Pet Junction

More Rules For Stray Cats

2007-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Stray cats that are petted, played with, picked up and cuddled will absolutely not be given a name.

Stray cats with or without a name will not be allowed inside the house at any time.

Stray cats allowed inside will not be permitted to jump up on or sharpen their claws on the furniture.

Stray cats will be permitted on furniture but must sharpen claws on new $114.99 sisal rope scratching post with three perches.

Stray cats will sleep outside.

Stray cats will sleep in the garage.

Continued...

Rules For Stray Cats

2007-09-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

Rules for Stray Cats

Stray cats will not be fed

Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with a little milk.

Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with warm milk, yummy treats and leftover fish scraps.

Stray cats will not be petted,played with or picked up and cuddled unnecessarily.

More rules coming soonnnn...

The Obese Dachshund Trims Down

2007-08-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

A 5-year-old obese dachshund receives relaxing massage in a hot spa ( and below takes a walk on an aqua treadmill) at El Perro aqua fitness club for dogs in Tokyo, Japan. El Perro provides fitness programs for dogs to keep them healthy, also offers diet courses for obese dogs where one can learn how to balance their pet’s diet by comparing measured weight with ideal and calculating the amount of calories necessary for dogs to take. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Do You Really Know Your Theology?

2007-08-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Do you really know your theology?

The 3rd man in history to walk on water:

The 1st one was Christ...
The 2nd one was the apostle, Peter...

Then there was this guy, Jose..

A Ten Second Awwwwwwwwwwww ...

2007-08-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR SOUND ON ...

Ainu Dog

2007-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Description: The Ainu Dog is a thin, muscular, sturdy-looking dog. It is impulsive and fast and has a light gait. Ainu's have small, erect ears that are at a right angle to the brow. Its eyes are somewhat small, dark brown and set triangularly. The teeth are healthy, solid and non-protruding. Some have spots of black on their tongues. The bridge is straight leading to its dark nose. The well-fitted lips have dark pigmentation. The tail curls in typical Spitz fashion. The Forelegs are straight and lean and the hindquarters are covered with a double coat. The harsh, straight coat colors come in sesame, brindle, wolf gray, red, brown or white.

Temperament: The Ainu Dog's character is packed full of desirable qualities. He has proven a fearless and determined hunter, watchdog, guard and defender, and at the same time a loyal and well-behaved dog. They have also been used as sled dogs and scenting hounds and can be trained for defense. It is intelligent and quickly trained. This large game hunter is extremely courageous for its size, willing to attack a 650 pound bear! Yet it is still gentle, obedient and home-loving. It has an innate sense of direction and can therefore return to its master no matter how great the distance. This is a typical Shika-Inu, or medium-sized dog: headstrong, stubborn, aggressive with other dogs, but deeply summative to its human family. Despite its long history as a working breed, the Ainu Dog ideally combines the roles of family pet and hunter. This breed should not be allowed to run free around other animals. They are good with children if they are raised with them from puppyhood.

Height & Weight: 18~22 inches ; 20-30 kg

Living Conditions: Not meant to be an apartment dog. They live open spaces and yards. Their thick coat protects them from cold.

Grooming: The harsh, straight, double coat of the Ainu Dog should be brushed and combed on a regular basis.

Origin: The Ainu Dog is a Japanese Spitz breed rarely seen outside that county. The dog was named after the Ainu tribe. Origin is unknown. They arrived in Japan over 3,000 years ago when the Ainu brought this Spitz-type dog with them. As the Ainu were pushed onto the island of Hokkaido by an influx of Japanese people, their dogs gradually became restricted to this island. The dog's ever alert and suspicious nature lent itself to the required role of village guardian. Their dog has changed little over the centuries. The Ainu Dog is probably the oldest of the Japanese breeds. It was later named the Hokkaido Dog, but is still better known as the Ainu Dog; indeed it is registered with the FCI under that name.

More Worldwide Cuties

2007-08-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

A veterinarian feeds a baby Crowned Sifaka lemur named Tilavo at the Vincennes zoo, east of Paris, France. Tilavo is one of the two baby lemurs born in the zoo in the beginning of January as part of a European breeding programme handled by the zoo. He must be fed artificially because the mother has problems nursing him. The zoo owns 10 lemurs out of the 20 living in captivity around the world. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Propithecus verreauxi coronatus population, which lives in northwestern Madagascar, may be betweeen 100 and 1,000, and is categorized as 'Critically Endangered' due to habitat loss or degradation from agriculture/livestock and wood harvesting.

