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Twelve years ago, after he started living on his own, my son adopted a Siamese mix and called him, “Yoda.” Although a mix, Yoda has the temperament, large ears, huge blue eyes, and the cute, dark face of a true Siamese. He has also acquired the thermosensitivity of the Siamese’s coat coloring. The only part of Yoda that would alert a knowing eye to his iffy bloodline is the slightly rounded shape of his face, as the pure-bred Siamese are known to have elongated faces.

Yoda only takes to my son, nobody else. He has gotten used to my daughter-in-law, and just that, because no one can replace his true owner. Although I have taken care of Yoda numerous times and he stays with me every now and then, he barely tolerates me, and that is when he needs fed or asks for a treat.

Knowing the Siamese psychology, I don’t blame myself or my cat-sitting skills, but I sort of wish he’d jump on my lap and purr like the tabbies I once owned. Maybe it is the Himalayan gene that the Siamese share with rabbits and mice that makes Yoda hop away from me after his needs are met. This could be also because Yoda’s gene memory prevents him from getting on with too many people at a time.

In their country of origin, Siam (now called Thailand), the Siamese cats guarded the Buddhist temples and were considered sacred. Their blood lines were vigilantly protected; and the cats were bred as if they were angels sent from heaven. Later on, the Siamese became the cats of royalty, babysitting for the King’s children.

Inside the “Cat-Book Poems,” a manuscript written in Siam during 1350’s, seal-point Siamese looking like Yoda are pictured. Those cats in those old pictures must be the representations of adult Siamese cats, because a Siamese kitten is pure white at birth. Since the Siamese kitten’s coat is heat-sensitive, in time, it develops the point color: that is, the points on his tail, paws, and face.

At his advanced age, Yoda’s coat still changes color according to heat. When he stays with us, Yoda demands to be let out to the porch. From behind the screen and the glass doors, this cat loves to watch the golf course, the squirrels, the birds, and the golfers goofing up their swings. When Yoda stays in our house, because he goes on the porch so often, his coat lightens up, giving him a younger look.

For an aged cat, Yoda is also very agile. A few days ago, when a squirrel dared climb on the screen mesh to the roof, Yoda suddenly jumped at it, higher than my height.

Yoda’s love of high places must have come down from being of royalty. When alone in the house with me, I usually find him perched on a table or on any other high place as if to rule the world, his kinked tail moving ever so slightly and his large ears alert, watching his environs. Although I don’t tell on this transgression of his, the cat still avoids me. I guess, Yoda can’t help the way he is, since Siamese are famous for emotionally attaching to only one owner.

From the time they are kittens, the Siamese develop their own loud voice and conversational tone. On the occasions when my son is walking out the front door and leaving his cat with me, Yoda stops evading me to complain of his misfortune with his loud voice, as if he is suffering at the hands of a torturer. In those times, he sounds like a baby in pain.

If you want to adopt a Siamese mix, several states have organizations called Siamese Rescue, but if you want to buy a Siamese kitten, you have to go to a breeder. On the average a Siamese kitten will cost for about $500 if pedigreed, or about $250, if he will only be your pet.

Frankly, I don’t care if Yoda is not a purebred. To us, he is royalty and he thinks he is royalty. Still, I wish his highness would give me the some of that a purring affection he exhibits when my son is around.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums. Joy Cagil is an author whose education is in linguistics and foreign languages. She is an animal lover.

What in the world is a puggle?

One fine day a pug was off gallivanting around when he came across a spirited little beagle, their eyes met and well…. the rest is history!

Puggles are part of a new trend of “designer dogs”- like the schnoodle and the cockabiche. They are popping up in more places and are receiving more press, at the moment, than purebreds and are commanding prices that rival and even exceed the prices of their full-blooded compatriots. Fortunately, I purchased my puggle before their popularity soared.

