Nanny McFur

 Although Hernandez walked away unscathed, the Fish and Game Department’s Gino Del Frate told the Anchorage Daily News that she could have been kicked or stomped. “It could easily have been a moose that was less tolerant,” he said. “People don’t understand how fast and hard a moose can kick.”

I appreciate this video because even though it is presented as a "funny" prank, it clearly demonstrates what I always advise folks about shock devices for pets - Try it out on yourself first so you know exactly what your pet will experience.

Photo: Silly Cat Pictures

What's your caption?

My daughter sent this to me from a site called Peace, Love & Monkeys. I hadn't heard about this before but I find it very interesting. What do you think about this?

Graphics: Peace, Love & Monkeys

Anyone who shares their life with a cat knows they are masters at dolling out a heaping serving of stink-eye ~ Cat Lady

Photo: I can haz cheezburger

Photo from National Puppy Day

This annual event was created in 2006 by animal behaviorist Colleen Paige. Its intent is to bring awareness to the public about the importance of adopting orphaned puppies, to educate the public about the horrors of puppy mills, and to further the mission to have a nation of puppy free retail stores.  Detailed information can be found on their website National Puppy Day. The site contains great information and tips to consider when choosing a new puppy.

see more

Spencer

What's your caption?

Photo from People Pets

There is something about the presence of a cat that seems to take the bite out of being alone. ~ Louis Camuti

A tongue-in-cheek presentation of animals for adoption that had previously been removed from a research laboratory for abuse.

Photo credit: People Pets

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day and your dog is no exception.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

"Using state-of-the art methods, we hope to show that products can be proven safe for the consumer without the use of animals," said Jared Blumenfeld, regional EPA administrator. 

The money from L'Oreal will allow the EPA to continue to calibrate a computer model that tests how toxic certain chemicals are. In order to do this L'Oreal will also provide the EPA with its past rest results.


You will find additional information about this program, which is called ToxCast (TM), on the EPA website.

Photo Credit: http://fooyoh.com/

These are pretty cool. I don't have one myself but I was interested in learning more about them when I saw an ad for the ModKat online. It sells for $180 on the site and there is also a store finder there. Shipping to US and Canada is free. I know I could not use it because of my super sized older cat and the company does admit this on their website.

Picture from modko

Is your cat a Modkat?

How does Modkat work?

How big is Modkat?

This one is a little bit long but well worth watching.

 

Have you ever seen these before? I hadn't and I have to tell you I was very excited! They couldn't be easier to prepare.

Picture from Doggie Dessert Chef

Ingredients
1 cup Butter (softened)
2 Eggs
3 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 cup Chicken Broth 


Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
In a large bowl combine all ingredints, making sure to mix well after each addition. Once well combined Roll out dough as thin as possible then cut with a circle cookie cutter. Roll the circles into tubes and fold in half to form fortune cookie shape.
Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes until the edge brown.
Cool and refrigerate.
Makes 1 to 2 dozen cookies. 


Click here for original recipe at Doggie Dessert Chef's website. There are many wonderful recipes for your dog on this site. I think I will share more in the coming weeks.


Love,
Nanny

Photo credit: Flickr

What's your caption?

We used to say my cat was "big furred". Not so much anymore. She is topping out around 20 pounds. The Main Coon is a large breed cat to begin with and this one has also put on a couple of extra pounds in her old age.

She is really good at figuring out the best place to lay where I will have have to step over her or navigate around her. If I want her to move, she gives the silent response "You are kidding, right?"

So what is their secret weapon? The very long bushy tail that never stops moving back and forth. Maine Coons are known for their tail wagging. Mine never stops moving her tail unless she is asleep. Hers is a slow movement back and forth. When she is lying down and the tail is constantly moving, she becomes a little furry gauntlet that I have to get by without stepping on it. I don't always succeed and she expresses her disapproval quite sternly.

This is my old gal. She is 11 years old now. As a frame of reference, the mat she is lying on is 24" x 36". She must have pulled her tail in just as I was taking the picture.


Here is one of her lying on the back of the couch sleeping.  Here you can see her tail. Love my old giant beauty!