A Tale Of A Tail

2007-07-27T00:59:00.000-07:00

A Japanese dolphin is squealing with delight after receiving a prosthetic tail to replace one amputated due to a skin disease. Fuji's handlers at the Churaumi Aquarium in Japan's southern most island of Okinawa say the fake tail may have saved her life as she had put on dangerous amounts of weight from being inactive after she lost her tail. "Because she was not exercising enough (after her tail was amputated) she gained weight and from blood samples we took we realized that her cholesterol levels were too high. We then were afraid that this might trigger other diseases so we had to come up with something," handler Masaya Koami said. The tail was custom made for Fuji by a friend of the handler who works at Japan's leading tire company Bridgestone. The rubber prosthetic device is slightly smaller than the tail of a dolphin of Fuji's size. It is made of material used for Formula One race car tires and the black silicon rubber was reinforced with artificial bone made of carbon-fiber. Sponge rubber was used for parts that come directly in contact with Fuji's skin. Bridgestone said they spent at least 10 million yen (about $83,000) to develop and produce the fin. As for Fuji, the freedom that it brought her is priceless. After initially being frightened of it, the dolphin now leaps and swims with vigor.

More News About Knut

2007-07-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Polar bear cub Knut plays in the Berlin zoo. Knut, born on December 5, 2006, weighs 6500 grammes and had to be hand fed every four hours by zoo employee Thomas Doerflein after its mother Tosca refused the baby.

Worldwide Cuties

2007-07-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

A Chow Chow dog painted in the likeness of panda is displayed for sale at a pet market in Shenyang, China's Liaoning province

'Goblin' the cat takes to the 'catwalk' in a pink dress at the PETCO Spring Fashion Show at a San Diego, California PETCO. The PETCO Spring Fashion Show was held at more than 800 PETCO stores across the United States to allow proud pet owners to show off their fashion-forward animals.

Fitness For Fido ...

2007-07-20T03:35:00.000-07:00

TOKYO'S PAMPERED PETS

Instructor Momoe Yamamoto demonstrates yoga with her dog Moq, a four-year-old Pug

Chaco, a four-year-old Kaninchen Dachshund, takes part in a 'Dog Yoga' lesson organised by Japan Dog Yoga Association with owner Satoe Tachi at Nippon Ayurveda School in Tokyo. The lesson isaimed at improving health and bonding owner and dog through yoga.

Momo, a 5-year-old dachshund. walks on an aqua treadmill at 'El Perro', an aqua fitness centre for dogs, in Tokyo. The fitness centre has physical training and weight loss programmes and remedies for bone and sinew problems for dogs.

Playing With Fire ...

2007-07-18T02:22:00.000-07:00

Playing with FIRE!

Will you please look at Señor Pup here, checking out his bowl that is OCUPADO by a daring kitty.

Is this kitty playing with FIRE or what. He's doing what kitties do best—some major taunting.

Kitty: "Oh, don't mind moi, I'm just makin' muhself comfertuhbuls...
and it's time for a wee little nap ....

For Animal Lovers ...

2007-07-11T00:50:00.000-07:00

Battle Royale!

It's true, when your ears are folded back, you're WAAAAY faster. Try it!

Adorables

2007-07-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

Petite Puffer

A Scottish Fold Kitten

Tama Zoo Park in Tokyo

Lounge Cat

Afghan Hound

2007-07-05T22:43:00.000-07:00

Description: The Afghan Hound is a sighthound with an aristocratic bearing. Tall and slender with a long, narrow, refined head, silky topknot and powerful jaws. The occiput is quite prominent. The muzzle is slightly convex ("Roman nose") with a black nose. There is little or no stop. The teeth should meet in a level or scissors bite. The dark eyes are almond shaped. The ears lie flat to the head. The neck is long and strong. The height at the withers should be almost level and the abdomen well tucked up. The hipbones are quite prominent. The front legs are strong and straight and the feet are large and covered with long hair. The tail has a curl or ring at the tip, but is not carried over the back. The long, rich, silky coat is most often the color of sand with a darker face and ear fringes, though all colors are permitted.

Temperament: Dignified, somewhat aloof, but very sweet, loyal, affectionate and sensitive, with a low dominance level. They must be trained kindly. The Afghan has been described as "a king of dogs." Majestic, elegant, noble and courageous, suspicious of, but not hostile to, strangers. Although tough, they will pine if they are deprived of attention. They will do best with older, considerate children. This breed can be difficult to housebreak. Some are timid and high strung.