I originally wanted to buy a pug, but there were none available at the time, though a litter of puggles was. The pups were advertised at $250 each, less than 1/3 the price of a pug. That still seemed expensive to me, for what was essentially a mutt, or so I thought.

A little background on the 2 breeds; Beagles are high-strung but also very sporty, while pugs are not very athletic, but have a calm, relaxing demeanor — not yippy, overexcited, or insecure. Puggles do not generally howl like beagles and do not have the breathing problems that are often associated with the pug. Mix the 2 together and you have the best attributes of both.

I was curious so I went and visited them. They, of course, were very cute and charming. Since I couldn’t find a pug and really wanted a dog, I went ahead and purchased one, a cute little female… What a great decision that was!

A puggle combines the strong physical attributes of the beagle with the even, mellow temperament of the pug, making for a calm small dog– how rare is that?

They have the wrinkled face of a pug while having the longer legs of a beagle. Puggles usually get to be 15-20lbs. as adults, are 12-15″ high at the shoulder, are tan or brown with a black muzzle; earning them the well-deserved nickname of “miniature mastiffs”.

Purebred dog breeders naturally have problems with these crossbreeds as many have spent a great deal of time and money perfecting the bloodlines of their breed and don’t like the attention these “mutts” are receiving.
There is a widely held notion that these “mutts” are actually healthier than purebreds, which I have always believed. A cross between 2 breeds of any dog should eliminate genetic problems that may exist in either breed because 90% of genetic problems are recessive, meaning both parents must carry the abnormal gene.

If you want a better chance of having health problems with your dog then buy a purebred! If you want a pet that is unique and healthy then buy a puggle, or go to the local shelter and adopt!

Sara writes articles for Schmeg.com

Visit her at: Chestnut Creek Gift Baskets | Candles

Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten or knocked down by an animal improperly or inadequately leashed or contained can sue for injuries or death caused by a bite or knock-down. You can sue the person who has or was responsible for the animal. For a person to be responsible they need not be the owner of the animal. However, an owner who maintains some control over the animal remains liable even if the animal is partly under the care of others.

You may be entitled to recover damages for past and future and medical expenses, past and future wage loss, past and future pain and suffering, and if it is deemed that conduct is severe enough, punitive damages (punishment damages against the defendant). If the victim dies, his or her survivors are entitled to recover full compensation for their financial losses that resulted from the victim’s death, as well as emotional distress damages. If the survivors can prove that the victim lived for a period of time between the negligent act and death, they can also bring an action for punitive damages.

You can also sue if you were fleeing from an animal, and you reasonably feared for your safety and can prove that the owner or possessor of the dog knew or should have known of the dog’s propensity to attack people walking nearby, and failed to act accordingly.

So if you own an animal with a propensity for biting strangers, make sure it is safely contained fenced, chained, boxed, whatever is necessary to protect you, your animal, and potential plaintiffs. If you are bitten by an animal and it creates a situation where a lawsuit is appropriate, be informed as to the criteria under which you can pursue and obtain damages.

Jason Rigler
“Settlement Advocate” and consultant for Prosperity Partners Customer Service Department.

The Bacardi Family FoundationThe Bacardi Family Foundation is the philanthropic division of the family who possesses Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-owned spirits establishment in the world. The Bacardi Family Foundation draws massive financial resources from Bacardi Limited, whose history involves the concoction of the world’s first clear or “white” rum.The founder of the company is Don Facundo Bacardi Mass of Santiago de Cuba. He was the one who first concocted the BACARDI Superior Rum, the first premium-aged white rum. With this feat, he set into motion events that would catapult his fledgling establishment into one of the giants in the distilled beverages industry. The Bacardi Family Foundation has programs that cover several areas namely: environment, education, healthcare, and arts and culture.One of the Foundation’s philanthropic efforts is Casa Bacardi. The $1 million Casa Bacardi is a donation of the foundation to the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami. Casa Bacardi, which is located at the institution’s campus in Coral Gables, highlights Cuba’s bountiful history and culture. One of the Foundation’s most notable projects is the Bahamas National Trust-Nature Conservancy Parks Partnership Project. The Bacardi Family Foundation financially aided the first stages of the Parks Partnership Project, which has been jointly executed by The Nature Conservancy and The Bahamas National Trust. The project is designed to improve the management capacity in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Management plans hatched in this protected area would serve as trailblazers for other Bahamas parks.

