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A 9-11 Tribute – Search and Rescue Dogs at Ground Zero

In 1961, 101 Dalmatians became one of the most beloved family films of all time. The unique spotted dogs became one of the most popular breeds as a result. While Dalmatians can make great pets for the right families, many people jazzed up on the idea of owning a “Pongo” or “Purdy” of their own went out and purchased puppies without doing the proper research. The demand for the breed grew and many irresponsible breeders saw the potential profit. Over breeding resulted in genetic problems and a decline in the overall quality of the breed. New owners of these high energy dogs encountered these genetic problems and many were unprepared for the needs and characteristics of the breed, and many dogs were abandoned in animal shelters. The breed has suffered greatly all for the misunderstanding of an enthusiastic movie loving crowd, but responsible breeders have continued to produce top quality puppies to be sold to the right owner – the well-educated one.  Rescue organizations and responsible breeders were left with the burden of finding dogs homes and task of maintaining the beautiful breed.

Over the past few years, Disney, Pixar, and other studios have produced a number of other movies that have also effected the pet trade. One of the most well-known to us here at That Fish Place was (and still is) “Finding Nemo”. The cute little clownfish once seen as a salt-water enthusiast’s dream has become somewhat of a nightmare to employees looking to find them proper homes. With kids wanting a Nemo of their very own, parents find themselves investigating this new interest, only to find that these beautiful fish require a lot more than a bowl and a castle. Most species of clownfish require at least a 20-30 gallon aquarium for a single pair, and all of the filtration, lighting and other equipment necessary for a proper clownfish home. The average cost of a starter tank will likely be more than $200! This doesn’t include weekly maintenance and feeding. Clownfish are salt water fish and cannot be kept in a bowl. A better option for children with a Nemo fetish? The best kind of fish to start your little ones with are Bettas. They come in many colors and can be kept in a small bowl (there is even a Nemo themed betta aquarium kit) with little or no filtration for a much lower cost.

Disney has left its mark on the sale of animals, too, like rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters – all attributed to the movies “Ratatouille”, “G-Force”, and “Bolt”. These pets are wonderful companions for gentle, well-mannered children and are not very difficult or expensive to care for. They have always been popular, but the movies Disney has released in the last few years has definitely contributed to their fame. I find that the reputation of rats has gotten a little better since “Ratatouille” came out, since for once a movie including rats did not demonize them or make them the bad guys of the film. Far from disgusting vermin, rats are clean, highly trainable companions with affectionate and playful personalities. In the case of the rat, Disney has actually contributed to a more positive outlook on pet rats and helped find more of them caring homes.

Provided that a family does proper research on the animal, there is nothing wrong with finding new interest in a pet because it has been in a movie. What we must remember though, is that animals are not cartoon characters, and what happens to them on the big screen most likely is completely fictional. Rats don’t cook, guinea pigs don’t fight crime, and fish don’t all belong in bowls, but with lots of love and attention, they all can be the stars of our household.

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Pets and Disney – How Animated Movies Effect the Pet Trade

The genetic make-up of the original Bengal went further than just an average house cat and a wild animal. They share traits with many other breeds including Egyptian Mau, Burmese, Abyssinian, and the American Shorthair. The producer of the Bengal breed was an American named Jean Sudgen, who crossed a black tom cat with a female Asian Leopard cat in the 1960s. From then on, further crossing experiments eventually gave way to the breed we know and love today. The Bengal combines the beautiful patterns of wild cats with the affectionate, adaptable personality of the domesticated cat, giving cat lovers a little taste of the wild with the convenience of being able to keep their pets just like any other house cat.

In order to be considered a true Bengal, the cat must be at least four generations bred away from the wild – that is the animal’s parents, grandparents, and great grandparents all had to be Bengals and not an original crossing of cat and Leopard cat. The average female Bengal is between 6-8 lbs while the males are larger, weighing up to 15 lbs. They have sleek athletic bodies and short soft coats that glitter in the sunlight. Their coats can be any variation of dark brown, red, or even snow, and can be spotted, marbled, or have rosettes. In rare cases, solid black or white Bengals have been reported, but are not recognized for showing. They have one of the most sought after personalities of any cat due to their gentle but fun-loving nature and their tenancy to get into trouble and be mischievous. Bengals have been compared to dogs, as they are very trainable and can learn to walk on leashes and fetch!

