Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center Blog

Hibbs is now sixteen & 1/2 years old!

2011-09-29T17:15:00.002-04:00

Hibbs is still with us. He is still eating, drinking, sleeping, & going to the bathroom so to speak. He is pretty weak but the little bugger keeps on going. He doesn't seem to be in any pain. He is blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other. He can't hear from one ear but does hear some from the other. I can tell that he is a little senile. He kind of gets lost in the back yard.

I no longer walk him around the pond. It is to much for him. Sometimes I will take him across the street but I have to carry him up the front stairs. He doesn't like to be carried. When he goes in back yard there are no stairs that he must use. He can go around the steps to the upper and lower yard.

It is apparent that we will not have him with us much longer. We are getting the most of our time left. He still loves to be petted and looks for affection. I will post when Hibbs passes on.

Heeks is nearly thirteen years old and she is in pretty good health. She is losing some sight but she is still active and walks with me twice a day. I can see changes and expect more to come but that is the way it is for all of us as we age. :)

That is all for now.

Donna

Animals of YouTube sing "Deck the Halls"

2010-12-27T18:34:00.000-05:00

Hibbs and Heeks world update....

2010-11-06T18:57:00.007-04:00

At this point in time I did not think anyone was reading my blog but apparently someone is. Life has a way of taking over your time and grabbing a hold of your attention. Hibbs is now 15 and 1/2 years old. He is hanging in there but we know that it may not be much longer for him. He must love being with us and alive because he just keeps on going. Still wants to eat treats, supper and whatever he can get. Loves going out in the yard and for the most part still goes in the morning for a walk. The walk is sometimes across the street and sometimes around the Pond. All in all Hibbs is still in good spirits and doesn't seem to be in any pain.

Heeks is now twelve years old, just last week as a matter of fact. She is still pretty spry and walks around the pond with me at least twice a day. Today she was playing with a puppy of about a year named Jordan. She kept up great and seemed to have a great time. Her tail was wagging. Usually she plays with Tash. He loves it when she pays attention to her.

The cats are all grown up and Tash is pretty big. When he jumps down from anywhere he makes a very loud thud. He is extremely affectionate and he purrs so loudly he sounds like a bird sometimes. Totay is streamlined but a mischeif maker. She loves to get into everything and has used my woodwork as scratching posts. It is hard to stop her from doing that. I have never had any cats that do that.

Hooey is now 32 years old and going strong. He is still noisiest in the morning and he loves to get on top of his house every day.

That is what is happening in Hibbs and Heeks world. Anything new with you?

Cats, Dogs, Birds!!

2009-04-07T13:04:00.002-04:00

Hi,

Haven't checked in for a while. Anyone out there get a new pet they want to talk about? Puppies, kittens and other baby animals are just so full of energy! Their youthful highjinks are fun to watch. If anyone has any funny new pet stories I would love to hear about it.

Donna :)

Lady has over 700 cats!

2008-09-16T17:48:00.002-04:00

Hey,

I got this video today about a lady who has over 700 cats and dogs too! Wow, it is wonderful what this woman is doing and I wanted to pass this story along. You can see the article and video at http://videos.komando.com/2008/09/09/

I wish I had the land and funds to do something like this!

Donna :)

2008-03-25T14:32:00.002-04:00

Hi,

Here is Hibbs looking a little sad. He has not been feeling well. We went to the vets because he had a lump of fluid in his ear. The vet said that it was caused from him shaking his head and the vet also found that he has a lump inside his ear. Hibbs will be thirteen years old May first. We gave him an antibiotic for ten days and the lump has actually gone way down. Thank goodness because he would have had to have surgery to drain and sew up his ear. Apparently there is nothing to be done about the lump in his ear at this time. I really hesitated to have him put under anesthesia. I was told that they are very careful with older dogs but I am glad we may not have to do that. Hibbs also has a heart murmur and so does Heeks. They can test for the cause but the price is a big consideration. We will just have to hope that he will be ok.

Having pets is an expense for anyone who has them and Veterinarians are charging rates near the price it would cost for people to go to the doctors. It costs nearly one hundred fifty dollars each for the dogs to go for a yearly physical. Anyone getting a pet should really think about this big consideration.

Donna :)

Kittens are one year old!

2008-03-05T19:48:00.003-05:00

Yes that is right, Totay and Tash are one year old tomorrow. For me the time has flown by. They have calmed down a lot as they have gotten bigger. They still run around the house but not all night like they did at first. They still play with each other and often sleep together. The little buggers love the dogs and sleep with them as much as possible also. Hooey is also pretty much considered to be not so much of a novelty to the kittens. They don't bother with him much anymore. They know that he is part of the family. Tash, our boy is still trying to get out the door every chance he gets but he will be an indoor cat. We have quite a few wild animals in our neighborhood, especially Coyotes. We have lost to many cats by letting them out and it is not going to happen this time. The pictures I am posting show how much they have grown. Happy Birthday Totay and Tash!

Donna

Heeks the pretty dog says Hi!

2008-01-16T19:51:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year People with Pets!

2008-01-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

Hibbs with Totay & Tash just relaxing!

2007 is over and I am looking forward to 2008. My house is more full than ever with my little buddies. It is funny to see them interacting. The kittens were so small when we got them that they totally relate to the dogs. The dogs completely accept them, play with them and the kittens hug the dogs often. As you can see they sleep together often as well. Tash is always trying to get out the door. He got out very briefly several times this past summer and fall but he was immediatly brought back in. He is going to be hard to keep in the house but he is not going out. They are going to be indoor cats. Totay goes into the cabinets pulls out the dog and cat treats. She drags the bags across the floor and on more than one occasion she has opened the bags so they can all feast on the contents. I had to move the treats so she cannot get at them. It is very enjoyable to have them around. They are finally calming down at night. They still run around but they are bigger now so they don't run as much. They surely can jump though.

Hooey is adjusting to them also. They leave him alone for the most part although with a cats curious nature they still love to watch him and have to told to get down still. It is interesting to see how the different species that live together eventually get along together and accept themselves as part of the family unit.

It is my hope that all of you and your pets have a wonderful new year. Hibbs, Heeks, Hooey, Totay and Tash would also like to wish you all a Happy New Year. "2008"

Donna

Home Forclosures effect pets.

2007-11-06T11:37:00.000-05:00

I just read an article at the Charlotte Sun Herald in Florida http://www.sun-herald.com/Newsstory.cfm?pubdate=102307&story=tp6np9.htm&folder=NewsArchive2. I find it rather distressing that not only are people losing their homes, pets are ending up in shelters because of it. I know that many people did not expect this to happen when they got their home loans. It is a real shame that they were often duped into thinking that this kind of thing was unlikely to happen. My opinion is that instead of letting people lose their homes shouldn't banks and mortgage companies be more proactive in renegotiating these peoples loans to what they were paying in the first place without additional fees to do so. In most cases they were able to afford the original loan. It is not like the banks or mortage companies will lose much money. At least they will have money coming in and you still end up paying double your loan with the interest the bank gets anyway. This whole thing makes me sad.
Donna

Kittens are getting big!

2007-10-03T20:02:00.000-04:00

Hi,

It has been a while again since I have checked in. The kittens have gotten big. They are into everything as you might imagine. I am glad I got the two of them though, they really love each other and the dogs too. It is cool to watch them cuddle up with each other and the dogs. They are a hand full right now though, hanging off curtains and such. They have been neutered and spayed but they are still very interested in getting outside. It has been a chore to keep them in. I am using the water bottle trick to keep them from the door though. It is working nicely. The dogs go out many times during the day and evening and the kittens are fast. Spraying them with the water bottle makes them stay away from the door when I open it for the pups. They keep me on my toes but to me they really are a joy. Any kitten antics you might like to tell us about?

Dog feeds Kitten

2007-07-10T12:09:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness I came across this story today and it is so cute and unusual. A kitten was found and the dog it came to live with really took on the mothering role. My kittens just love the dogs and the dogs seem to be enjoying them as well. Hibbs lets them bat at him and sleep curled up and Heeks also lets them sleep with her and she plays with them too.

Although the dogs get along with the kittens I have not seen them do what this cute dog in the story above has done. To read this brief story go to http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3360384

Just thought I would pass on this cute story!! Hope you enjoy it!

Donna

Pet News

2007-07-08T15:04:00.000-04:00

Hi,

I was just browsing around the internet to find interesting subjects to add to Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center blog today and I came across Petnewswire.com at http://www.petnewswire.com/index.html I read some interesting items there. One of them was talking about some camps for dogs. The dogs have their own cabins and the choice of several play areas during their stay. These places also offer internet access so that you can check on your dog if you want while you are away. I thought this was a pretty nice idea for people that have to board their pets when they go away. It is a little pricey but if you can afford it your pet may enjoy these accommodations if they can't be with you.

I saw that this site is loaded with news from around the country and if you are interested in updated information about pets it is a great place to visit.

Just passing on this little tidbit for all you pet people out there.

Donna

New Kittens!