Height , Weight: Dogs 27 to 29 inches , slightly less for bitches. Weight: 58-64lb (26-34kg.)

Health Problems: Generally healthy, the Afghan has a low pain tolerance, thereby suffering even with minor injuries.

Living Conditions: The Afghan Hound is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with acreage. This breed can live in or outdoors, although it would be happier sleeping indoors.

Exercise: Afghan Hounds love open spaces and must be allowed to run free in a safe area as well as having long daily walks. It needs a minimum of 30 minutes of free galloping per day.

Life Span: About 14 years

Grooming: The long, thick coat demands a great deal of attention. When showing there is a must to bath once a week. Do not brush in-between baths in order to keep coat long and shiny. Brushing a dry coat will damage the coat and even make it more easily matted. Weekly baths are not as important if your Afghan is a pet and will not be shown, but doing so will make the coat less matted and will save you time in the end. Many wear snoods indoors to protect their ears from food bowls. A special air-cushioned brush or pinbrush is useful for grooming.

Origin: This is a very ancient dog, native to Sinai, and mentioned several times in Egyptian papyruses as well as pictured in the caves of northern Afghanistan more than 4000 years ago. The breed was kept pure for centuries, and its exportation was always prohibited. It therefore only reached Europe as contraband early in this century. This elegant sighthound was used as a shepherd and hunter of many types of game including deer, wild goats, and even wolves and snow leopards. They were also used by shepherds as herders and watchdogs. An extremely fast and agile runner, the Afghan Hound pursues game by sight. His thick coat protects against temperature extremes. In Europe and America he has become a luxurious pet because of his aristocratic beauty. Some of the Afghan's talents are hunting, sighting, tracking, herding, watchdogging, racing, and lure coursing.

UnBEARably Adorable

2007-07-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Berlin zoo employee Thomas Doerflein plays with polar bear cub Knut. Knut, born on December 5, 2006, has had to be hand fed by Doerflein after its mother Tosca refused the baby.

Sweet Ones ...

2007-07-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

I think I hear a parrot purring...

Banditos...

Manatee at Blue Springs ...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ...

Cat Eyes: Mysteries Revealed

2007-06-26T01:06:00.000-07:00

Why do a cat's eyes glow? Can cats see in total darkness? Can they see in color? Why are a cat's eyes so large in comparison with the rest of their bodies? Why are a cat's pupils shaped differently than ours?

For thousands of years, cats have been a source of fascination and mystery. Yet it has only been in recent times that many of their secrets have been revealed through modern science and our knowledge of physics and biology.

One of the most remarkable features of a cat's anatomy is its large, captivating eyes. Their significant size in relation to the rest of its body is more than a thing of beauty; this size ratio serves an important function. Large eyes allow for more massive internal structures: a larger pupil, lens and retina. This enables additional light to enter the eye, thereby facilitating night-vision. Hence, cats are better suited for low light conditions. Note that owls, bats, and other nocturnal (active during the night) animals also have very pronounced eyes.

Cats have the added benefit of possessing distinctive, elliptically shaped pupils. These pupils can rapidly dilate to an incredible degree, in order to permit even more light to enter the inside of the eye. In contrast, they can also constrict into tiny slits in the presence of bright light, in order to protect their sensitive internal eye structures. Ongoing studies are determining other possible benefits of elliptically shaped pupils. Some scientists theorize that an elliptically shaped pupil would allow for extra wavelengths of light to stimulate additional focal zones along the length of the lens of a cat's eye. This may mean that cats not only can see in color (this has already been proven due to the presence of anatomical structures in their retinas called "cones," that process color information), but they may also be able to unexpectedly see sharp, detailed color images, even under low light conditions.

Cats also possess a structure not found in the eyes of humans, called the tapetum lucidum, a Latin phrase meaning "bright carpet." This amazing mechanism magnifies and reflects the light entering a cat's eye, allowing the cat's retina to absorb extra light. Again, this enhances the animal's night-vision. It is this specialized structure that reflects light, causing the eyes of a cat to "glow" in the dark when you shine a light at it.

Studies performed on this tapetum lucidum with an electron microscope suggest that this reflection of light occurs inside the eye of a cat with a minimum of scattered light, thereby reducing image blurring. Although studies indicate that cats are not the only animal species to possess a tapetum, a cat's tapetum is specifically designed to reflect the particular wavelengths of light in the environment in which it lives.

