Pets in the News
A Legacy of Cats in Rome From Antiquity to Present Day
Aug 31st
Domesicated cats have a deeply rooted history in culture. Most of us are familiar with depictions and roles of ancient felines in Egyptian society, but did you know that cats were also prevalent in ancient Rome?
Domesticated cats were carried to Europe by Phoenician trade ships about 3000 years ago. This African subspecies mingled with European subspecies giving rise to the domestic cats we still keep today. There is some debate whether, in ancient times, cats were considered pests or prized predators. It is evident that these pets were valued for their hunting prowess, often tolerated for keeping rodent populations at bay and left free to roam temples and estates for the same reason. Roman soldiers transported cats on conquests to keep grain stores safe. There are also other positive associations of cats in lore that supports that they were more than just a presence, though not perhaps favored as pampered pets as much in Roman society as dogs, birds and other exotic pets at the time. Cats are associated with the goddesses Diana (goddess of the hunt) and Libertas (goddess of freedom). Regardless of how the Romans of that age felt about cats, their place in culture had been established. More >
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Loading ...Black Dog Syndrome – Discrimination Against Darkly Colored Pets
Aug 25th
“In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise.”
- Edgar Allan Poe, “The Black Cat”
Have you ever visited a pet shelter or rescue and noticed that their resident pets were mostly dark in color? It probably wasn’t your imagination. The idea that black dogs and other dark colored pets remain in shelters longer, and are more often euthanized than pets of other colors, is debated by some. But people who volunteer, work in or run animal shelters can tell you that the seeming discrimination against black animals is a reality. The condition has been given a name–Black Dog Syndrome. Despite the gentle and loving personalities thes pets may have they are often passed over for others in the shelter, but why? Having known and lived with several inky-black cats and dogs, I can attest that each was as affectionate and sweet as their yellow, white, tan, brown or grey counterparts, maybe even more so. In fact, their satiny, glossy black coat may have even made them more appealing to me. So what causes these pets to be passed overin a shelter situation? More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Notes on Canine Learning
May 25th
Recently I came across an interesting article about teaching dogs sign language. I was intrigued by the concept, and I decided to give it a shot with my own dogs. I purchased a book written by the creator of K9Sign. I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, if I want to successfully teach my dogs to sign, but one of the first things that I’ve got to work on is my understanding of how dogs learn. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Rescue and Recovery – Lost and Injured Pets in Devastated Japan
Mar 23rd
Like the rest of the world I’ve been glued to the TV and newsfeeds watching and reading about the devastation caused by the earthquakes and resulting tsunami. The loss of life is staggering, but in tragedies like this I always wonder about the welfare of the animals that are also affected. What happens to the animals whose owners are missing, dead, or injured? Is anyone there to look out for them?
Organizations that provide food, supplies and shelter to aid our fellow human beings start campaigns to gather donations for the cause immediately. Mainstream organizations receive a lot of media attention and donations from the public. The organizations that provide care to our four-legged friends in need are less well-known, but they do exist, and you can help too! I’ve listed just a few of the organizations that are dedicated to helping the furry victims, as well as the furry aid workers, now in Japan.
Ark Bark – This amazing Japanese rescue group is gearing up for the arrival of homeless and displaced pets. They’re hard at work building additional shelters for the large amounts of pets already arriving. You can donate to the cause on their website, just add “for earthquake animals” in the notes.
World Vets- World Vets provides veterinary aid all around the world. They are currently coordinating with other rescue organizations to provide care to Japan’s many lost or injured pets. Donations to the organization are tax deductible.
AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery Canine Support & Relief Fund – Started in the wake of 9/11, this 501C 3 charitable organization’s mission is to fund canine search and rescue teams deployed throughout the world, wherever tragedy strikes. You can donate to their cause through the link above. Remember to note that it is on behalf of Japan.
The Annenberg Foundation – The Dog Bless You project harnessed the power of the Facebook community to donate $100,000 to Japan animal relief efforts. Check out their page here.
