Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by the cuteness of an animal that you felt as if your whole world was about to fall apart? Well, that's what happened to this sweet little boy once he got to cradle a (very confused) Chihuahua in his arms.This little boy just couldn't stop crying — and it wasn't because he was afraid of the small dog. In the video below, uploaded by Mia Anelli, CEO and founder of INsight Animal Rescue in Los Angeles, the kid says his reason for sobbing is simply because "she's so cute." Meanwhile, the tear-inducing Chihuahua has absolutely no idea what's going on. 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.
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PIMA COUNTY - There are countless animal lovers in Tucson, so stories of mistreatment strike a nerve.
Dogs seized from a hot car one week ago have been returned to their owner. The animals were cleared to go home on Wednesday, but one dog rescue group is asking why the owner was allowed that option. "With what the dogs have already been through, it is very traumatic for any dog, no matter what condition they're living in, to be taken from that environment and put in a shelter with people they don't know, and then returned back to these conditions," said Leah Cox, with Charlotte’s Way Dog Rescue. Cox was hoping she'd get the chance to rescue and rehabilitate the pack. She said many were shy and unsocialized. They're already working with ten of the dog's yard mates, surrendered by the same owner just days before the hot car incident. "My biggest worry for these dogs is they're not going to have that chance," said Cox. "We’re very grateful for all the people that care about animal welfare in our county, we rely on them to keep our animals safe,” said Detective Robin Crehan with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. "While people, many times, see their pets as children or family members and treat them as such, that is not an action that is required by law, being sufficient food water and shelter at the very least, and immediate attention to any medical issues that may arise." PCSD said it must enforce the laws as they are written. In Arizona, dogs are considered property. Even with charges pending, an owner may still be entitled to them, depending on the severity of the charges. Each case is looked at and evaluated individually. "The individual was found to be, upon investigation, in compliance with current licensing and other laws," said Det. Crehan. "The animals themselves were in good condition." Rescuers are working with the ten dogs surrendered by the man. The hope is that they can be adopted out in the coming weeks. Source: KVOA.com / Lauren Reimer
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.
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. Enola, a 35-year-old African Sulcata tortoise, is one of three rescued or adopted by the videographer. She gets in the dog door occasionally, just looking for a little excitement. 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 end of 2014 is quickly approaching and we’re all left wondering when the whole year flew by. We are also wondering what promises we’ll make ourselves for the new year. New Year’s resolutions are a time for us to reflect on the past year and come up with ways to better ourselves in the coming year. These resolutions come in a variety of forms for people across the world. But, have you ever thought about your pet’s thoughts for the future. Is Sparky feeling a little heavy following all those holiday meals? Has Lucky been a little lazy the past couple months? And is Daisy needing to get out of that toxic relationship? We have a feeling that dog and cat resolutions may look more similar to our’s than we may have originally thought. Here are eight New Year’s resolutions your pet may have this year. 1. Lose Those Extra Ounces The number one New Year’s resolution for people and animals alike is to get back in shape. Everyone has that goal weight in their mind, so now is the time to achieve it! Losing those last couple ounces is the hardest. In order to lose that extra weight, exercise is key. A dog park membership is a great way to find motivation to get back in shape. Your pup will have the opportunity to make friends while getting in shape. Maybe your local dog park has classes and exercise groups that will make this New Year’s resolution the easiest to keep on top of. If a dog park seems unfeasible, why not take up running with your canine companion. This new bonding activity will fulfill both of your New Year’s resolutions at once. 2. Get Out of That Terrible Relationship Is your furry friend stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere? Do they get bullied by other dogs at the dog park. Perhaps the pretty dog next door they’ve been pining over just isn’t interested. A New Year’s resolution to get out of that dead-end relationship may be just the motivation they need to stand up for themselves as move on. It’s not always easy breaking up with your significant other or moving on, but if sometimes is it necessary to make advances in your personal life. A pup’s gotta do what a pup’s gotta do. 3. Find the Dream Job Having a job you really love can make all the difference in your life. When you feel accomplished at work, you feel accomplished in life. Finding the dream job, however, isn’t always easy. Maybe your dog has always dreamed of using their talented nose for good. Is it time for them to find a job in search and rescue? Would your cat like to finally break into the pest control field? It takes perfecting your resume and acing the interview to land that dream job. Luckily, for most pups and kittens, their adorable face is all the material they need to land the position they were born to do. 4. Eat Healthier A resolution that goes paw-in-paw with the goal of losing some weight and getting back into shape,eating healthier is an important goal to set in 2015. A bad diet can not only add to obesity in many animals, but to dental problems and other health issues. Our suggestion to those motivated furry friends out there: eat more fruits and veggies and cut back on the fatty foods. In no time you’ll see that your coat is more shiny and you’ll have more energy (to your parent’s dismay). 5. Go Back to School Continuing your education is a nobel pursuit. It takes time and energy. If you are willing to put forth the effort, it can help make strides in your personal and professional life. Every dog and cat wants to learn more, whether they know it or not. Dog’s aren’t only interested in eating your homework, they often want to complete their own. Going back to school is a fantastic resolution to have for this new year. Perhaps they want to try their paw at an agility class, or finally buckle down and complete the old obedience school degree. If your furry friend follows through (doesn’t sleep through class) and gets their degree, their future will be bright! 6. See More of the World Getting out and experiencing the world is not only exciting, but it can help you grow. Being immersed in other cultures and in uncomfortable situations will broaden your idea of the world, and hopefully, help you to become more grounded. Every animal should see new areas and aim to experience new things. Having a goal of seeing a new place each year is a great idea! So, dogs (and yes, even you cats) make it a point to travel somewhere. It doesn’t even have to be too far from your normal hangouts. 7. Spend More Time With Family The most important part of any person or animal’s life is their family. We often get caught up in daily responsibilities and working to improve ourselves, as the previous resolutions indicate. Spending more tie with your family is a sure way to increase happiness in your life. No matter what your family looks or acts like, make extra time to do fun things together. You’ll appreciate this time when you look back. 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.