R. G. Kirk has published numerous articles on a wide range of topics. She is currently the marketing director for http://www.cruisecat.com - a company that provides international travel opportunities, and focuses on luxury pet vacations.

A Tale Of Two Cockatoos

2007-05-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

This is such a sweet story....

This link is to a photography journal of the story of two cockatoos, one domestic and one wild. The female has a bad wing and cannot fly and she is courted by a wild male. He manages to get her cage open and the relationship continues from there. They even raise a family. These are some wonderful photos and a great story. Be sure and click NEXT at the bottom of each page to see the whole saga.

Click here: http://www.juliusbergh.com/cocky/

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Pony Gives Birth To Twins

2007-05-24T00:37:00.000-07:00

Image Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

So far it has been unusual for a mare to give birth to twins.. but mare Royal Beatrice has done it surprisingly! The experts are really shocked on this issue as it has been proved nearly impossible to produce twins for a mare as the mare's uterus can't support two babies at the same time , which results in the death of one or both foals. But she has proved it to be wrong and has resons to celebrate....

Read more

Cute Stuff In The News ...

2007-05-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

A young Highland cow covered in snow at Carronbridge, Scotland

Sabrina Fairchild, a five-year-old female Labrador Retriever, is photographed by members of the media after the breed was named the most popular dog by the American Kennel Club in New York

A tiger clawing a tree at a zoo. Dani, 23, the oldest tiger in European captivity, will undergo a risky manicure to file its long claws, managers of the Stropkov zoo, in eastern Slovakia

Spoon-fed in Boise

2007-05-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

Spoon-fed in Boise

Affenpinscher

2007-05-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Affenpinscher is part of the Terrier group. The Affenpinscher is a dog with Excellent problem solving abilities. The trainability of the Affenpinscher is Above average. It was breed to be good for Companionship, Family Pet, Rodent Catcher, The Affenpinscher lifestyle is Energetic, does well as an inside dog

Affenpinschers can be prone to fractures, patent ductus arteriosus, slipped stifleopen fontanel and respiratory problems. They should not be allowed to attempt high impact jumps It is important that when contacting a Affenpinscher breeder that you express health concern issues and ask the breeder what they are doing in order to help mimimize them.

Please don't purchase your Affenpinscher from a petstore which commonly are known to support Affenpinscher puppy mills. Doing so only promotes inproper breeding ethics and promotes current Affenpinscher health issues. The AKC, FCI, CKC, SKC, WWKC, FIC registries recognize the Affenpinscher breed standard.

Group: Terrier

Shoulder Height: 09.75 in - 11.75 in

Weight: 7-8 pounds

Exercise req'd: Low-medium amount

Intelligence: High

Suitability for kids: Fair

Registries: AKC, FCI, CKC, SKC, WWKC, FIC

Country of Origin: Referred to as the "Monkey Dog" for its looks and comedic personality, this dog is a true toy terrier. Possibly related to the Schipperke, this breed is thought to be as much as 300 years old.
Character: Affenpinschers are lively, intelligent, friendly, frisky and loyal.
Temperament: Affenpinschers are fine around children, Affenpinschers and other pets. They sometimes guard their food and toys. Take a while to become used to strangers.
Coat: Coarse and shaggy. Ears and tail generally docked in North America
Care The coat may need to be plucked (never clipped)occasionally by a professional dog groomer.
Color: Black preferred; black/tan, red or dark grey

Comments: Affenpinschers require minimal grooming, are great for small living area and make fine watch dogs. They are okay with children if raised up with them.

Purposes: Companionship, Family Pet, Rodent Catcher

Why You Must Change Your Socks Regularly

2007-05-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

It's Not What You Think ...

2007-04-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, People, calm down ... I'm sure there is an explanation for all of this.

I'm sure the cat in the foreground was simply reaching for his morning porridge, and there was a simple misunderstanding that caused a 'Head chomp', and the kitten in the background was not scarred for life.

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Hugs & Kisses ...

2007-04-26T23:06:00.000-07:00

If I could capture a bunch of my love
this, I tell you, I would do...
I'd put it in a keepsake bottle
made especially for you!

So, here is a special bottle,
though not all my love would fit,
I still stuffed tons of hugs & kisses
way down inside of it!

Every time you feel down or sad, just remember this little bottle of love! You can take hugs and kisses out any time you need to - and they'll never run out!!

World's Tallest Man Saves China Dolphins

2007-04-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

The world's tallest man saved two dolphins in northeast China by reaching inside of them with his 3-foot arms to remove plastic they had swallowed.

