Cats get a bad rap when it comes to laziness. Lasagna-loving Garfield, for example. This cat is lazy and scoops its food out of its bowl so it can dine whilst lounging. This cat would rather not treadmill, thank mew very much. But in the wild, cats are sleek and stealthy hunters, and will stalk their prey, whether it’s a roll of toilet paper or a Swiffer. When your cat is an indoor pet, anything is fair game. But while some cats will go chase after any reflection of sunlight that catches their eye, others need more motivation to move. To keep his cat’s hunting instincts sharp, Ben Millam built a device that triggers the cat feeder when Monkey, his cat, finds an RFID-equipped ball, according to Laughing Squid. And it’s not like the balls are in plain sight. Millam hides them in different places to ensure Monkey stays active. The idea occurred to him after he read that cats practice “mobile” hunting, sticking their whiskers in different spots while roaming around their territory in hopes of unsettling some prey. Instead of hiding bowls of food, he decided to train his cat to find the balls and get rewarded with a snack. Using an RFID reader, an Arduino, a remote antenna, and relays (plus cat), the device activates the feeder whenever Monkey deposits a ball, equipped with an RFID tag, into the hole and past the reader. Millam says he’s an amateur maker, but he’s clearly an expert cat trainer. In order get Monkey to learn this behavior, he went steps beyond Pavlov. He has a breakdown of his “clicker training” on his site. It will definitely take both time and patience to get your own little feline in fetch mode. For Millam, it was all worth it, because it brings Monkey “one step closer towards a more fulfilled and self-actualized indoor kitty existence.” Source: digitaltrends.com / Jenny McGrath A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
0 Comments
When times are financially difficult, it's not just family members who suffer. The economic hardship can affect family pets as well. That's why Josie Gonzalez opened Ben's Pet Pantry in the Lower Valley on July 11. The pantry provides pet food and veterinary services, such as spaying and neutering when funds are available, for people experiencing financial hardship. It is named for her dog. Gonzalez said she started the nonprofit organization about four years ago when she volunteered at the Humane Society of El Paso and would see a lot of puppies and kittens brought in. "I asked them one day why they kept coming in, and (Humane Society staff) said it was basically because people couldn't afford to keep them and feed them. Around that time, the economy crashed and a lot of people had lost their jobs and they had closed a lot of companies," she said. Gonzalez said she initially started small, with her and her husband purchasing pet food in bulk and distributing it in small plastic bags. Eventually, she had volunteers help distribute the food and donations also started coming in. Wal-Mart in Northeast El Paso donates food on a regular basis. And Gonzalez has applied for grants for funds to help provide spaying and neutering. "I thought as long as they get some food, they won't turn them into rescues or abandon them in the desert," she said. Now, with its own storefront, the pantry, which costs about $500 to $600 a month to run, will be open Tuesday through Thursday and the first and third Saturday of the month. People are asked to fill out an assistance application with financial documentation. Gonzalez said she has a steady stream of clients. She said she helps an average of 200 to 300 families monthly. "I had one lady tell me she didn't buy her medicines one month so she could buy dog food," she said. Barbara Renteria, a Clint resident, said she appreciates the extra hand she's gotten from the pantry for the past year. She has three dogs, the most recent a stray she saved from the street, and a cat. "I moved to another house and have a bit more rent and bills to pay. And my dad passed away ... so they have been a great help," she said. She added, "I love dogs and I know I would be stressing out if they did not have food." María Cortés González may be reached at 546-6150. What: Ben's Pet Pantry When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Saturday of the month Where: 550 N. Yarbrough Suite 208 Details: The pantry provides pet food for qualifying applicants, as well as other pet-related items when available. Donations of food, money or other pet related items also accepted Information: 401-6515 Source: El Paso Times / María Cortés González A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Rocky the Boxer is the latest inductee in the Lassie Come Home Hall of Fame. But unlike the classic Eric Knight tale, it wasn’t a mysterious canine instinct that brought the 5-year-old dog back to his people. This reunion happened thanks to a microchip and a crew of kind-hearted drivers from Highway Heroes Rescue Transport. In 2013, Rocky