Parvovirus Can Kill Your Puppy in 48 to 72 Hours, But Promising Treatment Is 90% Successful12/14/2014 About 10 years ago, before there was a name for West Nile virus, the mysterious disease was killing large populations of geese in South Dakota. Searching for an effective remedy, a group of researchers at the University of North Dakota discovered that antibodies contained in the yolks of goose eggs could be purified and given to birds with the virus, curing them. Soon afterwards, a company called Avianax was formed to test the treatment beyond geese. It turned out the goose antibodies had a beneficial effect against other diseases as well, including rabies, dengue fever, avian flu, and certain cancers. Avianax decided to focus first on using the antibodies against parvovirus in puppies, and initial trials of the company's parvoONE treatment (about 50 puppies in 7 states) resulted in an astonishing cure rate of 90 percent in as little as two days. Parvovirus Is Hard to Control and Costly to Treat Canine parvovirus is difficult to control -- especially in a shelter environment -- and expensive to treat. The virus is spread through animal waste and direct dog-to-dog contact. It is highly contagious and can live on surfaces for months. Some puppies die from the virus and others are euthanized because the antibiotics and other drugs needed to treat it can be too expensive – from $500 to $2,000 -- and take about a week to work. Parvo causes similar symptoms in all infected puppies and dogs, including vomiting, severe and often bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite. In dogs infected with the virus, dehydration is a constant concern and can occur very quickly as a result of the vomiting and diarrhea. This is especially dangerous in very young puppies. Most deaths from parvo occur within 48 to 72 hours after the onset of symptoms, which is why immediate treatment is crucial for survival. Affordable Cure to Parvovirus Could Be Available in Spring 2015 The USDA issued a conditional permit to Avianax for parvoONE field trials that took place through November in Missouri, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, and Arizona. Avianax chief operating officer Richard Glynn hopes to start selling the parvoONE antibody-based treatment for $75 a dose by next spring. "We went from being goose herders from South Dakota to an antibody company," Glynn said. "And we're not done yet." Vaccinating Your Dog Against Parvo Obviously, it's best to treat a parvovirus infection by preventing it from happening in the first place. Providing baseline protection (two correctly timed puppy vaccines) against the virus will in most cases provide your pet with lifetime immunity. Ideally, knowing when maternal antibody wears off in puppies allows for a perfectly timed immunization protocol. Dr. Ron Schultz has found that measuring titers in pregnant females allows vets to pinpoint exactly when the first vaccine will yield the best immunologic response in puppies. If this isn't possible, then the protocol I follow is to give a parvo/distemper shot before 11 weeks of age (9 weeks is ideal), and a booster at about 14 weeks. Two to four weeks after the second shot I titer to insure the puppy is successfully immunized against those diseases. This is a core vaccine protocol that provides the minimum number of vaccines to protect against life-threatening illnesses, without over-vaccinating. Remember, vaccinating before maternal antibodies wear off will be ineffective at protecting the puppy against disease. Keep in mind that it takes 10 to 14 days after the vaccination for adequate protection to occur. So when puppies are very young (and not immunized), it's important to keep them away from potential sources of the virus (no visits to the woods, dog parks, or shelters). Also, a small percentage of dogs will be non-responders, probably including the Great Dane puppy Sasha in the video above, who had three vaccinations against parvo and still contracted the virus. This means they will not develop immunity and will be susceptible to parvo all their lives. This is important information for dog owners to have, which is another reason I titer after the second round of shots. A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Treating Compulsive Dog Behaviors
On a more serious note......can dogs have OCD? Not really, but they do get compulsive behaviors. What is the difference? Obsessive compulsive behaviors include obsessive thoughts, which don't apply to dogs since we can’t know what they are thinking. Instead, in dogs, these disorders are called compulsive disorders. Here are some other important insights into this curious dog behavior we call compulsive disorders…
What are Compulsive Disorders?