I acquired my own female marble tabby colored Bengal, Sookie strictly out of luck. Having lost my old male cat of 16 years, Dino just a year prior, I was very particular about bringing another cat into the household, as I have a tendency to lean towards large cats (Dino was 21 lbs!) and I did not want to settle for just any kitten that caught my eye. A friend of mine overheard me musing over cat breeds and told me he had recently bred a litter of Bengals and was thinking of getting out of the hobby. He offered to sell me one of his kittens for a low price being that I was a friend. Jumping at this, I soon had Sookie, who proved to be worth 100 times more than I paid for her.

Sookie is an extremely tenacious cat, always trying to find new ways to get into trouble. Her favorite activity is bending back the blinds and snapping them. We have gone through 3 sets of blinds in the two years we’ve had her, but we can never stay mad once she gives us the “I didn’t do it” eyes. Well aware that her beauty and charm can get her out of trouble, Sookie can melt your heart when she flops onto her back and yowls for attention. She greets every one who comes in the door by rolling down the stairs one at a time and waiting for a belly rub, and she will tear through the house with the fur on her tail fluffed straight, racing through the network of tubes we’ve laid out for her before she becomes tuckered out. She’ll then be content to plop down on your lap for a 2 hour snooze if you let her. As her breed is known to do, Sookie loves to fetch toys and bring them back just like a dog, and she fears absolutely nothing, including my 3 foot lizard, a bad tempered tegu named Taj. At 8 lbs even, Sookie is almost more cat than I can handle, but I would never part with her, as she is the most wonderful pet I could hope for.

When considering cats, I can’t help but look towards the Bengal as my new guideline for what I want in a pet. I hope this profile has been helpful to anyone looking to acquiring this uniquely wild and wonderfully loving breed.

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Bengal Beginnings – Exotic Cat Breeds

National Dog Day

National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe, and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.” (www.nationaldogday.com)

Take a moment to say ‘Thank you’ to your dog today. Something as simple as an extra belly rub or a special treat will be appreciated. Think about donating to your local animal shelter, or host a special dog-gathering with friends. Maybe even think about adding to your fur family on National Dog Day. Whatever you do, remember to celebrate all the wonderful things that dogs do for us each and every day.

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Every Dog Deserves its Day: National Dog Day

Today my oldest and dearest companion travels to the rainbow bridge. Frankie, my family’s 17 year old Bichon Frise, was my first pet, my only “sibling”, and the best friend and playmate a child could have asked for.
Frankie never seemed to mind when I wanted to play dress up with her, or when I pushed her around in a baby stroller day after day. She kept me company when I had the chicken pox in 1st grade and never tattled when I buried the grape flavored Children’s Tylenol (yuck!) in the houseplants. Sadly, as it happens with most childhood friends, we grew apart. She went to live with my dad when I graduated and went off on my own. I started my own fur-family, but Frankie was never far from my thoughts and there was always a Christmas present under my tree for her.

Over these last few years she has had some health problems, but she always managed to push on. I knew that someday she wouldn’t be here, but living in a different home, her inevitable decline in health as a senior dog eluded me. This past Christmas I was shocked to see how old and frail my childhood friend had become. These last few months my dad kept me up to date on her health and tried to warn me that this day would be coming, but you’re never fully prepared to say goodbye. Her age had recently taken a toll on her appetite and mobility, and knowing that she has lived a long and full life, My dad had to make the call that it was time to let her go. The decision was not an easy one, as it is never easy to say good bye to a family member.

I will miss my faithful childhood friend, but knowing that we provided the best possible life for her and that she lived every day to its fullest helps to ease my pain. I will remember her as the bright, vibrant puppy that I walked around the block without a care in the world. I know she’ll be waiting for me at the rainbow bridge, probably chasing our cat, Belle, and all the other pets I am sure to love and lose over the years to come.  We can all cross that final bridge together.

A note on grieving for pets

Unless you’ve lost a pet, it can be difficult to relate to those who are experiencing such a loss. Pet funerals are still relatively uncommon and it can be difficult to adjust to the absence of a companion. Most pet owners consider their animals parts of the family, and the grieving process is similar to that one would experience for human friend or family member. The same stages of grief (guilt, denial, anger, depression, and acceptance) may manifest in the days and weeks after a pet passes.