Dog hair shedding is one of those little “add ons” that comes with owning most breeds of dogs. It is usually one of those factors that no one considers when selecting the type of dog they want but which sometimes becomes a major “Arrrgh!” when dog hair starts being noticed all over the house.

So lets be clear – dog hair shedding is a normal physiological occurrence. The volume of
hair shed will likely vary but one can only really consider it to be an abnormal amount
if the shedding is so great that bald patches of skin start appearing.

Dog hair naturally grows in cycles – each hair has a growth phase,followed by a resting phase.
After a while in the resting phase, the hair detaches at its base and is pushed out by a
new hair in the growth phase. The period from the start of a hair growing till it is
pushed out by the next one varies between breeds and between individuals within breeds
and can vary from about 4 months to in excess of 12 months!

Dog hair shedding takes place throughout the year but there are times when an animal
“sheds” its coat. This is governed mainly by the number of daylight hours with lengthening
(spring) and shortening (autumn/fall) daylight hours being the trigger to change the coat and
prepare for summer or winter.Of course this presents a problem to animals primarily kept indoors
and not exposed to the changing hours of light – these animals may shed and grow hair throughout
the year – and hence the hair on furniture, floors etc all year round.

The only real “cure” for normal dog hair shedding is to groom them regularly and remove the
old detached or about to be detached hair from the animal before it removes itself onto
the carpet/chair/floor etc! The frequency with which you will need to do this will vary depending
on the type of haircoat, time of year and the individual. Grooming is not every dog’s favourite activity
(but many love it!), so its best to get them into the habit from an early age.

Do remember that factors such as nutrition, genetics, hormones, climate, parasites and so on
can influence the quality of a dog’s haircoat and need to be taken into account when
considering the cause of excessive dog hair shedding.

Keith Perrett is a qualified Veterinarian
http://www.pet-health-for-humans.com

You love your dog. You would do anything for your dog. Well
your home may not be the best place for your dog to live a
long and happy life.

Just like parents often put poisonous things into a baby’s
room (like new wallpaper and plastic toys) and wonder why
the baby is sick, people often expose their dog to things
that will kill them and wonder why the dog is sick or dying.

Dogs get sick and die from cancer. That is a fact. But
did you know that household cleaning products will cause
cancer?

An example is bleach. Everyone knows that it interfers
with breeding dogs by altering the sex hormones and by
killing sperm. But did you know it can alter DNA to the
point that tumors develop?

You find bleach in many of the household products that
your dog comes in contact with on a daily basis. It is
in laundry detergents, for example. Did you launder that
blanket your dog sleeps on? Does you dog sleep in the
laundry room? Did you spill detergent on the laundry
room floor where your dog can lick it?

Your dog can also be exposed to mold, especially in the
laundry room. The room is wet and warm and confined.
A perfect place for mold growth to concentrate.

Molds produce chemical groups like Ochratoxins, Aflatoxins
and Trichothecenes. In high concentrations these chemicals
cause cancer for people and dogs. Doctors and vets have
known this for almost 30 years.

http://www.themoldlab.com

But these toxins are slow onset problem makers. This means
that it may take a few years for the cancers to develop.
So your dog may feel great up till the moment that it is
too late.

Where else do we find mold in high concentrations?
In the basement, of course. People quite often have a
beautiful sleeping area for their dogs in basements.

“Okay, I believe you. What can I do?”

