Pet Food Pantry

"Initially it was open from November through March, but because of the economy we've decided to run it year-round," said Chrissy Tomkiewicz, director of A Helping Paw Pet Food Pantry."



"The prolonged winter may finally be behind us and many Iowans are starting their spring planting. Iowans who have dogs and cats that spend a lot of time outdoors may want to consider -not- planting certain flowers and plants. Tom Colvin is executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, the state's largest animal shelter. Colvin says some common plants can be killers.

Colvin says daffodils, chrysanthemums, oleander, autumn crocus and even the green parts of the tomato plant, the leaves and stems, can be poisonous to pets. Other flowers, fruits and vegetables that could present a threat to a pet's life include: begonias, hydrangeas, azaleas, lilies, cherries, onions and rhubarb. Colvin says another popular flower can be extremely harmful to dogs that like to dig in the dirt."

Some Favorite Blogs

"Tip Tail is about four smooth collies, two border collies, dog training, agility, flyball, and collie rescue. We all live in Salt Lake City, Utah. The human behind it all is me, Cynthia!"


"Yes, another d--n cat blog. These are the rambling, musing, creative moments in the Siamese voice. Mayhem, poetry, art, and widgets abound."



There's nothing I love more than Labrador Retrievers.
Check this blog for lots of pictures and more.

Bloggers and Their Pets

I love this blog.

"This is the first in an ongoing series of posts taking the spotlight off of the bloggers themselves and focusing on their wonderful pets.

After all without bloggers best friends how could we keep blogging."


To submit your pet click here.



Great blog. I found it recently.

Living With Funny Cats In Egypt

Check it out.



"Question: How do I choose the pet that is right for my family?

In the first place, never buy a pet on a whim. Bringing a cute kitten or puppy home just because it was too cute to pass up can be a mistake.

A better option is to discuss the matter of pets with your family first. Make a point to consider the following in your discussion: grooming, daily feeding, playtime, personal attention, veterinary care and house training (where applicable)."

PETA:: Fake Meat

"PETA, the extremely controversial animal rights organization, is in the news again. This time it’s because they have announced a competition of sorts. They’re offering a million dollar prize to anyone who can make a viable fake meat.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to pay a million dollars for fake meat — even if it has caused a “near civil war” within the organization.

The organization said it would announce plans on Monday for a $1 million prize to the “first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012.”



"It may seem odd, but there's a parallel between abductions and dog attacks.

Most children who are victimized aren't randomly selected; they're attacked by a person or dog known to them. Just as an abductor is more likely to be someone known to the child -- an estranged parent, say -- a dog involved in a serious attack is more likely to be an animal the child knows, kept by the family, a friend or a relative."

Wolves

I love this video because I love wolves. What beautiful creatures they are. I wanted to share this with all of you. This is especially for you, wolfie.

Foreclosure: Poor Pets

"Jane Stonehill remembers the car pulling up to Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild's office a few months ago. It was full. Clothing and furniture. A mother and children. A gray and white Old English sheepdog.

They had lost their home and were heading out of town -- without their dog.

"They just had to walk away from it," said Stonehill, director of the rescue organization. "It's very sad."

The past six months, Stonehill and operators of other animal shelters and rescue groups in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have reported more dogs and cats being dropped off or abandoned at homes. One shelter had a 15 percent increase in its population. A rescue group has started a waiting list. The main culprit: the worsening economy and increasing foreclosure rates."

Neutering Cats

" Getting your cat neutered is a serious decision to make for both you, and your pet. The term neutering applies to both sexes of cat - castration in males, spaying in females. It can be done anytime after six months of age and involves the removal of the testicles in the male cat and usually tying the fallopian tubes in females, though vets may vary in their practice towards females. It involves a general anesthetic for either operation but on the whole the cat will recover quickly, though the operation and recovery time is longer in a female than a male. The female cat will usually have dissolvable stitches that will come out on their own, although you will have to keep a close eye on their wound for a while."