The dolphins got sick after eating plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province. Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins' stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, the China Daily newspaper reported.

Veterinarians than decided to ask for help from Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9-inch inch herdsman from Inner Mongolia.

Chen Lujun, the manager of the Royal Jidi Ocean World aquarium, told The Associated Press that the shape of the dolphins' stomachs made it difficult to push an instrument very far in without hurting the animals. People with shorter arms could not reach the plastic, he said.

"When we failed to get the objects out we sought the help of Bao Xishun from Inner Mongolia and he did it successfully yesterday," Chen said. "The two dolphins are in very good condition now."

Bao, 54, was confirmed last year by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest living man.Photographs showed the jaws of one of the dolphins being held back by towels so Bao, who has 41.7-inch arms, could reach inside the animal without being bitten.

"Some very small plastic pieces are still left in the dolphins' stomachs," Zhu Xiaoling, a local doctor, told Xinhua. "However the dolphins will be able to digest these and are expected to recover soon."

Pamela Anderson's pooches

2007-04-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

Pamela Anderson is every guy's fantasy. She is beautiful, voluptuous, and drop-dead sexy. Born in Ladysmith, British Columbia, on July 1st, 1967 her parents got a medal as she was the first baby to be born on Canada's one-hundredth birthday. Spotted first by a videographer at a British Columbia Lions football game, she instantly became the Labatt's Blue-Zone Girl. This exposure led her to be the only woman to have appeared on the cover of Playboy more than any other woman in the magazine's history. Strong family bonds are very important to Pamela. She is very sensitive to the emotional needs of other people and loves to care for others.

Regarding her love for pets she has 2 dogs, Luca (a Chihuahua) and Star (a Golden Retriever). In the summer of 2005, Pamela Anderson turned her beloved Luca, into a cover model by posing with him on the front of dog lovers magazine Modern Dog. In the accompanying article, the former Baywatch babe had revealed that she's a doting Mum to her little dog because she's constantly worried he'll be dragged off by a big bird. She even explained, "I'm afraid a bird might swoop down and pick him up". She is also a dedicated spokesperson for animal rights group PETA and have rescued many small dogs before. She has shown a deep love for both of her dogs and trembles even at the thought of losing her pets. Star has been with Pam for 15 years and she hopes his healthy lifestyle will help him fight off illness and death for many years to come. They give her constant support and strength to carry on in life as she says.

There was a controversy in August,2005 over the marriage of her Golden Retriever Star with her Chihuahua Luca Pizzaroni Pasquini. The bow-wow vows were not witnessed by any other four-legged friends. Later, Anderson took her pups and joined with some friends for celebratory drinks.

Surrogate Mamas In Siberian Zoo

2007-04-11T23:54:00.000-07:00

Two-month-old North American puma cub Baron (R) plays with coeval puppy Basya in a zoo in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. Baron was breastfed by Basya's mother, because its own mother refused to feed it.

Two-month-old North American Puma cub Baron plays with a plush tiger in a zoo in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

A Krasnoyarsk zoo employee holds a two-month old ocelot cub in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. An ordinary cat fed the cub after its real mother had rejected it.

Hilary Swank And Her Pets

2007-04-11T00:22:00.000-07:00

I think everyone has praised this million dollar hollywood actress for her outstanding role as Maggie Fitzgerald in the film "Million Dollar Baby". Her full name is Hilary Ann Swank and she is born on July 30, 1974. She has won the Oscar twice: in 1999 for Boys Don't Cry and in 2004 for the much talked about Million Dollar Baby. Her Hollywood film career began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid (1994). Swank came from humble beginnings and described her younger self as an"outsider" who only enjoyed reading a book or watching a movie, and thought of getting involved with a character. This later inspired her to become an actress.

She came to the limelight last year when she filed a divorce from her actor-husband Chad Lowe. But again they had to rethink about their break up since, they faced a peculiar problem. Both Hilary and Lowe had a deep love for their pets and couldnot understand how to divide the pets amongst themselves. The couple owns several parrots, dogs, (including a sweet pup Karu), a cat and a rabbit and couldn't bear to live without the menagerie, and that fact has prompted the pair to rework on their marriage vows.