1. Keep cleaning products sealed in plastic containers.

2. Buy cleaning products WITHOUT bleach.

3. Clean up all spills immediately.

4. Keep washer and dryer open when not in use. (To stop
mold)

5. Keep the laundry room door open to air out.

6. Periodically spray the rooms with a solution of grape
fruit seed extract or Tea Tree Oil to prevent mold growth.

If you plan to keep your dog healthy, you have to start
thinking about it today.

For 30 years, Dr Graham has been helping people treat and
prevent disease by showing them how to live in a clean
environment.

http://tennesseemold.com/ebooks.shtml
DrGraham@themoldlab.com

Accidental Pet Death

While many people watch their pets live out long lives and then cope with the loss of their pet at an old age, others find themselves faced with the sudden and traumatic loss of a pet through an accident or carelessness. Anytime a loss is sudden, we often feel a flood of guilt and questions afterward. Sometimes that guilt can be haunting, filling our mind and heart with heaviness and confusion.

Normal Guilt Responses

Guilt can be quite a monster after the loss of a pet. While we already grieve for the loss of our companions, we also beat ourselves up over the accident that took our pet’s life. Even as others are offering us sympathy and condolences, we are often looking for reasons to feel guilty. “Why” becomes part of our regular thought process. Why did I leave the door open? Why didn’t I spend more time with him? And “If only” becomes “Why’s” partner in our destructive thinking. If only I had given him more attention. If only I had taken him to the vet sooner.

Those guilty questions are normal reactions, because we, as humans, believe in cause and effect. We have a tendency to think that any bad things that happen can be prevented. As pet owners, we feel that we are ultimately our pet’s guardian or protector. So the combination of feeling we could have prevented the cause of our pet’s death, along with the failure we feel about not protecting our pet, makes for a lot of guilt. Even though we may have friends or family members relating their condolences for our loss, we have a hard time even hearing them.

How Guilt Can Help Us

Guilty feelings are normal and at times helpful because they can often teach us about what to do right with our next pet. Working our way through guilt allows us to grow stronger and healthier emotionally and spiritually. There are some things we can do to help ease the guilt and eventually come to terms with the sudden death of a pet, and the resulting pet loss grief.

How to Heal Excessive Guilt

We can begin by not repeating those guilty thoughts over and over in our heads. The haunting thoughts can be overwhelming, and although natural, we don’t want to allow them to occupy our minds frequently. You can acknowledge the thought, but then follow it up with a positive statement. An example would be, “I feel guilty that Sparky died. If only I had had that blood test done earlier. However, I’m choosing right now to heal and move forward, because Sparky wouldn’t want me to get stuck in guilt. I gave him a good home, he loved me dearly, and I’ll honor that love by choosing to remember and honor our good times together.”

Another way to heal from the guilt is to accept the loss itself and understand that there is nothing we can do to go back and change it. Beating ourselves up over the sudden loss of a pet will not bring our pet back. Instead, look clearly at what went wrong and make the changes that will keep it from happening again. If there is nothing to change, tell yourself that you did the best that you could at that time and that you will strive to always make good decisions concerning your pets in the future.

Imagine Yourself at The Rainbow Bridge

If you haven’t heard about the Rainbow Bridge, you may want to go online and do a search. The Rainbow Bridge is a lovely image of where you will reunite with your pet once your time on earth is over, and you are making your transition from this life to the afterlife.

When you meet your pet at that time at the Rainbow Bridge, you are not going to be chastised or made to feel guilty about anything you did or didn’t do for your pet. You will be met with unconditional love. Your beloved animal companion wants you to feel good about yourself and wants you to live a balanced and harmonious life. Take a moment and imagine that you are meeting with your pet at The Rainbow Bridge right now, ahead of time, and get their advice for your life right now. What do they want for you in your life right now? Are they asking you to feel guilty and miserable?

