cries for attention”.

Despite being equally fascinating and appealing, Pleo is in fact a very intricate piece of equipment encompassing an extensive range of sensors, microphones and even a camera. It has the ability to respond to both sounds and touch, for example when you pick Pleo up, he will nuzzle up to your shoulder and emit endearing cooing noises.

The mechanical pet is expected to be popular with young professionals who don’t have sufficient time to dedicate to a real life pet, and those whose household restrictions are unable to adequately accommodate the real thing.

An oversized rabbit was given the hop by her new owners after her huge appetite proved way too much for them to deal with.

The giant European rabbit, named Roo was purchase for £129 by a family who took her home to live with them on their substantially sized farm. But the hungry herbivores uncontrollable appetite meant that she literally ate them out of house and home, when she began nibbling at their furniture.

Her frustrated new owners were forced to return her to the pet shop in Elgin, Moray where they had purchased her just a few days earlier.

Tracey Simpson from Pets At Home commented:-

“Her new owners thought they were buying an animal similar to a cat that would come and sit on their lap and quietly move around the house. But Roo isn’t like that. She’s full of life and because her teeth never stop growing, she likes to munch on things. That didn’t go down well.”

Super sized Roo manages to munch a whole kilo of kale and massive amounts of hay and other rabbit food each week. She also devours huge amounts of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

The good news is that the cute bunny has since been re-housed with a caring member of staff from Pets At Home who had looked after her since she arrived there.

As a growing number of people decide to treat themselves using holistic or alternative methods, it seems that an increasing number of caring pet owners are calling for their vets to treat their beloved pets using natural alternatives and organic forms of healing as a replacement for conventional medicines.

Holistic remedies can be explained as a philosophy that envisions the patient, whether that patient is human or indeed animal as a complete unit encompassing the mind, body and spirit.

The impetus of holistic pet care is on evading ailments with a combination of a healthy existence including the benefits of a decent diet and the effects of exercise to keep your pet stable and in optimum health.

While some pet owners research the benefits of holistic treatment in a last ditch attempt to relieve painful or complicated animal illnesses there are a wide range of other possible uses for these unconventional remedies, from acupuncture to deep tissue massage.

Other complimentary treatments include the use of herbal remedies to manage a variety of animal behavioural issues such as separation anxiety or uncontrollable obsessive behaviours, and all holistic remedies can be used in conjunction with traditional or conventional medicines prescribed by your vet.

If you are considering treating your pet using any form of holistic therapy you should ensure that any alternative treatments are issued under the close direction of a holistic specialist or under the supervision of a vet.