In an interview, she onced said that her childhood was lonely, and whenever Christmas and her birthday would come she always insisted her parents to buy her a dog or a cat. At the age of eight, she brought a stray cat and took it into her bedroom. But, her mom finally found him in. After much fit, the cat stayed with them. Hilary once had two gerbils named Moe and Joe. At present, she has an African gray parrot, named Seuss after Dr. Seuss, one of her favorite authors. He talks a lot according to Swank, and says "Good morning!". And during the day "Goodbye! and "I love you!" I personally am well aware of an african gray parrot since I too have one named Betty. She also has a border-collie mix named Lucky, a cat named Deuce and a little bunny named Luna. She has proved to be a great animal lover as she had stopped eating red meat, white meat, or fish.

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Timid Creatures

2007-04-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Two of the world's most shy and timid creatures have found each other in safe companionship..... through the lens of Tanja Askani "Alberta Canada"

APBTs

2007-04-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

Both Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. are seeking new proposals to ban "pit bulls". No importation, sale, or possession of pit bulls in Washington, D.C.n Baltimore will be allowed henceforth. The reason being a man murdered a pit bull owner who refused to fight his dog and in the Baltimore City, a pit bull attacked a 7 year old girl. Both the news was quite nerve-racking. But it's quite unfortunate for these dogs who once used to be the pride of America are now being hunted n killed unconditionally. One of the most obvious reasons being that originally they were raised as fighting dogs 'coz of their aggressive, outrageous nature. but given a proper "obedience training", they can turn out to be an affectionate companion and a lovely pet!

It was one of the most popular breeds, highly prized by a wide variety of people. The Pit Bull was used to represent the US in WW1 artwork. Popular companies like RCA and the Buster Brown Shoe Company used the breed as their mascots. A Pit Bull named Petie starred in the popular children's television series, Our Gang; a Pit Bull mix named Stubby became a decorated WW1 hero. Also, Laura Ingalls Wilder of the popular Little House books owned a working Pit Bulldog named Jack. Famous individuals like Theodore Roosevelt and Helen Keller owned this breed too! It was during this time that the Pit Bull truly became America's sweetheart; admired, respected and loved by everyone. The sly smile, those determined eyes, and that eager to please attitude have evoked both rational and irrational human emotions. By no means are this dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies towards other dogs have earned them a bad name. However if they are properly socialized, they will not even be aggressive to them. Pit bulls are truly quality companions for quality owners only! They can turn out to be extremely loyal, clownish, good-natured and an affectionate animal; always ready to please the master. However, as with any breed, they shouldn't be left alone with unfamiliar children.

They are also not a good choice for a novice dog owner as inexperienced owners tend to find them to be too much to handle. APBTs often display some level of dog aggression, especially towards strange dogs of the same sex or level of assertiveness. We should remember their "fighting" character and even APBTs that were previously sociable may develop dog aggression as they mature. It's advisable for an APBT owner not to let their dog interact with strange dogs unsupervised.

And, it's absolutely necessary to adopt an APBT puppy, from a breeder who has puppies with good temperament and not with aggressive tendencies towards other dogs or humans. Hence, this breed of dog does not have natural watch dog tendencies. If not trained to be wary or bark at intruders, they would sooner lick a burglar to death than bite or attack. Unfortunately, this breed is also often the most common target of dog abuse in urban areas and are often found beaten, starved, burned, and mistreated to make them particularly aggressive. Some even choose to promote the fighting instinct in the breed, giving it a bad name! So, we must all look at them from a humanitarian ground and remember those American pit bulls who 've served our nation in a brave way! They stands as a symbol of power, passion and undying willingness.

Saturday Smiles

2007-04-07T00:27:00.000-07:00

At least ONE of These will most certainly bring a grin to your day...

Doggy Duds!

2007-04-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

A Dachshund presents a creation during a fashion show featuring the winter collection for dogs in Moscow

A Yorkshire Terrier presents a creation during a fashion show featuring the winter collection for dogs in Moscow

Russian toy-terrier and Samoyed dog wait for their turn during a dog show in St. Petersburg

An English bulldog dressed in a fancy dress is prepared for a dog show in St. Petersburg

For Sale: One Useless Cat

2007-04-02T03:16:00.000-07:00

This Wingman Has Real Feathers

2007-03-28T01:33:00.000-08:00

no price on friendship

ORIGINAL CAPTION: This wingman has real feathers — Dutch Kaffel cruises down his street with Harley, the Canada goose he raised after finding him on the lawn of his Frankfort, IL home 5 months before. Kaffel "flies" Harley, who prefers to go about 35 mph, up to four miles just about every day. Kaffel has resisted calls to take his goose to Hollywood and hopes Harley will join a flock when mating season comes next spring. (Joseph Meier / Daily Southtown)

Click for Video: Motorcyclist and Goose Take a Spin Together

Cycle ride-loving goose was not born to be wild
By Steve Schmadeke Sun-Times News Group

A fuzzy baby bird Dutch Kaffel took for a duck showed up on his Frankfort front lawn. The chick was still there nibbling grass that night. Fearing for its safety, he put the bird in a box and brought it indoors.