It is important that you let yourself experience the emotion and go through the stages of grieving. Don’t let anyone convince you that it is silly or sentimental to grieve over the loss of your pet. You spend a lot of time and invest a lot of yourself emotionally in your pets. They become an integral part of your life, and letting them go is a big adjustment. Allow yourself adequate time to heal and don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help coping with your loss. There are a myriad of websites, The Rainbow Bridge included, that can connect you with others who understand your pain and can help you start the healing process. If you know of any other ways to help the healing process, or if you want to share a story about a pet who is waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge please feel free to share them with us in the comments.

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Saying Good-bye – RIP My Loyal Friend, Frankie

Feeding Raw or Homemade Diets

Before the invention of dog food, household pets were fed “people food”. These types of diets worked because they were as varied and nutritious as their owner’s diets, and foods were not filled with preservatives and other impossible to pronounce ingredients. We are now starting to see more disease, allergies, and illness in our pets, and it could have something to do with the quality of the food we are feeding our animals. I like to imagine how I feel when I’ve eaten badly for a few days - say nothing but pizza, chips, & soda. I feel run down and sluggish, my immune system is craving vitamins and nutrients that junk foods don’t provide. A diet like that can be compared to feeding a low quality pet food. Imagine going your whole life on nothing but junk food and preservatives. Thankfully, the pet food industry is following suit and has steadily been improving their offerings.

Making homemade pet food is something I started just a few weeks ago. Before you plunge into making your own pet food, I strongly recommend that you do some research on the subject so that you know the nutritional requirements of your pets, as well as any additional supplements that you may need to provide. I started by doing some simple calculations to see how many calories my boys need to consume in one day. There are a lot of differences of opinion when it comes to how much protein/carbohydrate/vegetable content there needs to be in your pet’s diet. Using my own research and the help of my vet, I decided on a diet that complements my pets’ lifestyle and activity level. Look for more posts in the future on my experiments in dog and cat cuisine.

There is another re-emerging trend in pet food too - feeding raw food diets. Many proponents of this diet feel that feeding a raw diet is more natural, similar to the diet of your pet’s wild ancestors and that cooking the meat your pets eat depletes the nutrients it provides. There are also prepared raw foods made by Nature’s Variety available in patties or nuggets that you can feed your dog if you aren’t quite ready to feed them half a chicken!  

The Importance of Supplements

No matter what kind of diet you decide to feed your pets, they are likely lacking some of the basic nutrients needed to keep them at their best. Our pets have a higher calcium requirement that we do, so calcium should be added to the food. A common source for adding calcium is bone meal, plain non-fat yogurt is another way to go. For a healthy, shiny coat,  add Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to your pet’s diet with fish oil. A daily doggie multivitamin can help you provide the basic vitamins required for a healthy immune system.

I hope this article has helped put you on a path to better health for your pets. Having an awareness of what your pets are eating and making simple changes can reward you and your pet with a healthier, longer life.

Further Reading

http://www.healthypet.com/PetCare/PetsMatter/ReadMore.aspx?new_key=bdc7d753-c5fa-4c2d-8747-aa7050e1d2b0&nar_key=6c8f0ec6-1db8-4b5f-8e27-1cc17ad5cc96&type=VSA target=”_blank”

Book: The Whole Pet Diet; 8 Weeks to great health for dogs and cats by Andi Brown

Book: Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD

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Doggie Diets, Part 2 – Homemade Meals and Vitamin Supplements

More Than the Average Quarter Pounder

For some reason, some people love to toss their trash out of windows on rural roads. I’m not sure why it’s such a hassle to carry the trash to their destination to have it disposed of properly, but it isn’t uncommon to see fast food trash in the ditch or on the roadside on back roads. 

I’m not sure what was any different about the burger box and McDonald’s bag my sister and I found one fall day.  Back in the day, Mickey D’s packaging wasn’t so compact and burgers came neatly encased in a styrofoam container – maybe it was the pristine condition of that little carton or the fact that it wasn’t blowing away in the wind, but something made my sister look at that box and realize it contained something more than a Quarter Pounder. Tucked neatly inside was a tiny tabby!  A single striped kitten, left on the roadside with the trash.