2007-06-12T14:22:00.000-04:00

Hi,

It has been a long time since I have blogged. I had a really sad thing happen to me. My cat Holly got very sick with renal failure just as the news broke about the pet food recall and we had to put her to sleep. It was very fast. Within a week of her getting sick she was gone. This happened March tenth and this is the first time I have been able to write about it. Holly was such a good cat and we loved her very much. She was a little more than a month away from being ten years old. She is still sorely missed.

Two days after losing her I got a phone call from my father's girlfriend. She told me her daughter had two kittens born on March sixth and wondered if I wanted them. I had not planned on getting another cat right away. She told me that they would not be ready to go until they were nine weeks old. I thought that would be enough time for before getting one. Then I decided to take both of them because Holly spent a lot of time by herself. The dogs would not play with her and she chose to stay to herself and of course come around for loves.

I am glad I made that choice because Hotay and Hash love to play together. We ended up getting them a couple of days before they were seven weeks old. I am not sure why but I was prepared to take them early. We have now had them since April twenty third and they have grown up so much. Of course they are into everything but they really are a joy to have around.

The dogs are even enjoying them. They love Hibbs and Heeks. They sleep with them and cuddle with them too.

When I got that phone call about the kittens I felt that the call happened for a reason and that I was meant to have these guys.

So even though Holly is not with us anymore she is never far from my thoughts. I still have her picture on my computer desktop and I will keep it there for some time to come.

I hope all of you out there are enjoying your pets, anything can happen anytime.

Donna

Pet Care in Emergency

2007-03-13T11:09:00.000-04:00

I wonder how many people out there would not evacuate if there was an emergency because they refuse to leave their pets. During the hurricanes Katrina and Rita some people actually did die because they refused to leave their pets. I don't know what I would do myself but it would be a huge consideration for me. Our pets become part of our family and we certainly would not leave a family member behind.

It seems that something is finally being done in Virginia. President Bush signed legislation that is making provisions for people with pets in an evacuation situation. You can read more about it at WSLS.com, Initiative to help find shelter for pets in an emergency.

The new federal law is suppose to make ready places for people to go with their pets. I hope that something is being done in Massachusetts as well. My pets provide me with a lot of comfort and they cannot defend themselves because they have always been taken care of. My heart would be broken like so many others in the past if I had to leave them to save myself. There is enough heartache in the world.

I just thought I would pass on these thoughts today. If you have anything to add feel free to comment.

Donna

Happy Valentine's Day to your and your pets!

2007-02-14T12:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines day!

It's that time of year again already. It is really like Valentines every day with my pets. They are always happy to see me when I get home from being out and they want to know where I am all the time. I hope you enjoy your pets as much as I enjoy mine.

Because it is Valentines Day MSNBC has offered a little slide show entitled "Animals In Love"
There are some adorable pictures of animals to see by clicking the title here.

Hibbs, Heeks, Holly, Hooey and I would like to wish you all a wonderful Valentines Day!

Donna

Happy New Year Pet People!

2007-01-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

Pets in 2007! Hooey is wishing you all a Happy New Year! :) For those of us who enjoy and are dedicated to our pets we start a new year of pet enjoyment! I know that not everyone enjoys pets and that not all people treat pets well. I like to focus on loving and fair treatment of animals. I know the other kind of treatment is out there but I choose to treat animals of all kinds with love and respect. I also know there are many people out there like myself and those are the people I like to align myself with.

To start off 2007 I would like to direct you to a nice short article about a pet that was found 1,400 miles from his home. Wow that must have been some trip. To read about it go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15261656/

I also found this neat article by Paula Harvatine at CouleeNews.com in Wisconsin called "Critter Care, Dog-gone famous canine quotes." It is a cute little article about how wonderful pets can be.

This new year provides us the opportunity to enjoy and share our enjoyment of our pets. If you have any stories to share please feel free to post!

Happy New Year!

Donna

Swans are not pets!

2006-10-21T13:17:00.000-04:00

We have some beautiful white Swans staying on the pond across the street from my house. They are not pets but they do follow me around the pond when I walk with Hibbs and Heeks. These Swans have decided that this small pond is a good refuge for them. They are not there all the time. They flew in the other day. They come in with a lot of fanfare as they are so large and they sort of skid on the top of the water when landing. You can hear them coming as well due to the sound their wings make when they are flying. They are just magnificent.

I do not feed them ordinarily. I gave them some crackers the other day in order to lure them closer so that I could take their pictures. Due to the fact that they are not pets it is not a good idea to feed them on a regular basis. They would eventually become dependent on the feed and they may stick around when they should be moving on.

This past year we had a second pair on the larger pond in my area. They created a huge nest up there and were the talk of the neighborhood. Everyone was keeping tabs on their progress, waiting for Signets to be born. The pair did have eggs but sadly they never hatched. There could be several reasons for that happening but I don’t think we will ever know for sure. People were very conscious of leaving them alone so that they would feel as little stress as possible during the process but it was not meant to be.

Although my neighbors and I get to enjoy the Swans being on our ponds we know that they are not pets. They are given a large berth which they seem to enjoy. If anyone does venture a little to close they let you know with a hiss anyway. I hope you enjoy the picture I took!

Donna

A consideration regarding owning a parrot.

2006-08-31T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hooey is an Amazon parrot and he loves to vocalize. He has many different squawks. In the summer time when the windows are open I can hear him for quite a distance outside. Hooey is actually the reason we ended up buying our house. We had lived in an apartment. The landlord agreed to us having the pets we had at the time we moved in.

We had two cats named Fizzy and Clyde, as well as Hibbs and Hooey. We lived on the second floor and our neighbor on the first floor bred and raised Shih Tsu dogs. Talk about a small world, our downstairs neighbor was the first owner of Hooey. She had given him to a friend who in turn ended up giving him to us. When she gave Hooey to her friend it was with the stipulation that he keep Hooey. She was surprised and upset when she found out we had him but she got over it quick because she knew Hooey was in a good home. We had a good relationship with her being fellow animal lover. Then she moved out.

A new neighbor moved in and not to long afterwards we had a lot of problems with her. At first she did not know that Hooey was a parrot. She could hear something but she thought it was a puppy. It turns out this woman had no tolerance for Hibb's barking or Hooey's squawking. As soon as she found out we had a parrot she was calling our landlord constantly about him. She was a lawyer and worked at home. She would tell me that while I was at work Hibbs barked all day and she could hear Hooey all the time too. I talked to her and she even agreed that her intolerance was unreasonable so I tried as hard as I could to keep the noise down to a minimum but my efforts did nothing to satisfy the woman.

Although our landlord was aware of his agreement with us as to our pets the constant phone calls from our new neighbor wore on him. He wanted us to get rid of Hooey! We had Hooey for about three years at the point and I was not willing to give him up. We ended up having to move so we were fortunate enough to get a house and now we have no problems with our neighbors.

The point of this story is that Parrots can be loud. Before you get a parrot for a pet keep this in mind, your neighbors may not be tolerant of the noise and it is difficult and unfair to stifle the bird. If you have your own home and feel you can adjust to the loud sounds that come out of a parrot, and boy do I mean loud, it is amazing the volume they can produce, then you may really enjoy a parrot for a pet.

Donna

Who says Pets don't talk!

2006-08-27T15:55:00.000-04:00

Pets don’t talk like people talk but they can make their thoughts known to us when they choose to. Hibbs, Heeks and I went for an evening walk recently. Often times Hibbs does not want to come on the evening walk. He is always up for the morning walk but Hibbs is not always up for the evening jaunt. He lets me know he does not want to come by not coming over when I get his lease out or he does not come to the door if he has been hooked up on his lease and decided he does not want to come.

Hibbs is now eleven years old so I don’t push him if he doesn’t want to come. If he does come with us and we are half way or more around the pond I make him finish the walk. He will just stop and look at me. I have to pull on him to make him continue. We just take it slow. I allow him to stop many times and rest if he has to finish the walk.

Last week Hibbs decided to come on the evening walk and half way around changed his mind. I again made him finish the walk. When we got home we were sitting out front cooling down from our walk and some of our neighbors with other dogs stopped to chat and socialize for a few minutes. Hibbs and Heeks have many dog friends in our neighborhood and we always greet each other on our daily walks. This evening one of my friends Carol spoke directly to Hibbs. She asked him how his walk was that evening. He answered her by growling a grumbling growl. I thought it was funny because I knew he had not enjoyed that walk. My friends also laughed because he immediately answered Carol’s question.

There have been other times when the dogs, cat and bird have seemed to respond to something I said to them. I think that pets can talk even if they cannot speak people do they can get their point across! Do your pets talk to you?

Donna

Animal Planet Expo is for people and for pets.

2006-08-08T14:34:00.000-04:00

I went to the Animal Planet Expo the other day. They had lots of interesting things for people who love pets. I brought Heeks with me and she was a bit nervous. There were so many people there. There were lots of other dogs too.

It was held at the Topsfield fair grounds in Topsfield, Ma. They had many tents set up and each tent had some kind of animal related theme. Apparently this expo is traveling across the country so watch for it in your area.