Almost five months later, the Canada goose, now named Harley, has become the talk of the neighborhood. Kaffel, a 54-year-old father of six, demonstrated why last week. He backed his gray Harley-Davidson out of the driveway, calling "hey-hey-hey-hey." Harley the goose lifted his head, honked and waddled forward as Kaffel hit the gas. By the time Kaffel was in second gear, Harley was flying alongside the motorcycle, just a few feet off his right shoulder.

The pair have traveled up to four miles this way, says Kaffel, who "flies" Harley just about every day. Harley prefers to cruise at about 35 mph, but once got up to 43, Kaffel says. "All I've got to do is pull out, call him and then down the road we go," he said.

For Kaffel, a former boxer who grew up in Harvey and now owns a construction business, raising a goose had never been a desire. "You talk about (coming) full circle," he said. "I used to hunt duck and geese and pheasant and all of a sudden I'm raising one."

Wildlife experts -- who called Harley's behavior a first -- said Kaffel may mean well, but is violating federal law. "You know what, that must be neat as hell, to have that view (on the motorcycle). But it is against the law to take in a baby goose," said Jacques Nuzzo, program director at of Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur. "One of the reasons is so you don't imprint them to fly along with your motorcycle, because that's not what geese do. I know this guy had the best intentions, but in the long run, he really screwed the goose over." Nuzzo explained that soon after goslings hatch and develop vision, they "imprint" on their caregiver. When the bird matures, it will want to mate with the same species it bonded with as a chick -- in this case, a human. For that reason, the bird cannot be returned to the wild, Nuzzo said.

But other geese lovers defended Kaffel. They say he rescued a bird that may have otherwise died. "I think they are wild birds, but to each his own," said Margaret Love, a Winnipeg woman who in April started a Web site, www.lovecanadagoose.com, that is a forum for goose fans. "They seem to have a love for Harley, so why can't he stay? Who's to say that's the wrong thing?"

Kaffel said he only wants what is best for the goose. He says he's resisted calls by friends and others to take Harley to Hollywood. The only time the bird is inside is at night, when he beds down in a large dog cage. Once, though, the family watched Fly Away Home with Harley. It's a movie about a teenage girl who, with help from her father, teaches some orphaned geese how to migrate. "We had him in the cage and put him on the coffee table. In the movie, when the geese got old enough that they started honking, he'd stick his head up and he'd look," Kaffel said. "As soon as the honking was over, he'd go back to cleaning himself."

Kaffel still wonders how Harley ever came to his doorstep. "It's a mystery we will never know," he said.

Are Black Cats A Curse!

2007-03-26T03:39:00.000-08:00

What's up with people right now? I can't believe it. I read some article that just before Halloween, people adopt black cats from the pet shelters and after the event, these cats are returned to the shelters and why... 'coz "He just didn't work out." It's as if these people just wanted another Halloween decoration for their home - a black cat in the window, perhaps, or a new member to wear a "witch" costume. It probably never occurred to them that this practice is cruel and inhumane -this kind of individual typically thinks of cats as property, and not as an able companion. The poor cats are tortured and traumatized a lot during this time of the year.

Historically, black cats were symbolically associated with witchcraft and evil. Although, in Japan, Britain and Egypt, it is considered as good luck. In Hebrew and Babylonian folklore, cats are compared to serpents, coiled on a hearth. In the USA and parts of Europe which were affected by the witch hunts, the association with witches caused them to be considered as bad luck. Cats are believed, to have the ability to sense the presence of spirits before humans can notice them. And, because of their "black" fur, they remain unseen in dark places or at night, and hence considered ideal partners for witches. Some witches were purported to have the ability to shape-shift into a cat nine times, hence the belief that cats have "nine lives". Belief that black cats affect your luck goes far back in time. The King of England, Charles I, owned a black cat. His fear of losing it was so great that he had it guarded all through. The day after it fell ill and died, he was arrested. Fishermen's wives would keep a black cat at home to prevent disaster at sea, consequently the cats became very valuable and were often stolen. If a cat ran ahead of a sailor to the pier that would bring good luck, but if the cat crossed his path it means bad luck. For luck, cats were often kept on board ships. If a sailor was approached by the ship's cat it meant good luck, but if the cat only came halfway and went away again it meant bad luck. Black cats were also valued for medicinal purposes.

