Archive for May, 2010
Surprise in a Stroller
My work schedule is such that it’s not always possible to stop and chat with old friends; still, I try to make the effort. A short while ago I was walking down a busy street on the way to catch a train when an old sorority sister hailed me from across the street. I was intrigued to see her wheeling a stroller. Were we so out of touch now that I didn’t know this woman had a baby?
Much to my surprise, a wet, black nose protruded from inside the carriage. My friend was taking her Chihuahua for a stroll down the street. At first I had to question why she couldn’t just let the dog walk alongside. After a while it began to make sense, however: Small dogs have a hard time keeping up with a brisk human gait. Lately I’ve even been thinking about finding a dog stroller to suit my Jack Russell terrier.
Dog Fur Clean Up
Your hair and pet’s fur is needed to help clean Gulf oil spill
Read the entire story http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/05/06/oil.spill.pet.hair/index.html
73 Horses Seized in Upstate New York—ASPCA Reports From the Scene
I truly do not understand the concept of owning animals but not taking care of them.
On March 16, under the authority and request of the SPCA Serving Erie County (NY) members of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team were dispatched to assist in the sheltering management and care of 73 horses seized from what is believed to be the area’s largest farm animal rescue ever. The animals were found living in deplorable and extremely unsanitary conditions on a farm in East Aurora, NY (about 20 miles southeast of Buffalo).
Jeff Eyre, the Northeast Director of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team, was sent to the scene with other ASPCA staff skilled in horse handling. Over the past eight weeks, the group has played a vital role in helping to feed, water and clean the animals. More importantly, the team has spent time nurturing the horses, helping them to rebuild their broken spirits. On April 30, the mission came to a close, as the remaining horses were transported to new foster homes.
“Our on-site response is complete,” says Jeff. “We achieved our goal to rehabilitate these horses, both physically and behaviorally. These are now happy horses, and I could not have asked for a better ending.”
Read the full report here:
http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/aspca-in-action/73-horses-seized-in-upstate-new-york.html
Saddles-Old versus New
I don’t know about you but when I grew up the saddles were completely leather the saddle pads were very simple and not decorative. Plain Jane type tack and saddle, snaffle versus straight bit. Of course you had to take care of what you had but everything seemed so much simpler when it came to choices.
Now you have still have the leather saddles but also saddles that are made of synthetic materials or a combination of the two.
A lot of what you purchase will also depend on how you ride.
Obviously good materials and good quality are essential in all gear. But has anyone tried both? There are pros and cons to all types and it can get confusing and costly for a beginner to figure it out.
In conducting minor research on the different models I found that
Synthetic is:
Lightweight
Easy to keep clean
Sometimes less expensive
Durable
Leather
Deeper seat
Heavier
Care needed
Durable if cared for
Your thoughts?
Paws for Consideration
Just because dogs lack the capability to design and manufacturer clothing and footwear doesn’t mean that they won’t appreciate a practical clothing item. Even the most devout dog lover may not realize that paw pads can be rather delicate. They should be protected from concrete in hot weather, and in inclement weather, dog boots are not a bad idea for Fido’s comfort.
In harsh conditions, dog shoes are essential to protect the padding on your dog’s feet. The shoes will also help to keep your pets・feet warm in frigid weather, and vice-versa. Not only do the shoes serve pragmatic purposes, but they also are a definitive fashion statement.
Cummuter Dogs
I thought you might enjoy this story. Dogs are allowed on public transport in all of Europe, but generally with their master. This is even more interesting.
Here is a Canine commuter…. A wild dog waits on the platform!!
STRAY dogs are commuting to and from a city centre on underground trains in search of food scraps. The clever canines board the Tube each morning. After a hard day scavenging and begging on the streets, they hop back on the train and return to the suburbs where they spend the night.
Experts studying the dogs say they even work together to make sure they get off at the right stop after learning to judge the length of time they need to spend on the train…
The dogs choose the quietest carriages at the front and back of the train. They have also developed tactics to hustle humans into giving them more food on the streets of Moscow.
Scientists believe the phenomenon began after the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, and Russia’s new capitalists moved industrial complexes from the city centre to the suburbs. Dr. Andrei Poiarkov, of the Moscow Ecology and Evolution Institute, said: “These complexes were used by homeless dogs as shelters, so the dogs had to move together with their houses”.
Because the best scavenging for food is in the city centre, the dogs had to learn how to travel on the subway to get to the centre in the morning, and then back home in the evening, just like people.
Here is an experienced dog enjoying a nap on the underground. Dr. Poiarkov told how the dogs like to play during their daily commute. He said: “They jump on the train seconds before the doors shut, risking their tails getting jammed”. They do it for fun. Sometimes they fall asleep and get off at the wrong stop.
This dog is tired … A mutt naps on tube seat in Moscow.
The dogs have learned to use traffic lights to cross the road safely, said Dr. Poiarkov. They use cunning tactics to obtain tasty morsels of shawarma, a kebab-like snack popular in Moscow. They sneak up behind people eating shawarmas then bark loudly to shock them into dropping their food.
With children, the dogs play cute by putting their heads on youngsters’ knees and staring pleadingly into their eyes to win sympathy and scraps. Dr. Poiarkov added: “Dogs are surprisingly good psychologists”.
The Moscow mutts are not the first animals to use public transport. In 2006 a Jack Russell in Dunnington, North Yorks , began taking the bus to his local pub in search of sausages. Two years ago, passengers in Wolverhampton were stunned when a cat called Macavity started catching the 331 bus to a fish and chip shop.
This article is from http://animalconnectionshow.com/wordpress/pay-it-forward-friday-572010