If you are looking for a fun activity for the whole family including your dog this is an enjoyable event to take in if it comes to your area.
Just passing on the information.

Donna

Pets and Thunderstorms!

2006-07-25T11:09:00.000-04:00

Thunderstorms can be scary to us and our pets as well. Hibbs seems to be barely effected by thunder. Heeks is another matter. She is terrified by thunder and it seems to be getting worse. When we have a storm she sticks to me like glue, pants drools and shakes. Nothing comforts her until the storm passes. Being close to me helps somewhat but does not make her feel that much better. I am not sure what caused this awful fear Heeks now experiences. She was not always so scared.

There could be several reasons. One is that a lightning strike hit the tree right outside of our house about five years ago. It then hit the electrical box next to the tree and shot through all the electricity in our house. I lost several appliances but fortunately that was all that happened. The second thing that may have caused her reactions is the fourth of July. We have many people in our neighborhood that shoot off fireworks. A couple of years ago one of our neighbors set off a large amount of fireworks in front of our house. Heeks has been a lot more scared since then. She seems worse even since them though.

There are other dogs in our neighborhood that are terrified by thunderstorms also. Part of the problem could be that dogs have much better hearing than us. The cracks of thunder could be much louder to them than us.

All I can do that this time is to make Heeks as comfortable as possible during storms.

Anyone have any suggestions that may help calm Heeks during thunderstorms? Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated by myself and others that read this blog.

Thanks,

Donna

It's Been a long time!

2006-03-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

Hello all. Sitting at my computer, petting Holly as she nuzzles and purrs beside me in my chair, I realized it has been a long time since I have written in my blog. I got a new job a while ago and have not spent much time at my computer. Hibbs, Heeks, Holly and Hooey are all doing well and have adjusted to me going back to work. I expect they sleep most of the day when I am gone. They are always thrilled when I get home.

One bit of info to pass on, we have Swans on our ponds. There are two of them this time and they go between two ponds in my neighborhood. I am hoping they are planning to have young in this area. They sure are beautiful.

There has been a lot going on in my life so my research on animals has been put on hold but that doesn’t mean that I am not still learning about them. I watch Animal Planet quite a bit. I very much enjoy the Jeff Corwin Experience and The Crocodile Hunter. Both of these shows feature many types of animals and the hosts are chock full of information, Crickey!

So although I have not been around for a while I will be by again in the near future. I hope that you are learning about and enjoying the animals that touch your life.

Donna

Happy Holidays to you and your pets!

2005-12-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I have added to my blog. I have been very busy preparing for the holidays and my new job is consuming a lot of my time. Hibbs and Heeks will be getting toys for Christmas this year. I also got them sweaters. I do not normally dress my dogs but the sweaters are for warmth. It was in the teens here the past couple of days and I know they get cold because they shiver if they are cold. They got their sweaters early due to the cold.

I wanted to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and to remind you that Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center has listings of many fine retailers online where you can find gifts for your loved ones and your pets. Some of the places you may access are listed here on this blog. You will also find many interesting resources to on our website, Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center as well as places to explore for your holiday shopping.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Donna

Holiday food can pose a danger to your pets!

2005-11-11T17:47:00.000-05:00

I found this article at fortwayne.com called "Holiday tables are tempting danger for pets." by Dr. Marty Becker. It gave me some food for thought! I knew that dogs should not be given beef bones due to chocking hazards and that turkey and chicken bones can splinter and cause internal damage inside your pet but as for some of the other foods mentioned in this article I was not aware of the potential for danger.

It makes sense that overfeeding your pet could cause them to be ill but I was unaware that gravy and even nuts can cause such a problem for my pets. I give Heeks peanuts on occasion just one or two because she likes them and when I give them to Hooey she always wants one. I don’t let her have more than one or two but after reading this article I feel like I should rethink this practice.

Also I never heard of onions and raisins reeking such havoc with your dog. The article explains with a little more detail about this potential danger. I thought it was good for the dogs to eat some vegetables and never associated any danger with onions that are sometimes in a stew or something that I may give Hibbs and Heeks as an occasional treat. Dog food is their mainstay diet but sometimes I will give them leftovers. Hmmm.....

I do agree with not giving your pet alcohol. I never felt that was a good idea but I did not realize that it could kill a dog. If you would like to read more about these Holiday dangers that could potentially harm your pet click on the link above. I hope you and your pets have a safe and enjoyable holiday and that the tips in the above article are as enlightening to you as I found them to be.

Donna

Have you begun to notice your pet is aging?

2005-10-11T19:01:00.000-04:00

I have begun to see the changes in Hibbs. He turned ten years old in May. He is much slower than he used to be and he has more gray through his fur. He takes longer naps and does not always want to go for our daily walk. I know it could be a couple of years from now that aging will really begin to take a toll on my little buddy. Unfortunatly that is the way it is. Pets do not live as long as people and that is a fact of life we must accept. If I had not accepted that long ago I would not keep getting pets.

We did have one female cat named Charlie that lived to be eighteen years old. We had to have her euthanized because she had begun to suffer and was unable to eat anymore. It was extremely difficult for myself and my family but it was the best thing for her.

Anyone who has pets will come to a point in time when a decision must be made about your pets quality of life. Each person deals with this issue in their own way. We love our pets as part of our family and it is one of the hardest decision we have to make in our lives. When we had to have another one our cats, Fizzy, put to sleep at the age of seventeen my daughter and myself stayed with him as he was given the shots and it was one of the most difficult things I have had to go through in my life. My daughter and I cried together in the parking lot of the Vets office for a while after it was done. We both knew it was the best thing for Fizzy as he was suffering like Charlie had but it was still a very hard thing to do nevertheless.

I came across this article from the Middletown Journal in Ohio titled "Aging pets: ‘Gray area’ tough to negotiate." It is about the subject and offered some interesting insights into this issue. If you would like to read the article you can find it at Middletown Journal.
I think that when you get a pet you have to keep an awareness that they do not live as long as we do and you need to enjoy and make the best of the time you have together. Any thoughts?

Evacuation Plans for Pets.

2005-09-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

There has been some consideration in evacuation plans for pets in the works. I am very glad to see this development. I know that my pets are very important to me and I would want to be sure they were safe in a dire situation like the two hurricanes Katrina and Rita recently suffered by the people living in the Gulf Coast region. To many of us our pets are like a part of our family. When we adopted them into our family we took on the responsibility of caring for them. In fact, we have cared for them so well that they may have a great deal of difficulty surviving on their own.

I know that I am not the only one that finds my pets to be a big consideration. There is a bill in Congress requiring pets be considered in evacuation situations. If you are interested you can sign a petition to bring more attention to this bill in hopes it will pass into law. To read more about this go to 10News.com . At the end of the short article there is a link to the website where you can sign the petition or go to thepetitionsite.com right from here.

Donna

What about your pets?

2005-09-05T19:35:00.000-04:00

First I would like to extend my most heartfelt condolences to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This disaster is unbelievable. The devastation is so massive, effecting so many people, that it is hard for me to wrap my mind around it. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those unfortunate people. We lost our electricity for one hour this morning and it was difficult never mind what the hurricane survivors have had to cope with.

It was hard enough for the people involved in the hurricane to get themselves to safety. I expect it was difficult for many people to provide protection for their pets. When faced with such a horrific situation pets are sometimes a casualty, which I am sure is an added upset during a difficult time . I came across this article at the Hillsborough County Government website in Florida. I thought it had some useful suggestions and information about your pets safety in an evacuation situation. You can find this article at Hillsborough.org

I hope this article is helpful. It gave me some food for thought myself.

Donna

Hibbs and Hooey talk to each other!

2005-08-10T17:07:00.000-04:00

It may seem a bit strange but our dog Hibbs and our parrot Hooey talk to each other. It can often be a very loud exchange. Hibbs will start barking towards Hooey who is often on the top of his cage and Hooey will squawk back at Hibbs. I know they are talking to each other because they are looking directly at each other. We had such an exchange this morning that went on for about five minutes. When possible I do not discourage this communication between the two of them. I do not know what they are saying to each other but they seem to enjoy their little talks! Sometimes Hooey will start it all by several squawks he uses. When Hooey starts it I think the ear splitting sounds that he emits are tough on all our ears so Hibbs barks and howls to try to make him stop. I must say it rarely works. If anything when Hibbs barks along with Hooey it only seems to encourage Hooey to keep going.

Heeks, our other dog, is not interested in any exchanges with Hooey at all and Hooey does not seem interested in being friendly with her either. They keep their distance from each other except if Hooey thinks he might get close enough to bite Heeks. On the other hand Hibbs will get on the arm of the couch and try to smell Hooey. Hooey will growl if Hibbs gets to close but will rarely try to bite Hibbs. They seem to like each other.

On occasion Hooey will fall off his perch and Hibbs will always run over to his cage and cry like he is afraid that Hooey was hurt. If Hooey falls off his cage onto the floor that is a different matter though. Both the dogs are right on him. I have to hold them back and try to pick Hooey up and back on his cage. I think the territory thing comes into effect if Hooey is on the floor. I don't know why he falls off his cage on occasion. He seems to loose his footing and He flies enough to get himself safely to the floor. Fortunately that does not happen often. Hooey is always put in his cage when no one is home but I can't keep Hooey in his cage all the time it would be bad for his health and well being so we have an occasional mishap.