A happy arrangement: many people prefer cats to other people, and many cats prefer people to other cats.
~ Mason Cooley

A bear seen using a tool suddenly elevates his status as an intelligent animal. The story also includes other animals using tools.

My favourite is the crow. Not only can they use tools, they can perform a complex series. They can use a tool to open something with another tool inside that they use to get another tool that they use to get their reward. It is amazing to watch. It has also been proven that crows remember human faces and recognize those faces even years later.

Photo Credit:The Intelligent Dog's Guide to a Troubled World

Which of these languages does your dog understand?

a)  sit
b)  s'asseoir
c)  siéntese
d)  sedere

Some sources say "none of the above". Your dog cannot understand language. If the question was "which of these can your dog learn?" Their answer would be "all of the above".

You say "sit" or the Finnish word for sit and they sit, it's not because they know what that means. It's that you have trained them that those sounds mean sit. You could make up a nonsense word and train your dog to it. ~ Yahoo Answers

Is it possible that this makes them more and not less intelligent. Is it that they don't understand language or do they just learn language in a different way than humans?

Pet Sitters International Recognizes Individual Contributions, Collective Growth During Professional Pet Sitters Week
March 4-10 marks the 18th annual observance of Professional Pet Sitters Week.
Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional in-home pet-care providers, recognizes the contributions of its professional pet-sitter members and celebrates the growing in-home pet care industry during Professional Pet Sitters Week (PPSW), March 4-10.


Introduced by PSI in 1995, PPSW is an annual observance that honors professional pet-care providers, educates the pet-owning public about the advantages of professional in-home pet care and encourages pet-loving entrepreneurs to explore professional pet sitting as a viable career.
The latest U.S. Census results indicate there are now more households with dogs (43 million) than children (38 million).


“With pet ownership at an all-time high and continuing to grow, the need for pet-related services, including those of professional pet sitters and dog walkers, is on the rise,” said PSI President Patti Moran.
In fact, the American Pet Products Association’s 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey found that U.S. pet owners spent an estimated $3.65 billion on pet services last year, up from $3.51 billion in 2010.
Professional pet sitters benefit from this increased demand.


When Theresa Overbey, owner of Paws and People Too! in Middletown, Del., left her career as a registered nurse to start her pet-sitting service in 2001, she never imagined her passion for pets would take her so far. Yet, a decade later, Overbey has more than 600 regular clients and nine employees. She has achieved her Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) designation and has expanded her business to include a retail pet spa with grooming.

On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish and your dog is no exception. I found these beautiful collars on Diva Collars.

They start at around $25.00 US. Pretty aren't they?

I wanted to share something about this because my father has kidney cancer, one cousin has kidney disease and has already had a transplant and another cousin also has kidney disease. It is worth reading materials that discuss kidney health and illness prevention. Most of us don't even think about our kidneys. I know I didn't. Have a look at the World Kidney Foundation's 8 Golden Rules. You can also get in touch with the National Kidney Foundation. Both sites have a lot of information about how you can keep your kidneys healthy.

Holi is an important Hindu festival often associated with India. This year Holi takes place on March 8th. Holi celebrates the spirit which is happiness and merriment. This a time when children can be messy and adults can be children. Here is a website with more information about the Festival of Colours.

I don't think this would be an appropriate activity for the dog in your life but you would certainly be welcome to participate even if you are not Hindu. To see what you would be getting yourself in to, watch this video:


 

Talk about cuteness overload. This is celebrity model Bobby Gorgeous showing off the latest in dog houses called The Container Dog House 21.

Bobby has his own website bobbygeorgeous.com, a Facebook page and videos on Youtube. Maybe you could ask for his pawtograph?

Here is a great snack that is quick to prepare. It is called "Bone Chips and Doggie Dip" and it is for us hoomans.

Buttery Books

Bone Chips:

• 1 package of corn tortillas (8 per package)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Kosher or sea salt to taste
• Bone Shaped Cookie Cutter

"Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
~ Susanne Millen

Photo Credit: ShivaPrasad Madaiah