Compulsive disorders (obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD) occur in dogs, although not with great frequency. These behaviors are exaggerations of normal dog behaviors. They are exhibited for longer than expected periods of time, are repeated out of context, and in situations in which they would be considered abnormal.
Common dog behaviors which can be classified as compulsive include spinning, tail chasing, fly biting, light chasing, barking, chewing, staring into space, sucking on a toy, or sucking on a part of the body.
What Causes Compulsive Disorders in Dogs?
Compulsive disorders are caused by conflict, stress and/or frustration. With each stressful event that your dog encounters, there is a release of neurotransmitters involved with the stress response. When a dog is frustrated or stressed, he may start to perform a normal behavior such as holding a toy in his mouth in order to relieve that stress. If holding the toy in his mouth actually reduces the neurotransmitters involved with the stressful event, the dog is likely to perform that behavior again when he is stressed. For some dogs, this behavior becomes ritualized and repetitive because of the intense reward that is associated —reduction of the physiologic feeling of stress or frustration.
Over time, compulsive behaviors progress and get worse. Dogs often start to perform the compulsive behavior with any stressful event, not just the original inciting situation. The behavior can take over the dog’s life replacing normal sleep and feeding habits. It can cause injury to the dog as the impulse to perform the particular behavior becomes stronger and stronger. Dogs that chase their tails often end up mutilating the tail requiring amputation, while dogs that suck on themselves frequently cause skin infections. Sometimes, what appears to be a compulsive behavior is actually an attention seeking behavior. Even behaviors which start as a frustration related behaviors can be rewarded inadvertently when owners pay attention to the dog when he performs the behavior. For example, if an owner yells No!, that is still regarded by the dog as attention and can perpetuate the behavior.
If you think that your dog exhibits a behavior for your attention, try the following tests. First, videotape your dog when you are not home to see if and when the behavior occurs in your absence. Next, try walking out of the room the next time that your dog performs the behavior. If he does not perform the behavior in your absence, your attention or presence is most probably a part of the problem.
Some dog breeds are predisposed hereditarily to certain compulsive behaviors. For example, Bull Terriers and German Shepherds are commonly seen for tail chasing. Labrador Retrievers exhibit oral compulsive behaviors such as pica, whereby the dog is driven to pick up any object and eat it. Doberman Pinschers are well known for flank sucking, whereby the dog holds and sucks on the skin of the flank for long periods. The best way to know if your dog is predisposed to a certain type of behavior is to speak to your veterinarian about your breed’s genetic predisposition. Then, if possible, speak to the owner of your dog’s parents to learn of their behavior.
How Do You Treat Compulsive Disorders in Dogs?
The first thing to do if you think that your dog has a compulsive disorder is to go to your veterinarian for help. Because medical conditions can cause signs similar to compulsive behaviors in dogs, it is extremely important to rule out medical diseases such as neurologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and orthopedic disorders. Your dog should receive a thorough physical examination as well as screening labwork before considering treatment for a compulsive disorder.
If your dog is completely healthy and is free of pain, he may have a compulsive disorder. Compulsive disorders are treated with medications to lower arousal and conflict as well as behavior modification to give the dog an alternate coping strategy outside of the compulsive behavior. Treatment is often prolonged and continues for the life of the dog. If your dog is diagnosed with compulsive disorder you can expect some ups and downs in treatment and in your dog’s behavior. Often chronic cases are referred to a board certified veterinary behaviorist for treatment. The best thing that you can do for your dog if you suspect a compulsive disorder or if your dog repeatedly displays any behavior, even if it seems harmless now, is to seek help from your veterinarian. When compulsive behaviors are treated early and quickly the prognosis is much better than if they have progressed to a chronic state. A myotonic goat, otherwise known as the fainting goat, is a domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat feels panic. Though painless, this generally results in the animal's collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle. The tiny gorilla who made headlines recently after being born through a rare C-Section is now battling pneumonia. The San Diego Zoo Safari tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the baby girl is being treated for the lung infection, which can make breathing difficult. Veterinarian Nadine Lamberski spent the weekend with her and told the Associated Press that she most likely contracted pneumonia when she was born as a surgical team fixed her collapse lung. The zoo said in a tweet that the gorilla's mom, 18-year-old Imani, is recovering quickly from the C-section, and that now the primary focus is to get the baby in stable condition. While the baby gorilla, who has not yet been named, fights off the infection, fans are chiming in on Twitter to cheer her on. In celebration of his 5th birthday, Beco the elephant showed off his impressive water polo skills at the Columbus Zoo on March 26. The adorable Asian elephant tirelessly stomps through a miniature watering hole and pursues a shiny red ball to no avail in a video from the zoo featured above.
Despite Beco's numerous attempts to squash the darn thing, the ball is resilient and manages to escape form beneath his heavy feet several times. It's a hilarious merry-go-round of fury and frustration. Eventually, though, the adorable elephant resigns from the strenuous water polo game and plops down on his hiney. Watch the video above for the most adorable elephant video we've ever seen. |
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