Balance and Forgiveness

Finding balance is an important way to work through our guilt and heal. Balance is important to living a healthy life. Sometimes when we experience the sudden loss of a pet, we only focus on what went wrong. Yet, there were many more good times than bad, and we need to find a way to focus on those times. Sometimes a memory journal will help us focus on those times. At other times we may want to go to places or do things our pet loved to remember how good our time together really was.

Finally, forgiveness is really the key to healing from guilt. We need to learn to forgive ourselves for any past wrongs. They are done. They are over. Sometimes we may need to look in the mirror and tell ourselves, “I forgive you.” Your pet’s love for you was unconditional, and forgiveness was handed over freely. When grieving the loss of your pet, you need to give yourself that same forgiveness.

Reconnecting to Life after Loss and Guilt

Guilt over the sudden loss of a pet is a natural part of the grief process. A normal amount of guilt is healthy, because is allows us to learn from mistakes and grow into stronger, more well-balanced human beings. If you feel that guilt is overwhelming or taking over your life, finding some help from a counselor or support group is recommended. If you cannot find a local pet loss support group, go online. There is plenty of pet loss support available there as well.

Allow yourself time to work through your grief, including any feelings of guilt after the loss of your beloved pet. Be gentle with yourself. You will feel good again, connected to life and more compassionate as a result of your loss.

Marcia Breitenbach is an author, therapist, speaker, and musician who has facilitated pet loss support groups for years. Sign up for her free Songletter where you can get inspiring music for healing and nurturing your soul at:
http://www.griefandlosshelpsongletter.com

Click here to get information on Marcia’s newly released pet loss video/dvd at:
http://www.griefandlosshelpsongletter.com/indexpetlossdvd.htm

Understanding where horses come from has been a long road for most equestrians. Using that new understanding can dramatically change how one handles, cares for, and trains or rides their horse.

“We treat horses the way others tell us to, as well as the way we were treated as children,” says Gwenyth Browning Jones Santagate, of Douglas Massachusetts. “That usually borders on abuse, even for experienced equestrians. My dad taught me that if I REALLY wanted to know about an animal, then I needed to look at things from its own point of view. I later tried the ‘formal,’ ‘traditional’ methods – and HATED it. When my daughter’s ‘babysitter’ mare was severely abused in our absence, traditional methods of discipline simply didn’t work, so I went back to my ‘feel’ methods to reclaim the mare’s mind.”

Because of this horrific incident, Gwen vowed never to forget “that horses are people, too … just in different bodies. They are kindred spirits with more generous hearts than any human can ever realize.”

In her efforts to reach and educate humans, Gwen is holding a two-session teleseminar that focuses first on understanding the psychological underpinnings of the horse, and in the second session, on what to do with that understanding. The sessions are scheduled for June 22, 2005, and July 6, 2005. There is a fee, which includes both sessions, class materials, and some unannounced bonuses.

For more information, or to sign up, individuals should go to http://www.EquineTeleseminar.net.

Patricia Reszetylo has been a horse-addict ever since she first met horses in 1978. Her mother thought it was “just a phase” – but it seems to be a rather long-lived phase. Patricia is happiest when her life revolves around horses, and has had several businesses that are horse-oriented. She is the author of the horse business ebook, “Hor$e Cent$: Infiltrate and Dominate Your Local Equestrian Market Using Pre-Equestrian Classes,” and hosts teleseminars on various equine-related topics.

Visit her at http://www.EquineTeleseminar.net

When you’ve had some success caring for captive snakes, you might find yourself interested in breeding them. This can be done, but it requires record keeping and attention to many details concerning the living conditions of the snakes. The breeding is generally done in the winter so that the babies are born or hatched in the spring.

Breeding snakes requires feeding them well for about four months, and then putting them into a cool state of hibernation. To do this, you first need to fatten them up, especially females, for a few months in late summer, then lower the temperature for a few more weeks or months. The exact timing varies with the species, as do the temperature requirements.