When ever I leave the house Hibbs and Hooey sound off together for a few minutes after I leave. Perhaps they are both lamenting my leaving the house. They do seem to talk to each other and it is a good thing I think!

Pets and antifreeze.

2005-07-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

New legislation regarding pets and antifreeze has been proposed. There is a short article about this issue at the Omahachannel.com , I had seen something about it on the news last week. I had not really thought about it much before hearing about the proposed legislation. My pets are not out wandering around by themselves. There are pets that are let out that could be effected by this hazard. I don't see how the proposed legislation would be a bad thing if it can save some pets lives. Apparently children are at risk as well. To find out more about this issue click the link above.

Donna

Pet virus in my neighborhood.

2005-07-17T14:09:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago there was a virus going around my neighborhood between the neighborhood dogs. First Heeks got it. She had severe diarrhea with gas. It lasted nearly a week. Her stools were passing like water before it got better. Just as she started to feel better Hibbs picked it up and had it for about the same time. I was advised to feed them nothing but rice and either chicken or hamburger until it passed which I did. It really helped to follow that advise. After talking to some of the other walkers in the neighborhood I found out that two of our neighborhood dogs that live together had the same virus. They had it before Heeks. One of them had it first and passed it to the other. As soon as I realized it was something being passed from one dog to the other I did not let Hibbs and Heeks go up to any of the other neighborhood dogs until they were better. Hibbs is now ten years old and I have never come across this before. I don’t know how this virus started but it definitely was passed from dog to dog so I thought I would tell you all about it. The rice and meat diet worked well to help them get through it. Donna

Preparing for your pets in disasters.

2005-07-08T14:23:00.000-04:00

An article came out in the Atlanticville.gmnews.com regarding preparing for your pets in disasters. These suggestions were compiled by the Red Cross and the Humane Society. I found the suggestions to be very good. It is especially important right now in the southeastern part for the United States with another hurricane expected to hit in the next couple of days. You can click on the link above to find out more and you can do further research by going to the Red Cross and Humane Society's websites. Links to these websites can be found within the article. Hope you find this information helpful.

Donna

Land mine detecting rats!

2005-07-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

In Africa especially they have an abundance of land mines buried underground that maim or kill people on a daily basis. These mines are there due to many years of civil war. Children can’t even play in a field without the concern of possibly stepping on a land mine.

Dogs were used in the past until it was discovered that giant rats that are native to the region can be trained to do the job. I saw this on the Jane Goodall special on Animal planet called "When animals talk." The rats are very responsive to the training process with the lure of food as an incentive. It was amazing to watch them work with these rats. The rats rarely get harmed as they are so light they do not set off the mines. The rats let the trainers know where the mines are and after removing the rats the mines are exploded and the area is safe once again for the residents of that area.

It is painstaking work but well worth the effort. If you would like to learn more about this interesting topic I found and article on the National Geographic website that explains more about this phenomenal practice. Hope you find it interesting! The link to the article is:
National Geographic article

Donna

How did your pets do over the fourth of July?

2005-07-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

Whoa, it has been a while since I have made an entry! The fourth of July was yesterday. During this holiday my pets are not to thrilled with the way it is celebrated. In my neighborhood it was Sunday night when the people that celebrate with fireworks did their thing. The fireworks that go up in the air and shoot color are nice to watch and somewhat loud. Heeks does not like any of the fireworks, not even firecrackers.

Hibbs seems to take it in stride. He doesn’t get upset, he might just bark once in a while whereas Heeks is terrified by the booms made by the fireworks. Someone in our neighborhood was setting off quarter sticks of dynamite this year. I don’t like those either. They make a very loud bang that gives me a start everytime. Heeks barks and shakes and is stuck to me like glue.

I think her excess fear originated a couple of years back when one of my neighbors purchased an extreme amount of fireworks and it took many hours to do. The majority of these fireworks were set off in front of our house and the cherry bombs were included. The police came by several times and watered down the fireworks they got one of my neighbors to bring out but other neighbors had stocked up as well so the noise continued through out the night. Heeks has reacted badly to fireworks since then.

Our cat Holly makes herself scarse during the hoopla and Hooey our parrot doesn’t seem to be concerned with the noise. Heeks seems to have the most difficulty dealing with the fourth of July celebrations. How do your pets react? We would love to hear from you!

Donna

Some pet treats being recalled!

2005-06-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

I received this warning from a friend today about several dog and cat treats that have been recalled by the FDA. This recall was issued June 8, 2005 by T.W. Enterprises and posted on the United States FDA website. To get a listing of the specific treats being recalled go to FDA and you will be able to read all about it.

Donna

Father's Day is almost here!

2005-06-14T10:36:00.000-04:00

Many Dad’s have pets. If that pet could, it would want to get something for Dad for Father’s Day don’t you think? There is a place called Sportsman’s Guide where you will find many interesting items for Dad for Father’s Day and all year round. If Dad is not into sports they still have many things that may catch your Dad’s eye. They even sell overstock military items of all types at very reasonable prices. If you feel like checking them out click the link above.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there!

Pets need protection on trails.

2005-06-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

I found this article at the Azcentral.com website today called Pets need protection on trails. It says something similar to the entry I added a week ago called "Pet restraint is important." This article has a little more information on why it is important to keep your pet on leash while walking trails in the wilderness. The article is focusing on a specific place in Arizona but it seems to me that following this rule of thumb is a good idea when you take your pets for a walk in a wilderness area or let your cats outside. Just thought I would share this tidbit with you all.

Cat flea and tick medication recall

2005-06-09T14:08:00.000-04:00

USA Today posted an article on Hartz cat flea and tick medication being recalled. To read more about it go to USA Today I thought this was an important alert that should be passed on to cat owners that may subscribe to the product. Donna

Sheriff opens jail cells for pets.

2005-06-09T13:52:00.000-04:00

This article can be found at News 5 in Phoenix, Az, Sheriff opens jail cells for pets. The Sheriff is going to open some of the jail cells to pets that would otherwise be put to death due to overpopulation. Inmates will learn about caring for pets. I think this is a great idea. Both the inmates and the pets could benefit from this program. The training provided to the inmates will also give them an edge on a career in pet care when they are released from jail. I am happy to hear about this program and I hope it works out the way it is intended to. For more information go to the link above and read the article. It is not to long.

Donna

Dog walker's, a hearty bunch

2005-06-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you know any hard core dog walkers but I do. There are certain people in my neighborhood who have commited to walking their dog every day no matter what the weather. There is not much that will stop this bunch from completing that goal. Ah, a little rain won't hurt you, you won't melt and neither will the dog! Snow is just a small obstacle, as long as you are dressed for it. I can't tell you how many times I have been walking in the snow with my head somewhat down to keep the blowing snow out of my eyes and I see another dog walker coming from the other direction with the same posture. The bone chilling cold is another thing we prepare ourselves for and conquer with extra warm clothes and a brisk pace. The walk must go on!

Now heat is the problem for me and sometimes for the dogs. I still do the walk but it is sometimes very draining. I see my fellow dog walkers trudging along as well. We stop and talk for a moment with sweat dripping down our brows. Even the dogs barely greet each other in anticipation of continuing on to cool down or perhaps get into the pond to soak the belly.

One of the dogs is a Labrador Retriever named Ranger. He runs in headlong and swims in the pond. His person will throw something for him to fetch and off he goes into the water happy as a lark. Ranger is walked at least once and sometimes twice per day. Hibbs, Heeks and myself walk at least once per day. Now that the sun is up until later in the day we often walk after supper as well. The morning walk is the one where they both come. Hibbs will often sit out the evening walk.

There are morning and afternoon and evening dog walkers in my neighborhood. Some of the dog walkers are around during the day so they walk in the day time. Many of the walkers take the dogs out for a walk in the evening after work. I am not sure about the others but for myself the daily walk is as much for me as for my dogs. Not only are we getting exercise, we are socializing with others also. Hibbs and Heeks get along with most of the dogs we see on a regular basis. Some of the breeds in the neighborhood include, Maltese, Irish Setter, part Great Dane, Alaskan Malamute, Llasa Apso, Poodle, Pugs, Rottwieler, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, several Labradors, as well as others that are walked less often than once per day.

Yes, we dog walkers are a hearty bunch. We have to be to continue our pursuit of a healthy existence for ourselves and our dogs. Come rain or come shine, we will perserve! Donna

Pet restraint is important!

2005-05-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

You will find an article at Kenai Peninsula Online, Alaska titled " Restrained pets are safe pets" subtitled Prevention is the best way to deal with animals hit by cars.