bolted out the door of his home in Mesa, Arizona, and vanished. As months wore on, owner Brittany Romero lost hope that she and her son, Aden Wasil, 12, would ever see their pet again.Romero was stunned when she received a phone call in late July from an animal clinic telling her that Rocky had been found and was alive and well. A family noticed him wandering stray and took him in. He had been living there for a while before they asked a vet to check for a microchip. The clinic called Romero and gave her the good news. The bad news was that he was 1,800 miles away in Elkhart, Indiana. Enter Highway Heroes Rescue Transport. The group’s motto is, “No pet is to far to save.” Over three days and 26 separate legs, Rocky was passed, like the baton in a relay race, from one volunteer driver to the next. Finally, on Sunday morning, July 26, he was back in the arms of his ecstatic family. In Knight’s story, Lassie’s trip from England to Scotland was a mystery to her people. But only the first part of Rocky’s journey is unknown. His return was chronicled in detail on a charming Facebook page, “Rocky’s Journey: One dog, Many people, 1,800 Miles.” The page shows images of Rocky’s relay team and the Boxer having the time of his life on each new part of the trip. There are a lot of smiling faces, hugs, and Boxer kisses. Best of all, the page serves as a great way to thank the kind people who made it possible for Rocky to come home. Source: akc.org / Mara Bovsun A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
We’ve all heard that it’s important to read to your baby for his or her development, but could it help your dog or cat be a calmer, happier pet? The Arizona Animal Welfare League & Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is using reading as a tool to help animals in their shelter become happier, more socialized pets. Volunteers spend time reading to dogs and cats awaiting adoption at the state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter. “Reading is an important socialization activity for dogs and cats,” said Whitney Fletcher, director of Volunteers & Special Events at AAWL & SPCA. “It helps fearful dogs and cats become more comfortable with people without forcing interaction. “As you read out loud, you are focusing on something other than the animal,” she explains. “In turn, the animal grows accustomed to your presence and voice, which is calming.” It really doesn’t matter what the volunteer reads, she notes, adding that college students volunteering at the shelter often read their text books to the animals. “Dogs and cats find the rhythmic sound of a voice very comforting and soothing.” AAWL & SPCA volunteers can either bring their own books or borrow one from the shelter’s free Little Library. The reading program is one of the socialization techniques the organization uses to help dogs and cats become better pets. Other programs include night walks with shelter dogs at local parks and “Doggie Coffee Dates,” in which volunteers take pups with them to local coffee shops each Saturday. These programs help the dogs learn to interact with strangers and become accustomed to new situations. For more information about AAWL & SPCA, go to www.aawl.org or call 602-273-6852. The Arizona Animal Welfare League is located at 25 N. 40th St., Phoenix. Source: Ahwatukee Foothills News A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Did you know that 1/3 of domestic violence victims delay leaving an abusive relationship due to concern for their pets? Data also shows that 25% of victims return to an abusive relationship to protect the pets retained by the abusive partner. I feel extremely naïve to have only recently learned that pet ownership or abuse of a pet could be effectively used by one individual to continue a harmful or abusive relationship with another individual. An article in the latest Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association discusses some of the problems faced by victims and pets of abuse and highlights federal legislation that might help abuse victims. The depth of the suffering form abusive situations is not over even if a victim escapes it. This is summed up by the article’s quote from Maya Carless, the executive director of Animals and Society Institute. “I have personally worked with hundreds of victims who escaped abusive situations with little more than the clothes on their backs and their pets in their arms. Not only were they struggling to find safety for their pets, the abusers’ control over their finances left them unable to afford necessary veterinary care for their pets who have been harmed by the abuse.” Legislation for Victims of Abuse “No one should have to make the choice between leaving an abusive situation and ensuring their pet’s safety” says Rep. Katherine Clark of Maryland, co-author of House of Representative Bill 1258. With Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the two congresswomen have drafted the Pet and Women Safety Act or PAWS. The provisions of the legislation will aid both female and male victims of abusive relationships. The specifics of the bill include:
