Picking up the Poop

There is a hot debate on another site where I write http://www.helium.com/user/show/80285/, about pooper scooper laws. Here is my opinion on the topic.

All too often a dog's mess left behind by an irresponsible owner becomes someone elses problem. For this reason, and many others, requiring pet owners to clean up after their pets should be mandatory.

Besides a common courtesy to others, leaving behind dog poop could be hazardous to our health. Scientists have discovered that dog poop is a major cause of water pollution, and that such pollution poses a significant hazard to human health.
Canine waste contains lots of unhealthy bacteria with almost unpronounceable names: fecal streptococcus and fecal coliforms are just two examples. In sufficiently high amounts, these bacteria can make people sick.

Dog waste also contains other not-so-lovely disease-transmitting organisms such as roundworms. These parasites can cause their human victims to lose their vision temporarily, as well as trigger coughs and fevers.

As a dog owner, it always amazes me when people don't clean up after their pets when walking outside. The left over poop could be stepped in by other humans, kids, or animals, increasing the risk of spreading disease.
There continue to be public parks and walking trails looking to ban dogs. The main reason? Because of the mess dogs leave. The problem is, it's not the dog's fault, it's the owners. And now, responsible dog owners are suffering because others aren't cleaning up after their pets.

If a person doesn't want to clean up a little dog poop, why get the dog in the first place? That's one of the very simple responsibilities of having a pet. And for those of people who do clean up, they're stuck suffering the consequences of those who
leave a mess behind.

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Amboy Times, Rosemary's Thoughts, The Random Yak, and Big Dog's Weblog, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Freshwater Angelfish

One my favorite freshwater fish is the angelfish. I've kept these semi-agressive fish for many years with no major problems. The fish is part of the cichlid family, who by nature can be territorial. They will also eat other fish that can fit in their mouths, so tank mates such as neon tetras won't last very long.

Angels should be kept in schools of 4-6 with plenty of room to swim. They generally prefer water a bit on the soft side with a slightly acidic PH (I keep my tank at 6- 6.5).

The great thing about angels is that there are so many strands and color varieties avaible in the hobby. Although most chain pet stores carry the basic colors, you can find more unique colors at speciality fish stores and at fish club auctions.

Here are some of the common varieties:



Gold angelfish have bodies that are a lustrous, light shade of yellow. The head of this beautiful variety of angelfish develops a brilliant shade of gold as it matures.

Silver angelfish have silver bodies, a tawny head, and black vertical markings. These markings can vary greatly. They can be dark, light, solid, or broken. Each Silver angelfish has its own unique pattern.



Koi angelfish (a picture of mine can be found on my homepage) are a stunning variety. These angelfish are white with patches of black and gold (resembling a koi fish).

Smoky angelfish are a unique variety. They are a beautiful shade of silver on their front half, and they are a dark gray or ebony on the back half. The distinct separation of color between the front and back looks almost as if it was painted on.


The marble colored angelfish are a mix of black with a white. Some strains almost appear to have more of a silver color then white.


Zebra angelfish have a black body with narrow stripes like that of a zebra. These striking fish are sometimes adorned with gold sparkles across the top. The details of this beautiful angelfish are simply amazing.

Joke of the Day

Quick pet joke.....what's the difference between a new dog, and a new spouse??

After a year, the dog is still happy to see you :-).

Why Women Should Buy a Dog

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it....
then buy a dog.



If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want .. then buy a dog.



If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies..... then buy a dog.



If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores..... then buy a dog.

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually.....

then buy a dog.



But, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness ...

then buy a cat!


Now be honest, you thought I was going to say.... then marry a 'man,' didn't you!

More Fun Pet Quotes

"I've met many thinkers and many cats, but the wisdom of cats is infinitely superior."

"If there is no heaven for dogs, then I want to go where they go when I die."
-Anonymous

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat."

"The phrase 'domestic cat' is an oxymoron."
-George Will

"Every dog may have his day, buy it's the puppies that have the weakends."
-Anonymous

"Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want."

"If dogs could talk, perhaps we would find it as hard to get along with them as we do with people."
-Capek

"Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about little puppies."

"If your dog doesn't like someone you probably shouldn't either."

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear."
-Dave Barry

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."
-Ann Landers


"Acquiring a dog, may be the only time a person gets to choose a relative."
-Unknown

Wal-Mart Quietly Pulled Dog Treats

By now most of you have heard about the newest Wal-Mart "recall." I found this interesting article on how Wal-Mart went about pulling the items from the shelves. More products from China...shouldn't we know by now to be more careful of any edible products from China?

