Cat Reunited With Family

"A couple have been reunited with their missing cat after nine years, the RSPCA said on Wednesday.

Dixie, a 15-year-old ginger cat, disappeared in 1999 and her owners thought she had been killed by a car.

She was found less than half a mile from her home in Birmingham after a concerned resident rang the animal charity to report a thin and dishevelled cat who had been in the area for a couple of months.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Alan Pittaway checked her microchip and confirmed it was Dixie. She was returned to her owners, Alan and Gilly Delaney, within half an hour.

"In 29 years of working for the RSPCA I have never seen anyone so excited and happy as Mrs Delaney," Pittaway said. "It made my day to return Dixie to her owners."

The couple were "overjoyed" to be reunited with their missing cat after so many years."

Cat Allergy

"It isn’t very hard to determine if you are allergic to cats or not. Many people are allergic to these animals and already are aware of that fact, although they have never gone to the allergist.

It doesn’t take a genius to deduce that it’s your feline that is causing your discomfort. What are cat allergy symptoms, however, and what do you do to alleviate them, without getting rid of the family pet?

Some Symptoms to Look Out For"

Cost Of Pet Ownership

"If you've ever owned a big dog, you know they're expensive to feed.

So you might be surprised to know that your petite pussycat, who turns her delicate nose up at every other meal, is likely to cost you more over her lifetime than the typical large dog.

How can that be? Although cats typically eat less than most dogs and usually incur lower vet bills, they tend to live longer. So while dog ownerships translates into a financial commitment of about $8,000 over the animal's lifetime, the typical cat will set you back more than $10,000.

Lifetime pet costs:

Allergic To Cats

"It isn’t very hard to determine if you are allergic to cats or not. Many people are allergic to these animals and already are aware of that fact, although they have never gone to the allergist.

It doesn’t take a genius to deduce that it’s your feline that is causing your discomfort. What are cat allergy symptoms, however, and what do you do to alleviate them, without getting rid of the family pet?

Some Symptoms to Look Out For"

Broadway Barks

"Saturday, July 12, 2008

Shubert Alley, West of Broadway, between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, Manhattan

BROADWAY BARKS 10! will help some of New York City’s shelter animals find permanent homes by informing New Yorkers about the plight of the thousands of homeless dogs and cats in the metropolitan area. Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore will host this star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon, and a galaxy of Broadway stars will join them onstage to present animals for adoption from New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. BROADWAY BARKS will also feature an auction of celebrity-autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from the auction and other donations will benefit the attending shelters and organizations. This event is free and open to the public."

Unusual Looking Pets

Here are some pets that I really enjoyed seeing. It takes all kinds.

Homeless Pets: China

"On May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 8.0Mw on the Richter scale hit China, claiming the lives of over 69,000 people and over 12 million animal lives. Countless dogs and cats are homeless, injured, and starving. Drinking water is polluted and there is a critical need for water pumps. Reportedly, there are some 30,000 pet dogs in one province alone, many of them now homeless.

Since the dog cull has been in effect, it is questionable if the government will allow rescue efforts to take place. Nevertheless, rescuers and volunteers are doing all they can to save as many animals as possible or at least offer them some relief amidst so much suffering. There is a desperate need for food for companion animals, and livestock feed, not to mention vaccines and other medications."

Beagle Labs

"Find beagle lab mix dogs at rescues and view a photo and profile. This is a popular dog breed known for its strong hunting instinct. Used as rabbit and hare hunters in the past, these dogs still can be used as gundogs. However, their friendly nature makes them more and more popular as family pets and companions. Hunting instincts cannot be bred out of these dogs completely, even if they are used as pets, so these hounds have a tendency to follow their noses and take off, if left off the leash."


Here's my beagle lab, Arabelle (Boo).

Adoption and DNA

"Assembly Bill 2949 will move to the Senate for consideration. Please visit The ASPCA Press Room to read more about it! Thank God there is Hope for these innocent cats and dogs who need a loving home. Do you have room in your home for a loving dog or cat who can bring so much love to you? Please visit your local ASPCA affiliated adoption center today and see where your heart takes you! I feel very badly about people who have never experienced the unconditional love of a pet. Now more than ever, the have a chance to experience---perhaps for the first time the JOY of a Cat or Dog Here's where you can learn about the Bill:"




"A new DNA test can not only tell you what your mutt is made of but also what health problems he may risk.

Piper was discovered at the Cleveland APL about eighteen years ago. He's an old dog and we think he may be a mix of Scottish Deer Hound and Lab. But we could never be sure until now.

Piper's DNA is being analyzed by the Wisdom Panel DNA test. It will not only tell me what's in his breed mix, it will also identify 316 genetic markers.

From a small blood sample, veterinarian Carol Osborne says the test can determine what Piper is from 134 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club."

Season To Adopt

"Paloma is a runner. She loves to run. She doesn’t run anywhere in particular, mind you, she just enjoys the experience. Sometimes she gets to run in wide open spaces, like at the park, sometimes she runs alongside her mom’s bike, and sometimes she just runs back and forth through the house. To her, it doesn’t much matter, just as long as she gets to run. The way her life started out, however, it was possible that she might never have gotten the chance.Paloma is a one-year-old half English setter/half English pointer mix. Her name, which is Spanish for “dove,” was bestowed upon her because as a very young puppy, she was entirely white. The result of an accidental breeding between two show dogs, Paloma and her six sisters were unexpected and unwanted by the owners of both parent dogs. Fortunately, all seven dogs made their way to a pointer rescue shelter, and have since all found happy homes."