Ms. Carless adds about the legislation: “While many kindhearted veterinarians help greatly by discounting their services, the PAWS Act would provide financial restitution for the costs of veterinary care in these situations, lifting the burden from the veterinary profession and greatly increasing treatment for animal victims of domestic violence.” This is in part why the American Veterinary Medical Association is backing PAWS with its lobby support. As a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, I generally do not support AVMA lobbying efforts because they largely promote economic advantage for the veterinary profession. In this case, I favor their efforts. The article cites the other reasons that the AVMA feels compelled to support the legislation: "The AVMA Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interactions, together with the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee, recommend that the Association support H.R. 1258 because it is consistent with the veterinary efforts to protect the welfare of animals and promote responsible human-animal relationships, including the philosophy in the AVMA Animal Welfare Principles and its resource publication ‘Practical Guidance for the Effective Response by Veterinarians to Suspected Animal Cruelty, Abuse and Neglect.’” This law will certainly not do much to end domestic violence and abuse, but hopefully it provides a back-up plan to encourage victims of these relationships to leave before there is serious injury or emotional trauma. Source: Pet MD / Dr. Tudor A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
By Helen Soteriou and Will Smale Business reporters, BBC News When Penny Lally passes away she is going to be buried between her late husband... and her favorite horse. The 71-year-old will join John Lally and her beloved old pony Super Sam in a picturesque woodland spot in Cornwall, south west England. Also already buried in the family plot are Blot the cat, Muppet the Alsatian dog, and Brian the canary. Elsewhere in the six acres (2.4 hectares) of woods and fields, some 40 other people are also laid to rest with their pets. The land is owned by Ms Lally's business, Penwith Pet Crematorium, which is one of 50 or so pet crematoriums and cemeteries across the UK. And businesses is booming, as an ever-growing number of pet owners wish to give their animals a more formal send-off. At Penwith they now individually cremate an average of 200 animals per week, double the number a decade ago. Prices range from £42 for a hamster or guinea pig, up to £187 for a large dog. Meanwhile, it costs £900 to bury a horse (they are too big to be cremated at Penwith), or £1,500 for a human being. Ms Lally says: "It was my silly idea to set up the business back in 1988." She adds that she came up with the idea when she realized that there were many people like her and her husband who would like give their pets a formal cremation or burial. And that others would, like them, also consider being ultimately buried beside their pets, or where their beloved animals' ashes were scattered or interred. "My husband and I were running a farm, and we were lucky enough to have the land to set up the business," says Ms Lally. "So we set aside six acres. The business then gradually grew from there thanks to positive word of mouth and repeat business. "Everyone who comes here goes away and happily recommends us to other people, and we get people who come back with their second and third pets." 'Pet parents' Far from being just a British phenomenon, the industry of pet cremation and burial, or "pet loss" as it is known, is now a very big business globally. According to US-based trade body Pet Loss Professionals Alliance (PLPA), the average annual turnover of its members around the world in 2013 was $860,464 (£556,000). And that year its members in the US alone cremated 1.46 million pets. Today, she owns and runs an organisation called Two Hearts Pet Loss, which educates veterinary professionals and pet loss businesses about how best to meet the needs of people whose pets nearing the end of their lives. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ms Ellis, who is also the author of a book on the subject, says it is important to remember that there are two types people who have pets - "pet owners" and "pet parents". She adds: "My services are geared towards the pet parent, the person who saw their little furry animal as a member of the family. "I wanted to give people 'permission' to do what they wanted to do to honor their pet, and to honor the life they shared together. "We are giving them permission to do more, and possibly in an area where they may be felt like they were going to be shamed, or made fun of, because a lot of people may be looking at them and saying 'it was just a dog', or 'it was just a cat, why do you want to do that, that's crazy?'