QP (short for Quarter-pounder, as he was affectionately known as from that day on) was between 4 and 6 weeks old the day we brought him home and presented him to our mother.  After a visit to the vet and a few days of TLC, he settled in nicely and comfortably to his new life on the farm. He wasn’t the first, nor was he the last.

Little Lukie

Sometimes animals in need find you. That’s what we ultimately concluded when we found a pudgy little black lab puppy behind our barn one evening. Again, much too young to be on his own, it was hard to believe our eyes! How could that little pup have found his way through woods and fields, over streams and roads and into our lives?

“We can’t keep him, he has to belong to someone around us,” my Dad said. I can remember driving from neighbor to neighbor to ask if anyone around was missing a lab puppy, but no one near us had any clue. No takers on posted fliers at the local groceries or convenience stores either. After a couple of weeks, Luke became a permanent fixture to my father’s four pawed entourage. He was a loyal and comedic dog. He was only with us for five short years before passing away due to cancer.

I’ll share more of these many tales from my youth in future posts. Until then, please share if you have a story of your own!

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Rural Rejects – Unwanted Pets and How They Found Love

Knowing the Terminology

The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officers) is a non-government run agency that has its own set of regulations over pet food labels. These guidelines are used by many states and cover naming conventions, nutritional information, and the guaranteed analysis of pet foods. The first step in selecting a nutritious and wholesome food for your pet is to look on the label for an AAFCO statement that says

“XYZ Pet Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog/Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.”  Or “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ABC Dog/Cat Food provides a complete and balanced nutrition”.

Sometimes it seems impossible to decipher what is actually in your pet’s food.  The AAFCO has certain guidelines on the naming conventions of dog food.

Percentage Rules - The True Meaning of a Label 

95% Rule – Foods labeled with names such as Beef for dogs or Chicken Cat Food must contain at least 95% of the named ingredient.

25% Rule – AKA the ‘Dinner’ Rule – Foods with the word ‘dinner’ or similar phrase (example: Turkey dinner or Salmon formula) must contain at least 25% of the named ingredient.

3% Rule – AKA the ‘with’ rule – Foods that contain the word ‘with’ or ‘and’ must contain at least 3% of the named ingredient (Examples: Chicken and Rice Dinner contains 3% rice, 25% chicken, Dog Food with Beef only contains 3% beef, while Beef Dog Food contains 95% beef). Tricky, isn’t it?

The Marketing Terms

Flavored pet foods (such as Chicken Flavored Dog Food) do not contain any of the main ingredient that it is supposed to taste like. The terms “Gourmet”, “Premium”, “Super-Premium”, “Ultra-premium”,  and ”Organic” have no specific guidelines or rules governing their use and are considered strictly marketing terminology. The word “Natural” is also not defined, but has to adhere to some guidelines (no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives).

Selecting a Better Quality Pet Food

The first thing you should do when you are getting ready to purchase a new brand of pet food is to check the ingredients on the label. The top five ingredients make up the majority of the food. If they are not quality ingredients then you should move on. Avoid foods that list corn, wheat, or any other starch as the first ingredient or as more than one of those five ingredients. These foods may not have enough natural protein in the food for a healthy, complete diet. If you really want to check the quality food of the food you are purchasing, consider all the ingredients that are listed before the first source of fat (canola oil, chicken fat, etc.). Make sure that there is a quality source of protein listed, preferably first on the list and different sources of proteins within those first few ingredients, as dogs require a diet high in protein and lower in carbohydrates.

While you are examining the labels, be sure to keep an eye out for potentially unsafe or nutrient depleted ingredients such as chemical preservatives (BHA, ethoxyquin, Glyceryl Monostearate and BHT), meat by products (which is kind of like mystery meat “parts” – there are higher quality protein sources available), wheat or corn gluten, brewer’s rice, & soy products.

Opt for foods that use natural preservatives such as Vitamins A and E, but be wary that dog food manufacturers can buy an ingredient that already contains preservatives or additives and they do not have to list them in the ingredients of the dog food.  It’s shady, but it’s not illegal.  In Part 2 we’ll talk about do-it-yourself dog food and ways to supplement your pet’s diet.