"So, it's May, and there are all kinds of babies being born. Chicks are hatching, baby turtles are coming up for air, kittens are plenteful, and of course, dogs are having puppies. Spring has sprung, and so have the baby animals.

This is the time of year where pet sales sky rocket. After all, the weather is nice, and people think of how much fun it would be to adopt or purchase a new furry family member. If this is you, that's ok, just try and be responsible about your decision. The shelters are full of animals that were bought in the spring and returned in the winter because things didn't work out. To prevent this, here are a few pointers:"

Cats

"Cats are sweet and cuddly! It’s easy to get swept up in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But that’s not how it should be.

Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. You will have to take care of a cat until its death, which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to spend a large amount of your time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with it on a daily basis.

Keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:"



"It can happen to the best of us. You see a cute, tiger-striped kitten with white paws and green eyes, just begging for attention. Or maybe it's a gorgeous Labrador mix whose tails seems to be wagging just for you. You take one look, and the next thing you know, you're walking down the pet food aisle at the supermarket.

If you're like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. And no wonder! Sharing your home with a four-legged friend can be one of life's greatest joys. Dogs, cats, and other pets give us unconditional loyalty and acceptance, provide constant companionship, and even help relieve stress after a hard day's work."

Petimony

"An increasing number of couples who split up are fighting over the family pet. Pets are being treated more and more like family members and when couples divorce or separate, the pets become a part of the legal settlements. Many attorneys are drafting “petimony” contracts for couples with pets creating a new focus on animal law issues."



"My first contact with pet rescue centers was when our cat Tom died, and we decided that the next in line for cat-in-chief should be from a shelter, not a pet store. Pet rescue shelters have got increasingly popular in recent years - there is nothing like the feeling of giving a deserving pet a nice new home! Rescue Centers take in animals for later adoption to loving homes. Obviously, local centers have limited room and resources for pets that need rehoming, and far too many wonderful animals get put down as a result."

Adopting A Cat

"You’ve finally made the decision to adopt a cat, you’ve dreamt about it for quite some time. Visualising your cute new little kitten playing around the floor and looking up at you with those big baby blues. What could possibly go wrong, after all it’s only a tiny kitten. But have your really thought about how much time, effort and trouble a kitten really is. A kitten is packed full of energy and curiosity and will cry for attention, scratch the furniture, bite and urinate everywhere until it is litter box trained, and will run around the house getting into all sorts of scrapes and trouble. And it’s up to you to look after them 24/7. If you’ve got the time and dedication to look after a kitten, great, but if not, why not think about adopting an adult cat."

For Animal Lovers

"Are you an animal lover? Have you thought about purchasing that cute little puppy that looks up at you with those heart-wrenching eyes at the pet store? Have you ever made some sort of connection with an animal and you just had to get it? Before you reach for your wallet, here’s a list of the top nine things you should consider before buying the animal version of your soul-mate."


"Many cats are surrendered to shelters because someone in the family (often a new addition such as a partner or a child) has allergies. Anywhere from 2% to 15% of the world’s population is allergic to cats, and up to 40% of Asthma sufferers are particularly affected."

Dog and Cat Ears

"An inflammation of the ear canal is called otitis. Most lay people call this an ear infection, and many times, an infectious microbial agent is involved, but occasionally the root of the problem is something other than a primary infection.

Dog and cat ears are built a little differently than human ears, but the variations are fairly minor. The ear flap is called the pinna. Below that is the canal leading to the eardrum, or tympanum.

Cat pinnae are fairly uniform from cat to cat and breed to breed. They are triangular and stand upright in almost all cats. Some purebred cats will have a distinct fold in the pinna that causes the flap to lie flat against the head and cover the ear canal. These cats are relatively rare and most of the time a cat with a folded ear will have suffered some injury that has healed poorly."

Black Dog Syndrome

I have posted about Black Dog Syndrome previously but feel it's important enough to mention again.

"We at Pet Haven believe that big black dogs are beautiful. We do our best to rescue and re-home as many as we can. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked. Recently on cnn.com there was an article on Black Dog Syndrome. According to wikipedia, 'black dog syndrome' refers to low adoption rates and high euthanasia rate of black dogs (and cats) in shelters across the country. We need to educate the public and we need to do all we can to help these beautiful black dogs, with a strike against them simply because they are black. Pet Haven will be partnering with Heather Rosenwald who is the founder of a new website that will be launched soon www.startseeingblackdogs.com.



"How will you choose your next family dog? Perhaps look in the newspaper for advertisements from breeders who are selling new puppies, or find breeders via listings on the internet? Hopefully you would avoid purchasing a puppy from a local pet store, as a large proportion of these dogs come from puppy mills. Perhaps the best method, in terms of being helpful to society in general, is to adopt a dog from a local animal shelter."

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)."

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."

Cats, Ferrets, and More

"Living with cats is not always easy, but definitely means lots of fun. Chica and Pumuckl, a cat mother and her meanwhile 1 year old kitten, bring a whole bunch of fun to our daily life. In this blog we write about funny cat stories and sometimes very strange cat behavior."



"A hotch potch of our lives in a Devonshire fishing village where we live with nine Griffon Bruxellois (aka Brussells Griffon)including three showdogs, the church where I am secretary, MS maybe, and the rest of the family."


"Ferret Video, pictures, articles and more."