Just a quick note about determining the sex of a snake. This skill needs to be learned from an expert. It is a tricky process, sometimes requiring the use of a metal probe to look for the male reproductive organ. Even the most experienced of snake breeders make a mistake now and then.

During the hibernation, the snake is not fed, but is provided fresh water. When the time is up, the snake is gradually warmed up, and fed well again for a little while. Then the female and male are placed together. If she resists him, separate them and wait another week. If not, leave them together for a week or so.

A female snake that is developing eggs within is called “gravid.” Some species of snake eat well during this time and others don’t. The length of time it takes varies even within the same species. Again, the amount of heat provided makes a difference. Most females will shed shortly before laying their eggs.

Some snakes give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. The boas are examples of this. The hibernation requirements for these tropical snakes are much less, amounting to just a couple of weeks with low nighttime temperatures. Their humidity needs are higher, and they should be misted daily. With boas, you can add more than one male to the female’s enclosure.

Pregnancy takes from 4 to 10 months. The mother to be usually eats well during this time, but you should choose smaller food items, since her inside body space is getting more crowded. Shedding usually precedes giving birth, but it can be as much as another month before the birth. The litter size can range from 10 to as many as 80 for large, robust females.

In general, snake babies should be removed and placed in separate containers lined with paper towels. The paper towels should be kept moist for the first two weeks. They will shed around this time, and can feed on pinkies or fuzzies (young mice) after the shed.

There may be a market for these young reptiles, and the process is certainly fascinating for the hobbyist. Do remember, though, that there are growing numbers of pet snakes being shoved off into rescue shelters because the owners just can’t handle them any more. Be a responsible snake breeder, and make sure your young snakes won’t just be more casualties.

Gary Ruplinger is the owner of Boatips.com, a site providing information about pet snakes. To learn more about breeding snakes and to learn about pet snakes in general, visit us.

Anyone who has allowed a pet to become a part of their life understands that a pet is a member of your family. When you lose that pet, whether unexpectedly or from old age, it does not change the fact that a hole has been left in your life. You still need to take the time to grieve your loss until someday, you feel able to celebrate your pet’s life.

Unfortunately, many people do not understand your grief, and their lack of understanding may cause them to inadvertently hurt you further. They may do this by acting as though the pet never existed and your grief is not real, or by making the suggestion that it was just a dog, cat, ferret, or whatever and can be replaced.

If you’ve ever loved a pet, you know that they cannot “just be replaced”, much like a person cannot be replaced. I’d like to offer some suggestions that may help you in your grieving process:

•Do not try to rush yourself through the grief process. Telling yourself that it was just a pet and you shouldn’t feel this way just invalidates your feelings and makes you feel worse. Accept your grief and understand that only time will heal you.

•If you are not comfortable doing so, do not rush to get rid of everything that may remind you of your pet. Sometimes removing everything that reminds us of the pet that has shared our life for years just makes the emptiness seem larger.

•Seek out others who understand how you feel. Many people understand what you are feeling, and an ear and a box of tissues will make you feel better.

•Make a picture collage to celebrate your pet’s life. You can include pictures from every stage of your pet’s life as a reminder of the good times you’ve shared with your pet.

•Light a candle to your pet. On our resources page, there is a link to a website where you can light a “virtual candle” for free. You may find comfort by doing this.

•Buy a picture pet urn or memory box. If you cremate your pet, you can store the ashes in it. If you do not cremate your pet, or if you scatter the ashes, you can store a favorite ball or leash inside to create a memorial to your pet. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be attractive.

•When you are ready to bring another pet into your life, it may be better to get a different breed. The new pet will never replace the one that you lost. It will have its own unique personality and you will enjoy the bonding process more if you are not comparing it to your previous pet.

For additional ideas on coping with pet loss, please visit Petzurn.com

Petzurn.com – Offering ideas on coping with pet loss and supplying affordable pet urns and memory boxes.