I find this to be an important article for people to puruse. I agree that dogs should be on leashes or in fenced in yards and cats should stay in the house. Putting your dog on a leash has many advantages. Not only do you keep your pet safe you also protect yourself from any incidents your pet may cause. Dogs are dogs and are not always predictable even if they are usually well behaved. It really is beneficial to you to keep your pet on leash. The days of letting our beloved pets run free have passed. There are to many hazards that can occur such as wild animals eating your pet. That may not be a pleasant thought yet it can be very real due people building homes further into the wilderness displacing wildlife. Your pet could be just another meal! The warning in this article should be taken seriously in my opinion. What do you think?

Donna

"Easy does it with pets in the summer heat."

2005-05-25T11:41:00.000-04:00

This is the title of an article in the Monterey County Herald. The article has some very good information about heatstroke in pets. The Veterinarian that wrote this article brings up some points that I had not thought of myself and perhaps you did not think of either. You can access this article at The MontereyHerald.com

I found it interesting because I always knew that Hibbs has a hard time with the heat but did not think about his black coat attracting the sun. I watch my pets in the summer heat because I know how the heat affects me. I hope you find this information useful as I did.

Donna

Teaching kids about pets.

2005-05-20T12:15:00.000-04:00

Children need to know certain things about pets. It is important to teach kids about how to treat their pets and other pets they may come across. This short article in the New Milford Spectrum offers some simple rules kids should be made aware of about pets. I found these tips to be significant to a childs pet education. When kids know these things it is less likely that they will get bit by a pet. Just wanted to share this quick article in hopes it is a helpful guide in teaching your kids about pets.

Donna

Pets offer emotional support.

2005-05-17T14:14:00.000-04:00

There have been many different studies conducted that prove that pets can provide comfort to people. It has been said that people in nursing homes that had to leave a pet behind sorely miss the comfort of their pet. Many nursing homes have people who bring pets by to visit the residents and a definate improvement in the residents mood can be seen. I totally understand this because my pets often make me feel better.
Heeks is my little shadow. She follows me where ever I go around the house and she seems to always be gauging my mood. If I get upset about something she comes right over to me with her tail wagging. She will then jump up on me with a look that seems to say "Are you alright?" Most of the time just by her doing that I feel better.
It is obvious that many other people feel comfort from their pets. Just look at the pet industry in this country. People spend a lot of money providing for their pets health, pets enjoyment and quality of life. We buy toys, beds, treats, fancy collars, and sometimes even clothes and shoes. Pets become part of our family and sometimes a substitute for children if children are not an option in our lives. When my daughter got older and moved out on her own getting Hibbs eased the empty nest syndrome I was suffering from. Dogs require care and caring for Hibbs satisfied my maternal need. I have always been the "motherly type" so caring for my pets gives me joy. That is not to say that getting and caring for a pet is for everyone. It works for me. Has there been an experience in your life where a pet has made a big difference? If you would like to share leave a comment to this entry for others to enjoy!

Donna

Scotland: Pet welfare

2005-05-16T12:29:00.000-04:00

In Scotland they are trying to protect pets from abusive situations with some new restrictions. The age to purchase pets has gone from 13 to 16 years old. Apparently like most places around the world people take in pets then abuse them cruely or abandon them without a care. I am glad to see they are trying to do something about this through the sspca in Scotland. They are also trying to get tougher restrictions placed on pet selling establishments. This news was on the Scottish television website accessable through the following link:
http://scotlandtoday.scottishtv.co.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1_1_1&newsid=7682

I admire people all other the world that stand up for the rights of innocent animals kept as pets. They cannot fend for themselves on these issues.

Go Sspca! Donna

Stray dog saves abandoned baby.

2005-05-10T14:22:00.000-04:00

This story was reported on the news yesterday. This happened in Africa. You can read the story at MSNBC.com news. The dog apparently found the abandoned baby in the woods and brought the baby back and put it with her own litter of puppies.
It goes to show that moms are moms where ever they are. This mom knew this infant needed care and even though the baby was not of the same species. You can read more about this story at the link above and check out the other pet information on the same page!

Donna

Pets of the future!

2005-05-09T14:59:00.000-04:00

This article is titled Pets of the future are life like, but not real. Yeck....

For some reason someone thinks this is the big trend of the future. I am sure there are people out there that would be receptive to the concept but I am not one of them. Give me a real pet anyday! To read more about this click on the link above at the Houston Chronicle website. Ooohh wee!

Donna

Pet vaccination commentary.

2005-05-06T12:49:00.000-04:00

This was a feature story on the NBC 4 television in LA website. It is and article about vaccinating our pets. You can access this story at Vaccinating Pets Could Do More Harm Than Good I have been hearing more about this issue recently. I understand that vaccinating your pet against rabies and distemper are important. Those diseases are very serious and contracting them as well as the parvo virus can be a matter of life or death to your dog.

Just like people every pet is different. Some pets have these vaccinations with no ill effects at all while others bodies cannot tolerate the vaccination. I would be interested in knowing if there are any conclusive studies on this matter. If vaccinating your pet every couple of years is an option I would be interested in that. I can see how overloading a pets system with these vaccines could be harmful. If you know of any valid studies that show real results please make a comment so that other readers of this blog can benefit from your knowledge. Pet welfare is a top priority to most pet lovers and having more concrete information on this subject would be very helpful.

Donna

Tsunami brings better treatment to pets.

2005-05-04T11:34:00.000-04:00

I found this article today on Reuters news service. The article is about dogs and cats in Thailand and other areas effected by the tsunami last December. You can access this article by this link: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK97867.htm Perhaps this development of pets getting more humane treatment is one good thing that has come out of this tragedy. Pets were often abandoned before the tsunami and would sometimes gather in packs. There were cases of these packs attacking people. Greater awareness of pets in this region has led to pet shelters, pets being found new homes, and new laws being proposed to promote ethical and humane treatment of dogs and cats. I am always on board for good treatment of pets! This article is not to long if you want to read it. As usual I welcome comments.

Donna

Pets and Thunderstorms!

2005-04-28T13:59:00.000-04:00

This article came out today in Ascribe USA, you are welcome to access it at Owners Can Help Pets Overcome Fear of Thunderstorms Heeks is terrified of Thunderstorms and fireworks. She gets terribly upset on the fourth of July. I will take this person's advise into consideration with her. Hibbs is not as effected by the noise. He is not as jittery as Heeks. Heeks has always been a nervous dog or high strung if you like. I just thought this article may be an interesting read for some people.

Donna

Someone stole Grandma's Birds

2005-04-27T09:17:00.000-04:00

I found this story in the News Shopper in England. Gran devastated by theft of beloved pets This Grandmother had her precious pet Lovebirds stolen right off her front porch. People's pets are usually very important to them and to steal them is pretty low. If you want pets of your own it is pretty easy to get them. There are many resources, especially on the internet, where people offering pets for free because they can no longer keep them and there are shelters all over the place with pets looking for new homes. What do you think?

Donna

Wild Animals as Pets.

2005-04-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

I heard a story recently on the news about a couple who had a chimpanzee for a pet for a long time. The husband was recently severely hurt by some Chimpanzees in an Animal Santuary. The couple made the chimp they named Moe a member of their family. The woman was unable to have children so the Moe became like their child. They had the Moe living with them for about thirty years. The husband found the Moe as an infant in Africa after his mother had been killed by poachers. The couple became very attached to Moe and he to them over the years.
The thing is that as Chimpanzees get older they can change in demeanor. That is what happened to Moe. He got in trouble in his hometown by biting a police officer and then a woman. The county ended up removing Moe from the couples custody and he eventually ended up in the Animal Santuary near the couple after three years of court battles. What a blow for the couple and for Moe. The couple tried to make the best of it by visiting Moe when they could and this was good for Moe as well.
The couple visited Moe on his birthday and brought him treats and presents to celebrate. Apparently some Chimps in another cage escaped from their cages, didn't like Moe getting this kind of attention and attacked the couple. The woman was attacked briefly and lost her finger. The husband was severly hurt by two large male Chimps and is still in the hospital. The article located at ABC.com gives all the specifics of what happened from that point on. To access the article: http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Science/story?id=691497&page=1
At the time, nearly forty years ago, when the husband adopted and brought home the Chimp there were few laws regarding wild animals as pets. Now the laws are much more strict on the subject. The reason I am writing about this is to bring attention to this issue. I think we can become just as attached to wild animals as domestic animals but wild animals are much more unpredictable. Moe was not the one who hurt his "parents" but because he hurt other people he ended up losing the only home he had ever known. The couple who adopted him suffered a severe loss as well. The attachment went very deep between them and to this day Moe does not understand what happened and is depressed in the Animal Santuary. The wife is having a hard time dealing with her husbands devastating injuries and the whole situation is sad. In my opinion keeping a wild animal as a pet is something to be carefully considered. Caution is prudent before deciding on adopting and bringing a wild animal into your home. What do think?

Donna

Dog barking echoes!!!!!!!

2005-04-18T19:20:00.000-04:00

Ah, yes! It is finally Spring and in my area of New England it has been in the seventies. Tomorrow eighties are expected. That means it is the time of year when I can have the windows open. Spring and fall are usually when I have the windows open because in the winter we need to close them for warmth and in the summer we have an air conditioner on.