Post from: That Pet Blog


Doggie Diet, Part 1 – Understanding Pet Food & Pet Food Labels

Post from: That Pet Blog


Iams, Eukanuba Issue Expanded Voluntary Pet Food Recall

Guinea Pig Gossip

I’ve actually heard people say that a guinea pig’s eyes will fall off out you pick him up by the tail.

This ridiculous myth has been around for decades. I have no idea where it came from, but I can debunk it with one simple fact….guinea pigs don’t have tails!

The idea that Guinea pigs can live with rabbits is a common bit of misinformation.

Guinea pigs and rabbits should not be housed together, simply because the two species are too different in care requirements for this to make sense. Rabbits require rabbit pellets and guinea pigs must eat guinea pig pellets. Even though the two foods look the same, they are formulated differently and should not be fed to the wrong species. Guinea pigs also have clawed, rat like feet while rabbits have heavily padded flat feet with very strong legs, so the cage must match the animal’s foot type. While a rabbit can live on wire, a guinea pig might hurt himself. While a guinea pig can live on flat ground, a rabbit might slip and slide all over! Rabbits are strong and use their back legs to kick themselves forward. One misplaced kick can kill a guinea pig. Don’t house them together, but feel free to let your guinea pig and rabbit play together on the floor once in a while with your supervision.

Rantings on Rats

Rats have diseases. It might be one of the most common things I hear people say.

All animals have the potential to spread disease. I get asked about Rabies a lot, and here are the facts. Rabies MUST be transmitted to a mammal with a bite or scratch. It cannot be contracted through the air and animals cannot be born with the virus. The odds of a pet rat or any other indoor pet having Rabies is very low unless that animal has been kept outside and bitten by an infected animal. The Black Plague and other diseases typically associated with rats come from the fleas that were carried by wild Black Rats in those times. Since our pet rats are raised and kept indoors and their cages are cleaned frequently, you will not have to worry about such diseases. Dirty cages can breed bacteria, fungus, and Salmonella, which can be spread to people, but this is true of ANY environment. Keep the cage clean!

Keeping pet rats will attract wild rats to your home, or at least thaat’s what some people think.

Wild rat infestations can be caused by numerous things, but they are not attracted to our pet rats. Usually rats invade homes that are close to a food source and/or have food laying out, and places with holes in the walls where they can crawl in and make a nest. Yes, if you leave your pet rat’s food scattered out (or any other food for that matter), a wild rat wouldn’t hesitate to take a nibble, but more than likely if you have wild rats invading your home, they were attracted for other reasons and not by your pets.

Rats bite. Every animal has the potential to bite if provoked, teased, injured, or if it is sick, and rats are no different, but because of their role as the bad guy in horror movies and other ventures, they are seen as angry blood lusting vermin. Pet rats were domesticated to aid in medical research, so the scientists who bred them had to be able to pick them up and handle them without being bitten. Over the many generations, the descendants of these lab rats have been bred into tame, affectionate, lovable animals that generally will not bite if raised correctly.

Chinchilla Chatter

You may have heard that Chinchillas will die if you get them wet.

This is sort of a half-truth. If a chinchilla gets wet and is allowed to stay wet for a long time, he could get a cold or a fungus could start to grow in his fur, causing illness and death. Generally you should not bathe your chinchilla, but if you do, make sure you blow dry him until he is completely dry to avoid him getting sick. Dust baths are preferred over water baths!

Some people think that Chinchillas are hybrids, not their own species.

Because of their appearance, a lot of people believe them to be a mix of rabbit and squirrel, but chinchillas their own, naturally evolved species and did not come from some freak gene splicing experiment. Since rabbits and squirrels are vastly different species, a successful mating between them is impossible.

It is also commonly thought that Chinchillas prefer hot climates.

Quite the opposite! Chinchillas hail from the arid mountainous regions of South America. They love cool, dry weather and can even die from overexposure to temperatures over the mid-seventies. Keep your pets in an air conditioned room and do not take them outside, as fluctuating temperatures are bad for their health.

Husky Rat image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by AlexK100

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Common Small Animal Myths – Debunking Bad Publicity – Part 2