." 'Final goodbyes' Vivianne Dhupa and her husband Sarit Dhupa decided to go into the pet loss industry after a traumatic experience following the death of their then 17-year-old cat in 2004. Their cat died on route to their vets in San Diego, California, and the couple did not want to take its ashes back from the surgery. A few months later Ms Dhupa went back to ask where the ashes had been scattered, only to be told that the cat had been taken to an animal rendering plant, because the couple hadn't specifically requested cremation. "Needless to say, I was angry and devastated," says the 42-year-old. To prevent other pet owners going through a similar experience, the couple set up their own pet crematorium - Peaceful Paws Pet Crematorium. This now cremates 20,000 pets per year, and customers can choose from a range of specially designed pet urns. However, Ms Dhupa and her husband went one stage further, and also opened a hospice center for dying pets, the Into The Sunset Pet Transition Centre. Ms Dhupa says: "While our primary goal is to ensure our patients are pain-free and maintaining an acceptable quality of life, we focus a great deal on supporting the family emotionally. "We do not prolong life or hasten death. Our primary goal is quality of life until the family is ready for their final goodbye." Back in the UK, Carole Mundy, 61, has purchased burial plots at Penwith Pet Crematorium for her herself and her husband, and all of their cats and dogs. Plus three separate areas for her rescued horses. She says it has cost her thousands of pounds. "I wanted to find a resting place where I can be buried with all of my animals," she says. "They give me unconditional and devoted love, so why would I not want to be buried with them." Source: BBC A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Dogs, for all their familiar, comforting, domesticated presence in our homes, remain to me mysterious creatures. How an animal can predict epilepsy at one turn like some ethereal body scanner and drink out of the toilet the next moment is one of the great paradoxes of the universe; this capacity for strange miracles comingled with the banal. Some of the mystery surrounding dogs’ unusual prowess in sensing disease resides in their noses. The canine nose is thought to be between 10,000 and 100,000 times more sensitive than the human nose. In addition, a greater portion of their brain is dedicated to interpreting this massive amount of data. Given their aptitude to experience the world through their noses, it’s no surprise than among the many things dogs can sniff out, cancer is one of them. Dogs have been trained to correctly identify lung cancer on the breath, colon cancer in the stool, and bladder cancer in the urine. While we know dogs have been able to correctly identify the difference between ill patients and well ones, we still haven’t been able to isolate exactly what it is the dogs are smelling; inflammatory mediators, necrosis, or benzene derivatives secreted by cancer cells? Perhaps we’ll figure it out one day, but for now we can simply revel in the marvel of the idea of a dog breath-sniffer one day replacing the dreaded mammogram or colonoscopy. In a 2006 study in Integrative Cancer Therapy, dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind were able to identify breast cancer patients 88 percent of the time. Until they were trained to identify the smell of cancer, these dogs had completed only basic obedience training, meaning this sort of sniff sensitivity isn’t limited just to certain “supersniffer” canines. Source: PetMD A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
For better or worse, robots seem poised to take over all sorts of human jobs in the not-too-distant future -- replacing us in factories and offices and maybe even in the bedroom. And people may not be the only ones facing stiff competition from the cyborgs. According to an animal welfare researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia, robots might soon replace our favorite pets. “It might sound surreal for us to have robotic or virtual pets, but it could be totally normal for the next generation,” Dr. Jean-Loup Rault said in a written statement. “It’s not a question of centuries from now. If 10 billion human beings live on the planet in 2050 as predicted, it’s likely to occur sooner than we think." Rault's not the only scientist that thinks robotic pets are on the way. Famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told The Huffington Post in an email: "Cars have replaced horses. Home security systems have replaced guard dogs. Internet kittens are cuter than your kittens. Pooper-scooper laws are unnecessary for cuddly stuffed animals on your bed. And your pet bird should have never been kept in a cage to begin with. Robot pets are inevitable. And possibly overdue." A matter of sustainability. More