Hibbs and Heeks love to have the windows open because they can hear everything outside and see everyone walking by. There are quite a few people who walk in our neighborhood. This leads to excessive barking. Both of these dogs are poodle mixes I feel this is common behavior for them. I have to be at them to stop quite often. Heeks is particularly barky and she instigates Hibbs into barking by calling him to the window when someone is coming. Our window are close to the floor so our small dogs can see out and look down both sides of the street. During the day it is not to bad, most of our neighbors know us and have told me they don't mind the dogs. Thank goodness!

Where the windows are open when they bark it echoes through the neighborhood. So it is now time of the dog barking echoes!!! Do you have dog barking echoes in your neighborhood?

That's all for now! Donna

Fun petsite webpage

2005-04-11T12:23:00.000-04:00

This website has some games and virtual pet games to pass some time with. There is a lot of interesting pet information on this site as well. It is called Chazhound.com. Not only do they have fun things to do they offer free stuff and you will find after exploring the site that they also offer some valuable information on pet care and more. This site is worth a visit especially if you have a dog. To visit Chazhound.com go to http://www.chazhound.com/pet_games.html I have sent you to the fun and games page, you can explore the rest of the website from there....

Have fun!!!!!!! Donna

Pet snake story!

2005-04-08T12:12:00.000-04:00

Stricknine, the unfortunate Boa Constrictor.

Stricknine was the name of a Boa Constrictor my husband owned
when we were dating many many moons ago. Bob took the snake
out with him often in those days. He would wrap him around his
neck and take Stricknine for a walk. Stricknine was about four feet
long so there was no danger of him hurting Bob or anyone else really.
I had never had any experiences with snakes and I was nervous at
first. It did not take me long to be comfortable handling Stricknine
and I enjoyed petting him. I thought he would be slimy but he was
not, actually he was smooth. The snake seemed to like being held.

Boa Constrictors will only eat live food. Bob had to buy mice for
him to eat. Stricknine's home was a ten gallon fish tank. Bob
would throw the mouse in the tank and Stricknine would attack
it and swallow it whole. You could watch the whole process through
the glass. It took some time until eventually all you saw was a bulge
in the snake. Stricknine only needed to be fed every couple of weeks.

Another thing that would happen was that he would shed his skin. It
was strange to see that also because the skin came off nearly whole.
That is what Boa Constrictors do.

Stricknine was not covered in his tank and one day somehow he got
out of the tank. Bob lived in an apartment in a house with about four apartments. Bob looked everywhere for Stricknine and did not find
him. Bob was bummed out when he lost the Stricknine.

Four months later another tenant was down in the basement of the building for some reason and spotted Stricknine. This tenant called
the police who called the fire department. While they were all down
in the basement concerned about how they would handle the situation another neighbor of Bob's Betty came by. Betty knew Stricknine so
she told the police and firemen that she knew the snake and that she would return him to his owner. When Bob got home from work that
day she gave him back to Bob.

It was obvious that Stricknine had not fended for himself very well
during his absence. He was very dry and listless. Bob put him in the bathtub and put damp clothes on him. The next step was to try to get
him to eat so Bob put a mouse in the tub with him. Well poor Stricknine did not have the strength to eat and the mouse ended up chewing on
the snakes tail. Not long after that Stricknine died.

The reason I tell this story is to point out that you have to be careful
when keeping this type of pet. You must make sure that they are
secure in their habitat. Stricknine was used to being fed in captivity
and and did not fair well caring for himself. If you are thinking of
getting a pet Boa Constrictor keep in mind that they can get loose.
If your pet does get loose not only could the circumstances be dire for your pet but it could also cause fear to people who do not know that
your pet wouldn't hurt them.

If you have a pet snake or reptile or are thinking of getting one and
you are considering shopping online here are a few places you can
visit that offer supplies for your kind of pet. Worldwidesnakes is a
place that specializes in snakes so they have a large selection of
items you may need or want for your pet. You will also find reptile supplies at Petswarehouse. If you choose to explore Jefferspet you
will find supplies of many other kinds of pets that aren't reptiles.

Pets can bring happiness!

2005-04-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

If you have a pet I am sure you already know that pets can bring happiness into your life. Pets provide companionship and love to us. They also provide comfort to people. This has been proven in many different ways including scientifically. There are some wonderful places that bring pets together with people to provide joy and comfort with this happy exchange of companionship. Many of these pet visits are to nursing home where the residents can interact with the pets, which are usually dogs. The encounter benefits the dog as well as the person.

Where I am from the Boston area I found this website called Canine Companions at http://www.caringcanines.org/index.html that arranges these activities. The website provides a schedule of where these visits take place in the Boston area. You will also find listings of websites to locate such organizations across the United States. To discover more about this terrific service visit the link above. Pets can indeed provide happiness!

Donna

Pet Duck

2005-03-28T09:23:00.000-05:00

I received this in an email this morning, I do not know who wrote it, there was no author attached to it. I could not resist passing it on! Donna

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, "I'm so sorry, your pet has passed away."
The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. The duck is dead," he replied.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean, you haven't done any testing or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned his head and left the room. He returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog, took it out and returned a few moments later with a beautiful cat.
The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed the bird from its beak to its tail and back again. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly, jumped down and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck." Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried."$150 just to tell me my duck is dead?!!"
The vet shrugged. "I'm sorry. If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20. But with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it all adds up.

Putting your pet to sleep is more humane.

2005-03-27T14:23:00.000-05:00

I don't often comment on the news but this week I can't help but comment on the Terry Shivo case. In my opinion putting our pets, who are old and very sick or dying is done in a much more humane manner than Terry Shivo is being treated. When I had to put my over fifteen year old cat to sleep years ago they first gave him a shot to put him to sleep and then they gave him the shot that ended his life. He had cancer and could not eat anymore. The poor cat was suffering and there was nothing to be done for him. Instead of letting him starve to death because the cancer was in his mouth we did the humane thing and had our beloved cat put down.

Even convicted murders who are given the death penalty are treated more humanely with the fatal injection than Terry Shivo is being treated. The doctors are saying she can not feel anything but how do they really know that? They cannot read her mind. She may not be totally aware of what is happening around her but her family feels she has some consciousness. How does anyone know that she is not screaming inside her head, screaming to be given something to eat or drink. I can't stop thinking about this poor woman and her situation. She has people who are willing to care for her in her condition and keep her as comfortable as possible for however much longer she may have to live with the feeding tube yet she is not being given that consideration. In my opinion it was more humane to put my beloved cat to sleep they way they did than the way Terry Shivo is having to end her existence.

Donna

Not always what it seems

2005-03-21T11:46:00.000-05:00

This story was passed along to me today in an email. I don't have any information on who originally told the story but I liked it and the lesson it conveys so I thought I would pass it on. Donna

A man was flying from Seattle to San Francisco.Unexpectedly, the plane stopped in Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would re-board in 50 minutes. Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman who was blind. The man had noticed him as he walked by and could tell the gentleman was blind because his seeing eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats infront of him throughout the entire flight. He could also tell he had flown this very flight before because thepilot approached him, and calling him by name, said, "Bill, we're in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretchyour legs? "The blind man replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs."Picture this:All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines! True story... Have a great day and remember... things aren't always as they appear.

Traveling with pets.

2005-03-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

This morning on Good Morning America on ABC they did a short segment on traveling with your pet. Did you know that some airlines are now offering frequent flyer miles for your pet? To read more about this go to http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Travel/story?id=594202&page=1

The also have a short piece on places to stay when you bring your pet and some of the amenities offered at these places. To find out more about that you can go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/story?id=598100

Just passing on this info!

Donna

Dog bone mystery!

2005-03-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

I buy dog bone treats for my dogs in a large five pound package. I leave them in my back hall because it is cold out there and they keep well. I buy different flavors, beef basted, plain, small bones assorted, large bones assorted and peanut butter bones. They are like milk bones but put out by a different company. I don't always have all the flavors on hand but I mix them up so that the dogs get a variety. They usually get one in the morning and one at night.

Last Saturday I bought a new package of peanut butter bones. They have been getting one peanut butter bone, per day, at the most this past week. The package usually lasts at least a month around here. This morning I went to get them one and the bag is nearly empty. I asked my husband if he had moved some of the bones. He did not. Sometimes we transfer some into a box to put in the cabinet in the house. The last time I took a couple out of the bag it was full. That was day before yesterday. My husband gave the dogs a peanut butter bone the other day and said the bag was full too. Hmmmm....

There is no way the dogs ate all those bones in a couple of days. The bones are flat so the bag fits at least fifty bones. Hibbs was in the hallway by himself yesterday for a while when my three year old grandson was here but there is no way Hibbs could have eaten all those bones and he would have left a mess of crumbs behind if he had done that. The dogs always leave some crumbs behind. I don't even think Hibbs belly could hold four pounds of bones anyway.