Photo credits:The 1st photo was taken on March 13, 2011 in Misawa-shi, Aomori Prefecture, JP, and was posted by The Official US Navy Imagery. The 2nd photo was taken March 11, 2011 and was posted by Fairfax County
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...A Home Away From Home – Foster Care Organizations for Pets of Deployed Military Personnel
Mar 16th
Military service members across the country are deployed on active duty missions every day. Many of these people have pets that need a caring, safe and loving homes and families to care for them while their owners are deployed around the world. Some may not be able to find someone to care for their pets while they are away, leaving them with the agonizing and painful decision to relinquish their beloved pets and pet ownership rights to an animal shelter or rescue group. They may never to see their pets again or know if they found a new good home. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Virginia and Short-Tailed Opossums as Pets, with Notes on Heidi, a Cross-Eyed Star
Mar 9th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A Virginia or North American Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, purchased from a fur farm for $5.00, was my first “large” wild animal pet. I’ve since raised many orphaned youngsters, several of which became tame enough to use in educational programs. So I’ve always had an affinity for North America’s only marsupial…but my enthusiasm is not shared by many. I was, therefore, greatly surprised by the recent fame of a cross-eyed Opossum named Heidi, who resides in Germany’s Leipzig Zoo.
The First Opossum “Star”
Heidi’s journey to the zoo is interesting in and of itself – orphaned in North Carolina, she was reared at a nature center and eventually found her way to a zoo in Denmark, and from there to Germany. But the key to her popularity is the appealing look of a face dominated by “unique eyes”. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Breaking News – Dog Surpasses Blood Test in Detecting Bowel Cancer
Feb 23rd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A specially-trained Labrador Retriever named Marine has made medical history by exhibiting an amazing degree of accuracy in detecting bowel cancer. It is hoped that further studies will lead to new advances in cancer detection and treatment.
A Near-Perfect Performance
Marine was able to detect the presence of bowel cancer by sniffing either the breath or stool samples of 48 people that had previously been diagnosed with the disease. The dog’s accuracy was rated at 95% for breath samples and 98% for stool samples, and was not affected by potentially confusing factors such as smoking or the presence of other gastro-intestinal problems. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Staying Updated on Laws Affecting Pet Ownership and Animal Welfare
Jan 19th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Recent concerns over animal hoarding, introduced species and animal attacks have resulted in a confusing maze of new laws. Many are legitimate attempts to address serious problems, while others seem over-reactions based on poor research. I’m an attorney as well as a biologist, and yet even with this background I find it difficult to keep up with all the changes. However, I’ve found several organizations that track pending legislation and provide links to actions that can be taken…I hope the following helpful information is useful. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...A 9-11 Tribute – Search and Rescue Dogs at Ground Zero
Sep 10th
It’s hard to believe that it has been almost a decade since the Twin Towers fell. Each year we bow our heads in remembrance of those lost and in honor of those who worked tirelessly in the days and weeks following that fateful day. Some don’t remember or don’t know that service dogs played a vital role in search, rescue and recovery at those disaster sites. I came across this video tribute to the service dogs who worked the Trade Center site, and I really think it is something for everyone to see. Please watch the video and remember these magnificent animals for their past and present service.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Iams, Eukanuba Issue Expanded Voluntary Pet Food Recall
Aug 3rd
Iams and Eukanuba form Procter and Gamble Pet have now expanded the voluntary recall of various pet food formulas distributed in the United Stades due to a salmonella contamination risk. You can find a complete list of the foods involved in the recall here. Salmonella can make your pet very sick and handling contaminated food can make you very sick as well. If you feed one of the formulas listed in the recall, DO NOT continue to feed to foods to your pet. If you suspect that the food you have may be involved in the recall, discard the remainder of the food and be sure to wash your hands with soap and hot water after handling. Dishes, bowls and surfaces that may have been in contact with these foods should also be cleaned thouroughly. Children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems should avoid handling the food at all.
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