Hence all these superstitions led to the belief "Black cats cause bad luck" Hey! Do you know, one of my cousins owns a black cat and she is fine and happy as ever! I often visit her place and she has crossed my path hundreds of times but I see no degradation in my social life or work. We must see them as one of our feline friends' n not a terror!! So whether it's a black or a white, it's a feline friend to you.

Swing Your Partner ...

2007-03-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Dancing with the kitty.....

For Dog Lovers ...

2007-03-23T02:04:00.000-08:00

Even if you don't have a dog, you gotta love this one.

A chinese soldier trains a dog by skipping a rope at a military base in Nanjing , east China's Jiangsu province. Picture taken in 2006. China Out Reuters/China Daily

Peeping Tom!

2007-03-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

This Girl I know is one of Martha's neighbour who lives on the 4th floor of an apartment, and even though it is a fairly good neighborhood she has been having trouble with a Peeping Tom that lives next door...

Every time she goes out on her balcony to catch a bit of sun while wearing her bikini this peeping tom looks over from his balcony, as soon as she removes her top, and stares at her...
She has complained to the superintendent about this peeping tom, but he says she must have positive proof before he can do anything!

She FINALLY got a picture of him while he was staring at her...

Dog's Dictionary!

2007-03-22T04:51:00.000-08:00

Hey! Have you ever thought about a dictionary for our canine friends... Check out I have a whole list of words pertaining to them:

LEASH: A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED: any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL: Is what you do when your persons have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF: A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

GARBAGE CAN: A container which your neighbors put out once a week to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and moldy crusts of bread.

BICYCLES: Two-wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

DEAFNESS: This is a malady which affects dogs when their person want them in and they want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

THUNDER: This is a signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels.

WASTEBASKET: This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrapper. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your person comes home.

SOFAS: Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean.

BATH: This is a process by which the humans drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

LEAN: Every good dog's response to the command "sit !", especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective before black-tie events.

BUMP: The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

GOOSE BUMP: A maneuver to use as a last resort when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require... especially effective when combined with The Sniff. See above.

LOVE: Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail. If you're lucky, a human will love you in return.

WALK or WALKIES: When you run where you please, using your person's distant calling of your name to keep a tabs on them, but not needing to hurry back... they know you're here somewhere.

CHEWS: Rubber toys you use your teeth to reduce to the smallest bits, and leave them all over the floor, so your person knows how much you enjoyed them.

BALL: When your person throws it in the park, make sure you put as much dribble and drool on it as you can - the owners love to pick it up and watch the droplets fly off when they throw it.

ZOOMIES: You know, when we run around uncontrollably (usually in circles around a room!) and make our humans laugh hysterically!

Pets are not just pets - faithful friends of humans!

2007-03-20T03:37:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! Welcome to Tony's world of pets... oh! I forgot to tell you about my family. Well I have 2 dogs, 2 cats and 1 parrot and it's an expanding list. I will let you know about the newcomers in my family as and when they come in. Do you think pets are just pets... think again! I am sure that if you are having a pet you will say... obviously not! They are more than just being pets. Yes - they are the faithful friends and companions of humans. They are a part of the family and provide fun and enjoyment to the members. Every family needs a pet for companionship. The companionship of a pet in one's life plays a vital role in changing the life style of a person by bringing in joy and entertainment in a daily fixed schedule. No matter whether it's dog, cat or a rabbit, it's for sure that the the pet would give you all it can to make you happy, without asking anything in return.

Researches have shown that pets especially dogs and in some cases miniature horses can relieve stress and remove loneliness and anxiety. Pets are now being a part of the therapeutic treatment for the depressed. They act as a soothing remedy to the ailment. Pets have better sense of responsibility and understanding. I have observed it several times myself. It was this summer when my mom got sick and I was in Charlotte at that time. I got the news and came back to LA and I found "Jack" sitting right beside my mom and he is down. Jack is the eldest member in my pet family- He is a Golden Retriever. Even I heard from Melinda that he has not taken his meal and has never moved from his place till it was needed.This is just an example of pet behavior which many of the animal lovers have noticed among their pets. All of you and your children can learn the value of your animal pets with people who are going through a hardship in their lives. So the message goes right from all of us that Pets are invaluable friends of humans. Those of you there who are still thinking on having a pet, should ideally wait no longer in choosing your new member in the family.