My grandson was in the hall for a few moments yesterday while he was visiting me but that was only for a few moments so he would not have had time to move the bones. They would have had to be moved in a pile because the bag is still there. I asked him if he had moved the bones and he said no. At three he would not have the coordination to carry a bunch of bones all at same time and he just did not have enough time to do anything like that. My husband and I have searched all around the house to see if the bones were moved somewhere else and have found no sign of them anywhere.

I do not think any animal got in the back hall. If that were so there would be some sign of the entry. If a person came into our house why would they take only the peanut butter bones and nothing else? Did I get up, sleepwalk and move the bones during the night? Where would I have put them and why on earth would I do that? I don't think I have ever sleepwalked, by the way. What could have happened to four pounds of bones? This is bugging me. There is no explanation that is plausible. What the heck! Any ideas?

Donna

Pet dogs, cats, birds and fish, but pet reindeer!

2005-03-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

It seems Alaska would be one of the most appropriate places to have a pet reindeer. This town in Alaska is used to seeing a reindeer and his human strolling down the streets for a walk. To read more about this story you can go to http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11072061.htm

It is a short tale that I thought was cute and interesting. Enjoy!

Donna

Do some people really resemble their pets?

2005-03-08T12:08:00.000-05:00

My daughter often tells me that my dogs look like me. Huh! She says that we have the same hairdo. I suppose it is true to some extent. There may be an explaination for that according to this article I found on PetNewsService. The article offers information on studies done on this issue. To find out more got to http://www.petsforum.com/petnews/060204a.htm

This site also offers other pet news items of interest if you want to browse.

Donna

Do you think you may resemble your pet? At Gardenflags.com you might find a flag that resembles you both. Just a suggestion for a little fun!

Two more dogs receive electric shocks on the streets of Boston.

2005-03-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

Two dogs were shocked on the sidewalks in Boston in the past two days. The first one was out walking with his teenage owner yesterday when he yelped and fell to the ground. The dog was rushed to a Veteranary clinic but ended up dying. He was only 16 months old. Another dog received a shock today on a different street and fortunately seems to be alright. This is something that has happened in the past as well in Boston. It has something to do with electical wires or currents under the manhole covers. You can read more about this and find more details on the causes of these tragedies by going to the Boston Channel.com link listed here.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4246230/detail.html

Apparently the snow and ice along with electrical currents under the ground are the cause for these happening. These incidents are something to keep in mind when walking your dog or something to mention to your dog walker. Try to keep your dog off of manhole covers whenever possible.

Donna

Walking the dogs.

2005-02-28T12:49:00.000-05:00

Hibbs, Heeks and myself go for a walk everyday. We live across the street from a pond so we often walk around the pond. Normally it takes us about twenty minutes to go around. Sometimes we go around the pond twice a day depending on the weather.

I do not let the weather deter us from walking for the most part but when it is really bad outside we just go up the street instead of around the pond or we just don't go that day. We are expecting another snow storm in the New England area tonight. Walking after the snow storm is sometimes challenging. If it is slushy the dogs want to come right back because the slush goes up inside there paws. One of my neighbors and fellow dog walker has a small poodle. He has booties he puts on his dog in the bad weather. I have never tried that. If it is really bad outside we skip our walk for that day and I feel like that is alright because we go every other day.

I walk the dogs everyday as much for myself as for them. We all benefit from the exercise and we all love to be outdoors. We are fortunate to have lovely and ever changing scenery around our neighborhood. Do you walk your dog everyday? Where do you walk?

Donna

P.S. If you are thinking of boots for your dog you can go to Specials at SitStay.com to find boots and more.

'Road kill' candy not sweet for animal lovers, article posted on msnbc news site

2005-02-25T17:36:00.000-05:00

I found this article today on MSNBC news. I agree with the NJSPCA that this is not a good concept for children. Animals that are killed on the roads are not something to be taken lightly. It is a fact of life that this happens but to make fun of the situation is not my cup of tea. To read the article in it's entirety go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7030811/?GT1=6190

Donna

P. S. If you are interested in some elegant and delicious candy for yourself or perhaps to give as a gift to a loved you can visit Nirvana Chocolates

Wild Animals in Backyards.

2005-02-22T12:15:00.000-05:00

It was just on the news the other day that a woman on Cape Cod, south of where I live, was attacked in her backyard by a coyote. The woman heard what she thought was a dog fight coming from her yard where her dog was tied out. She went outside and saw the coyote fighting with her dog. She went over and waved her hand telling the coyote to get out of there and the coyote let go of her dog and latched onto her hand. She tried to get herself free but could not. She hollered for her husband who fortunately was at home that day. He was on the second floor of the house and ran out to the balcony, he could tell by the way his wife was calling him that something was wrong. That is when he saw his wife's plight. The man grabbed a two by four that happened to be in room where he was and ran downstairs to his wife. He began hitting the coyote with the two by four board. The coyote did not let go right away. The man had to hit it many times before it finally released his wife and took off.

The couple called the police who ended up having to kill the coyote. It turned out the coyote had rabies. Now the woman and her dog both need to be treated for this deadly disease. The rabies is probably why the coyote was a bold as it was. Most of the time these natural creatures come around when noone else is around.

We see more and more wild animals in our backyards these days. The reason this is happening is due to all the building being done in our neighborhoods. There used to be much more room for these wild creatures to roam but we are moving more and more into their habitat leaving them little choice but to encrouch on us. Because of the fact that these places we have intruded upon was their home first, it should be up to us to learn how to live with them. There are things we can do so that we can coexist with these wild creatures. We could build high fences to discourage them from coming to close. Keep a closer eye on our pets when they are outside. Do not leave food outside accessable to wild animals, keep barrels and trash bags inside until trash day. These are just a few of the things we can do so that we can live together. If you have any other suggestions please feel free to post a comment.

I do not consider it unsafe to feed the backyard birds and the squirrels that live around my yard. The feeders are up high and I have never found them to be bothered by any wild animals in all the years I have kept bird feeders. If you want get started having backyard birds come to your house or need to replace your old feeders you can go to Duncraft.com. They have lots of backyard bird supplies to offer!

Hooey, our Amazon Parrot and My Grandson Max.

2005-02-20T19:54:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my three year old grandson Max came over for a visit. I asked him if he said Hi to Hooey. He said "Gramma, that bird is to old, you need to get rid of him and get another one." It is hard to explain to a three year old that Hooey is an Amazon Parrot and can live to be sixty or more years old. Hooey is now about twenty - eight years old so it will be a while till he is old by bird standards. I did not tell Max that something else happened to distract him so I did not elaborate on the facts.

Max knows he is not to get to close to Hooey because I don't want Hooey to bite him. At this point in time I am the only one Hooey lets get close to him. I can pet him and touch him but noone else can. My husband gets a nasty bite when he tries. So Max has been told since he was a baby not to get to close to Hooey.

My daughter gives Hooey a treat and talks to him everytime she comes by and I am hoping that someday he will let her and maybe Max get closer to him. I found out not to long ago from Hooey's first owner that he has never liked men. It took him a while to bond with me but he has so I know that it can be done.

I hope that someday Hooey will have a great relationship with Max seeing as he might still be around when Max is an adult.

Do you have a one person parrot? We would like to hear from you!

Donna

Chinese own 150 million dogs according to news report

2005-02-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently the Chinese people were not to interested in dogs in the past but now there are millions of dogs in the country. The news story found at the http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12242781-23109,00.html gives more depth to this observation. This is a short article just passing on this tidbit of information. Go Dogs!

Donna

Happy Valentine's Day

2005-02-14T19:26:00.000-05:00

Just a quick little note to say Happy Valentine's Day to all. This holiday is meant to express love! People and pets do that all over the world on this day. Red hearts are in abundance and romance is in the air. Valentine's day is not just for those in love it is for everyone to express their love to those who are most important to them.

When my daughter was little she always got something for Valentine's day and now it is my grandson's turn to get hearts and presents. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Donna

News Article Fighting over Fido.

2005-02-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

On my local NBC newsbroadcast last night they had a report on people fighting about a pet when they split up. Our pets become part of our family and it must be very hard to figure out what to do if both parties want to keep the family pet. There has been a lot of court time spent over this issue as well as plenty of money. Here is the article regarding that report if you are interested in reading about this unfortunate, emotional and real dilema faced by many people in this type of situation.

http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/DBM1227/

It is a short article, hope you find it interesting....

Donna

Cosmetic surgery for pets!

2005-02-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

On the news today they were talking about cosmetic surgery for pets. I did not know what that could be all about when I first saw it. Apparently they are trying to stop this practice in California. What they were refering to was tail cropping in dogs, declawing in cats and so forth. Personally I am all for the banning of these practices. If you want to find out more about this topic and other pet related news today you can go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4602461/
This is the news section on msnbc and there are some other stories of interest there about pets.

Donna

Hello Folks!

2005-02-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Today I will feature a couple of places where you can find out more about natural pet care. There are many loving and caring people out there that feel that caring for your pets with all natural products is the way to go. There are many places that specialize in offering you products and services that focus on the natural way of caring for animals. Here are links to two places to find lots of good information and products to help you get involved in natural care of your pet too.

http://www.reikishamanic.com - interesting website for pets and people!

http://www.jeanesholistics.com/TWDS.html - The Whole Dog store offers a holistic approach to pet care.