I can understand Wal-Mart's PR concern of wanting to have more information before announcing what was wrong with the items they pulled, but wouldn't it have been nice to inform the general public so that others who might be using these jerky strips could stop feeding them to their dogs?? To me that would be the more responsible thing to do.

Anyway, here's the article:


By JON GAMBRELL
The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 21, 2007; 1:45 AM

LITTLE ROCK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quietly stopped selling two brands of dog treats in July, after customers voiced concerns that the Chinese products may have caused their pets to fall ill, but no recall has been announced, a company spokeswoman confirmed.

The world's largest retailer started pulling Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading on July 26, spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said late Monday.

Wal-Mart also placed a computerized block on all cash registers to prevent workers from selling the products, Galberth said.

"When we took it off shelves at the end of July, we pulled it based on the customer feedback so we could do testing prior to announcing anything publicly," Galberth said. "That's why did not make a public announcement _ it was still going through the testing process."

Wal-Mart's action follows a massive pet food recall in March, when retailers began pulling products made in China that included the chemical melamine _ a contaminant that's a byproduct of several pesticides.

Galberth said she did not know what the specific customer complaints were about the dog treats, nor when the testing would be complete.

Galberth said she did not immediately know if the treats were sold at every Wal-Mart store.

"We are diligently testing this product," she said.

Philadelphia television station WPVI reported last week that a woman claimed her 2-year-old Chihuahua died after eating Bestro Chicken Jerky Strips. The station reported that an autopsy found the dog died of an infection caused by toxic bacteria.

Cat avoids house fire by wedging into couch

Another example of a cat having "9 lives."


WEST ORANGE, N.J. - A New Jersey cat may have only eight lives left after it survived a house fire by hiding in the couch.

Firefighters initially thought the feline, who belonged to one of the tenants in the two-story house, had been killed by flames and smoke Saturday night. But after putting out the blaze and surveying the damage, they found the cat wedged into the couch.

“To our amazement, it had survived,” Fire Chief Peter Smeraldo told The Star-Ledger of Newark. “They should change that cat’s name to Lucky.”

No one was injured, and the cat’s owner, who was ecstatic to have the animal back, took the cat to stay at a relative’s house.

Don't Try This At Home

With the growth of the pet industry, there have been plenty of "experts" in the field of dog training and behavior. While training classes for dogs are plentiful, a select few get their own TV shows.

The shows are entertaining and the work the trainers do are in some ways nothing short of amazing. Most shows provide great tips for training your dog and keeping them from destroying your home.

However, as the disclaimers say, these trainers are professionals who have been doing this work for years. Their methods work for them, and their techniques are proven to be safe when they are using them to train. Trying to mimic these techniques on your own dogs may not be the safest thing to do.

Professionals know exactly what type of leash to use and how to hold it properly to train the dog. This is not something that can be learned just from watching a TV show. In fact, on the website of one such shown the trainer sells a product that is made to mimic the type of collar he uses when he trains dogs. However, the website comes with a disclaimer: "The tips in this section are for information use only. We recommend seeking the assistance of a canine professional for further improving the relationship between you and your dog."

Now I know about the legalities of having a disclaimer, but I still feel this is smart advice.


Trackposted to The Bullwinkle Blog, A Blog For All, Public Domain Clip Art, The World According to Carl, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Spending On Pets To Top $40 Billion

United States pet owners will likely spend more than $40 billion in 2007 on pet-related expenses, including food, accessories, veterinary care and gifts, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

The survey estimated that 15 percent of dog owners, 10 percent of cat owners, 7 percent of bird owners and 18 percent of horse owners planned to purchase a “pet-related” item in the next 12 months.

These items include pet scrapbooks, pet portraits and other products with the pet’s picture.

In addition, 6 percent of dog owners and 3 percent reported holding holiday or birthday parties for their pets and nearly one-half of dog and cat owners and one-third of bird owners reported buying pet-themed (no cartoons) gift merchandise, including calendars, jewelry, and T-shirts, for themselves or others.

The survey also revealed continued strength in the gift-for-pets market, with more than 70 percent of dog, cat and bird owners reporting they had bought a gift for their pet in the past 12 months.

Pet owners were most likely to give their pets a gift for no particular reason, followed closely by Christmas.

A distant third most common gift-giving occasion was the pet’s birthday. These trends held steady regardless of type of pet.

Dog owners gave the most gifts per year, with the 78 percent of dog owners who gave their dogs gifts averaging seven gifts per year. Bird owners averaged five gifts per year; cat owners, four.