than half of people in Western societies own a pet, according to Rault. As the population grows and becomes increasingly urban, he believes owning flesh-and-blood companion animals is likely to become economically unsustainable for many people. "Efforts to develop cities designed to be green and pet-friendly are ongoing," he wrote in an opinion piece for journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science. "However, a more realistic future is that pets may become a luxury possession for people who can afford to sustain their cost and fulfill their needs in terms of space, social, and mental needs according to possibly higher ethical standards raised by future societies." But could a robotic Rover give its owners the same benefits as a real one? Studies have linked dog ownership with lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and higher self-esteem. And scientists at the University of Arizona are investigating whetherdoggy germs give our immune systems a boost. Maybe more to the point, could we love a pet that runs not on kibbles but electrical power? Would we accept affection from such a being? Transformative technology. A 2008 study showed that Sony's robo-dog AIBO helped nursing home residents in the U.S. feel less isolated. And funerals held for "dead" robotic dogs last March in Japan suggest that their owners really can develop a strong attachment to the devices. "For those who keep AIBOs, they are nothing like home appliances," Hiroshi Funabashi, a supervisor at a Japanese company that repairs the robo-dogs, told AFP. "It's obvious they think their (robotic pet) is a family member." Rault argues that robo-pet technology will soon be sophisticated enough to cover our emotional needs. “When engineers work on robotic dogs, they work on social intelligence, they address what people need from their dogs: companionship, love, obedience, dependence,” he said in the statement. But not everyone agrees our society will snuggle up to robodogs. Jason Silva, host of the National Geographic Channel's "Brain Games," sees a different future for humans and their pets. "Not sure if robot dogs will 'replace' our pets, but I wouldn't be surprised if we continue to engineer our best friends," he told The Huffington Post in an email. "Remember that dogs were our first biotechnology project. We bred them into existence in their current form. We engineered them." Source: Huffington Post A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which discussed a mini-outbreak of plague that occurred here in Colorado last year. Four people fell ill with the pneumonic form of the plague after coming in contact with a sick dog. The dog was euthanized before veterinarians could determine exactly what was going on (a full necropsy was not initially permitted), and it was only after one of the human patients was diagnosed with plague that follow-up testing revealed the cause of everyone’s illnesses. The word “plague” conjures up pictures of the Middle Ages and epidemics that killed millions of people, but it is simply the name given to the disease that results from infection with Yersinia pestis bacteria. Plague can take three forms:
In animals, plague is usually spread by fleas that feed on infected rodents, like prairie dogs (the most commonly affected species), rabbits, squirrels, mice, and rats. When an animal dies from the plague, the fleas leave the carcass to find another host, thus spreading the disease. Animals can also become sick after coming in contact with blood or tissues from another infected animal. This often happens through hunting or scavenging. Treatment for plague is straightforward and includes appropriate antibiotic therapy, supportive care, and isolating patients until they are no longer contagious. The CDC report on the cases in Colorado is notable for several reasons:
Now, plague is not a nationwide problem, but if you live or travel to the Western United States (especially the Four Corners region) you should take precautions, like these put forth by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, to protect yourself and your pets:
Source: PetMD / CDC A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
With summer coming up, there's no need to leave Fido at home. Conde Nast Traveler editor Mark Ellwood explains how to best travel with your pet. Plus, he names a few pet-friendly destinations you should consider for your next trip! In the car:
On the plane:
At the hotel:
For more helpful tips from the experts at North Shore Animal League America, visit animalleague.org/expert-advice. Source: Emily Sher /TODAY A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
|
The PAW Blog...
For the LOVE of Pets The goal of this blog is to help educate pet owners by sharing pet health facts and pet news articles...and ... sometimes put a smile on your face with a cute or funny pet story! Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
Search for any topic...
|