Hope this information helps if you are considering natural pet care!

Donna

Blog search engine

2005-02-01T17:59:00.000-05:00

I found this blog search engine today. You can go there to search for other blogs on pets. Here is the link:

http://www.blogsearchengine.com Search Engine and Directory of blogs. Looking for blogs? Find them on BlogSearchEngine.com.

Have fun!

Donna

Noahswish, People helping pets after disasters.

2005-02-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

I found this website today where they work to help pets after disasters. They just returned from Sri Lanka where they offered a helping hand to the animals of the area affected by the recent Tsunami disaster. The site takes a few minutes to load but there are lots of pictures to view.

http://www.noahswish.com/

Donna

Parrots make great pets!

2005-01-31T09:29:00.000-05:00

If you are thinking of getting a parrot for a pet they do make great pets. There are a few things you should know before you bring a parrot into your home.

First thing is that parrots can live for a long time. Some species are said to live up to one hundred years. Our Amazon parrot Hooey is now 28 years old by my best calculations. So before getting a parrot you should realize this could be a lifetime pet.

Next, they do require work for their upkeep. The cage must be cleaned everyday and you must make sure they always have water and they require seeds and fresh vegetables and/or fruit each day as well. Keeping the cage clean is a constant effort. Parrots are quite messy especially if you let them out on top of his cage like Hooey. He poops wherever he is standing and drops food anywhere he happens to be when done with it. I have it set up to make it easier to keep these areas clean but just be aware that there is a lot of work involved in the care of a parrot.

One final tip about getting a parrot is that many of these birds bond with one person only. Hooey has bonded with me but my husband cannot get near him without being bit hard. Another thing is if a parrot bites you hard it can break skin and cause a great deal of pain.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when thinking of getting a parrot or other larger species of bird such as a Macaw. At our website at http://www.hibbsandheekspetcenter.com you can go to our Hooey's Bird Aviary link to find listing of other websites offering some good information on owning and caring for a parrot and other types of birds.

Donna

Pets in Animal Shelters.

2005-01-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

As you probably hear frequently if you are interested in pets is that you should consider getting your next pet from an animal shelter. It is a good piece of advise if it is possible for you. There are so many animals waiting in shelters to get a forever home.

We already have four pets in our household and that is enough for my family. My father just adopted a year old kitten from a shelter and he is really enjoying him. He named him Buddy. My father lives alone and Buddy is proving to be a very good companion. In my opinion pets are great for older people that live alone. An older pet especially may be a good addition because they are less likely to be running around getting into things. Pets slow down as they get older just like people.

If you are considering adopting a pet from a shelter there is one particular place I have found to be the best place to check first. Petfinder.com. They have listings of shelters all over the country and wonderful descriptions and most of the times pictures of pets that are looking for homes. To visit this terrific website go to:
http://www.petfinder.com.

Good luck in your pet search!
Donna

Worlds smallest cat!

2005-01-24T18:17:00.000-05:00

This morning on Good Morning America they had a segment on the worlds smallest cat but I missed it while doing my morning routine. I could not find the story on their site but I did come across this interesting site along the way that has smallest cats, giant dogs, tiny Rhinos and teeny giraffes. The pictures are entries into a contest run by Worth 1000.com at the website link below. Have fun........
http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=4554

Pet News

2005-01-21T16:57:00.000-05:00

Due to my interest in pets and making my petsite interesting to my visitors I often search around the internet looking for information on pets. I perhaps do not update my site as often as I should which is due to my having some technical problems recently. (excuses, excuses!) Anyway I am around the internet a lot looking for info on pets and this website Petpages is on top of pet information. I often post ads there and are listed in their directory.

If you are looking for a pet or needing a new home for your pet you might check out their classified section.

Today I would like to focus on the fact that they have a Pet News section that they obviously work hard to maintain. If you would like to check it out to find out what is new in the animal world go to this link,

http://www.petpages.com/News/

There are some interesting stories to read.........

Have a great day!

Donna

Animals of the Tsunami

2005-01-19T16:06:00.000-05:00

The Humane Society of the United States has some articles about the animals of the Tsunami on the front page of their site if you would like to read about it. You can go to:
http://www.hsus.org/

The article are at the beginning of the page.

Just thought I would pass this info on.

Donna

Couple of new Articles published

2005-01-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

I published a couple of articles today. If you would like to read them go to:

http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=9891

I hope you enjoy them!
Donna

Here are some places to shop for your pet!

2005-01-17T04:38:00.000-05:00

If you are interested there are many sites listed on Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center that you can access to find all kinds of supplies for your pets. You could buy them a bed, a blanket, clothes or bandanas and actually the list of items from the various places is quite long. Here are a few places you can try right now that offer pet products,
Petplanet.co.uk - All Your Pet Needs In One Easy Online Shop,

DogToys.com - Celebrating 35 dog years online!,

Specials at SitStay.com,

QuickCare Pet Insurance,

Great Deals on pet supplies? Look no further, TheFerretStore.com has everything you're looking for!Click here,

Discount Pet Meds at Petscriptions,

Make Rover's tail wag again...Click here

Dog Lovers Gift Shop

You can find many more places for pet supplies and of course pet information at Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center. Come on by http://www.hibbsandheekspetcenter.com !

Working from home with my pets around.

2005-01-12T15:17:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy working on the computer and working from my home. I have a routine that I follow on the weekdays. I get up early, get showered, eat breakfast then take my dogs for a walk. After doing my essential morning chores which includes cleaning Hooey's cage and preparing his vegetables for the day, making sure Holly has something to eat and the dogs have water, I go in and start working on the computer. The dogs will mostly take this time to rest but on occasion Heeks will be looking out the window and see someone walking by or something and bark. Half the time I do not even notice the barking because I am caught up in what I am doing. When the dogs want my attention or they need to go out they will come and stand next to my chair until they get my attention.

Hooey is usually quiet during this time too and often takes a nap. He understands what I mean when I say I have to get to work. I will usually work for three hours or so before I get up to have lunch. I interact with my pets as I get lunch ready. Then back to work on the computer.

The pets seem to understand when I say I have to get to work. I used to go out to work and I think they know that work means that I am busy. They know the computer sounds too, especially when it is being shut down. I have it set to sound like the ocean before it shuts off and the pets know that sound means I am no longer working.
I am sure you have stories about your pets if you work at home. Please feel free to add your observations to the comments section. I would love to hear from you!

Blogamation

2005-01-11T17:37:00.000-05:00

This word is my little attempt at blog humor! I would like to have my blog be lighthearted and fun for those who are interested in reading my thoughts.

I write a newletter that usually goes out once a month although I must admit it is not always on time due to many distractions I allow myself to become involved in. One of the biggest distractions at this time is to try and find a part time job that will allow me to make some money to help with my household finance while still allowing me time to work on my website and now this blog.

Here is one of the articles from my newsletter I hope you will enjoy. It has been published in several other places but I am going to add it here too!

Cats are beautiful.

I think that cats are beautiful. Not only in physical appearance but in spirit as well. Cats have been worshipped in many civilizations and religions through out history. I am sure that part of the reason for that is because they are just beautiful. Isn't it amazing when you look your cat in the eyes how bright they are. Holly has green eyes that are just like saucers in her adorable face. They have small noses that can do a big job at sniffing and whiskers that sparkle in the light. Cats ears are really cool too the way they can rotate around to pick up sounds. Sometimes Holly will be listening so something with her ears back and she reminds me of an eagle. Ah ha, a catbird!!

Usually cats have such soft and smooth fur that it is a joy to pet them. Who needs a fur coat, if you have a cat to pet you are going to get the pleasure stroking a fur coat might bring you. Purring is such a sound of contentment. When you are petting your cat and it is purring you know that you are bringing as much enjoyment to your cat as your cat brings to you. They rub against you and claim you as their own. It is nice to know that you are your cats prized possession.

Holly talks a lot too. She will meow when I come into a room and often times will stretch out showing her delight at seeing me. Cats are almost always receptive to affection which they always return. Sometimes they are independent and standoffish but if you do just a little coaxing they will inevitably respond to your loving intentions and come to you unless something has scared them into hiding. A soft touch and a calm demeanor will keep you in a cats scope of well loved individuals. I think cats are beautiful, what about you?

Written by Donna for Hibbs and Heeks September 2004 Newsletter

Hope you liked it! Have a great day!

Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center Blogamation

2005-01-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Hibbs and Heeks Pet Center Blogamation!

Hibbs and Heeks are real dogs that inspired the website http://www.hibbsandheekspetcenter.com My name is Donna and Hibbs and Heeks are my pets along with Hooey my Amazon Parrot and Holly my cat. Our website was created to find and offer information on many types of pets that people welcome into their homes through website listing from across the internet. There are many knowledgeable people out there on the web that have important input about pets. It is always good to know more about the pets we have so that we can give them the best care. It is my opinion that our pets give us enjoyment and we can return the favor by making sure they are healthy and happy.