I have the delightful July, chi pom mix that Sassy rescued...my constant companion, and the best dog I ever met....

We have a wonderful cat, Balor, who is now just over 11 years old and a really fun and entertaining Green Cheek Conure, Jasper, who is really chatty and who we spend a lot of time with. Both are very much members of the family, right along with Sparx, me, and the man-children.

A slight Swerve on Topic...
 

I'm curious. Does anyone here believe that four footed life is as valuable as the two legged variety? If you could save an unknown human being or a strange cat or dog about to be hit by a car (but not both), which would you snatch out of harm's way?

Anyone a vegan or vegetarian solely because of a reverence for all sentient beings? (Anyone eat only freely fallen fruit so as to avoid causing pain to the tree or bush?)

I love animals and, truthfully, I'd try to rescue the human first -- well, perhaps with the exception of a couple of individuals that I know, but I digress.....

[QUOTE=Jude;222649]I'm curious. Does anyone here believe that four footed life is as valuable as the two legged variety? If you could save an unknown human being or a strange cat or dog about to be hit by a car (but not both), which would you snatch out of harm's way?

I don't know about the unknown situation here, but I would snatch my furkid out of harms way before I would my Ex. *pops popcorn*

In as much as its gonna make ppl cringe, all our pups favor cheap stuff. Store brand of the "Kibbles & Bits".

Max will pick thru and find the "white bites" (I have no idea what flavor they are) while Scooter has this really silly game of taking one piece at a time, running to the LR to eat it and then going back for another piece. It takes him hours to eat one meal.

Since Max has lost most of his teeth, we have added more of the soft, burger looking food. We call it "sprinkles" and you haven't seen excitement until you see him doing his lil sprinkle dance when he hears the cellophane wrapper.

We have tried most of the expensive, "healthier" foods and well, our dogs just don't like them. Taste of the Wild, Science Diet, Royal Canin... might as well been Alpo. Gravy Train is one of their favs, but with schnauzer beards, it was nixed pretty quickly because they LOVE to use the back of Jess' pants legs to wipe their beards! LOL

If you really wanna know the secret, Jess is probably a better authority. We lost our black lab, Shelby, just a year ago, and she was 19. Jess knows how to grow 'em old!

I love me some cats.
 

We have two cats, Ember and Max. Both are tabbies - Ember is an orange classic and Max is a gray mackerel. Ember is (or was) the alpha of the house until we brought Max home, who from day one, attempts to claim alpha authority. Some days Ember's in charge and other days it seems like Max is -- so maybe they've come to some sort of alpha schedule. *shrug* It's pretty amusing. We brought Max home from an animal shelter shortly after my second cat of 17 years passed away in April.

Our cats are our kids. They're spoiled and sometimes rotten little buggers, but we couldn't imagine not having a fur baby in the house. I used to have dogs when I was growing up - but we don't have the time nor the inclination to care for dogs. I am an animal lover of all kinds though (warm blooded, thankyouverymuch).

To answer Jude's question about which one I would save -- it would be a hard call honestly - but naturally I would lean toward the human. If I could save both, I would sure as hell damn try. :)

We have 3 dogs in our Pack and all are adoptions/rescues. Shadow came from the Metro Nashville dog pound,Brando came from a Wal-Mart parking lot and Bailey came from a family whose children had no concept of being kind to a dog. They are all such unique canine spirits and we LOVE them as unconditionally as they love us. I can't imagine a world or a life without dogs in it. The few times in my life I have not had a dog at my side,I have always been a surrogate dog Uncle to my friends' dogs. There is nothing quite like the joy they show EVERY time they see you! The rest of the world may have no use for you at times,but your dogs always think you are the greatest thing since bacon!

Well, of course they like the cheap, processed stuff....just like us humans...tastes much better! :D

So, Jess, what is the secret, if not food? Exercise? Or is it just lots of love?

Thanks for the responses.

Make sure you clip those back nails every couple days because the tips get sharp again that quickly. The gauze sound like a good idea, but use tape after that. Oh and try half a Benadryl a day because the ripping out may be due to itching from the healing process. Like allergies that make them scratch, Benadryl stops that and will slow him down some. I have a country vet that is more interested in helping animal owners than getting rich, so she's showed us a lot of easy inexpensive fixes with our rescues.

Here's a list of common household meds and the dosages for cats and dogs.

http://www.diamondpaws.com/health/drugs.htm

We do give our pups OTC benadryl and it works like a charm!

First off, I do apologize for not answering sooner, I wasn't aware there was a question for me...


I've had very different experience...
Ferrets are litterbox trainable, but..You have to be determined and patient.It's not that they don't grasp the concept, it's more on the "Well, since I'm here, and my potty spot's over there...", like a kid going thru potty-training {toilet's too far, and i have a diaper}
Your daughters mistake, no offense, is placing a litterbox in all those corners..
The moment they "miss", that spot is marked as 'toilet', I would recommend immediately cleaning, and a slight scrub with a good dish soap + apple cider vinegar.
My ferrets are "housetrained", but, from time to time when they're free-roaming, I have to catch 'em before they do their business, and park 'em in the Cage.
Healthy ferrets do give very visible signs that they're gonna poop/pee...
Pay attention, watch for the following
- Ferret finds random corner, sniffs corner, hangs around corner, gets skittish, walks briefly away + stops and walks backward, raises tail, takes position of a posing ballerina, semi-squat with tail out of way, all prim and proper-
I usually catch 'em when they start walking backward, yeah, they'll scowl, after all, they wanna poop and return to playing.
Once in the cage, after they get over the temporary pissed off mode, they run to their box..

On the food part, I do agree...
My ferrets are given a decent mix of premium Ferret food, and treats...And no, it's not just pat myself on the back..The food I give them meets their dietary needs of protein, fat, etc...
But, I have to shoo them away from the dogs bowl if it's still on the ground when they're free-roaming..
From time to time, I'll take 'em both back to their Cage while lecturing them
"I give u the best food on the market, and u want that greasy truck stop cheeseburger version of animal food..U hungry? Go eat your own food" and I leave them in until they finish pickin their food...
Doesn't work much...
They still hunt for the Pedigree....

I used to feed my dog Innova EVO RM, and Natural Balance Ultra Premium, my brother feeds his dog whatever he can grab that won't destroy his wallet that week.
Usually it's Pedigree...Sometimes it's Ol'Roy...
And it does baffle me...
-"You're telling me that dog gets "sick" from a food that is geared towards sensitive stomach canines....and he's fine with Ol'Roy?"
-"Yup"....

My cat also got the Feline version of Innova + Natural Balance...
But then, I suppose if the animal copes better with supermarket foods, then, by all means, give 'em their yummies.

I'm a Pescetarian, mostly because I do need animal protein...
Otherwise, I'd be Vegan for humanitarian reasons..
I don't eat "free-fallen" fruit mostly because when a Fruit falls, it's likely to be Rotten, or with bugs...
I *do* eat "Organic"...

Re Housebroken Ferrets and Freely Fallen Fruit and boy newly hatched chicks
 

Rook, thanks much for all the ferret information. I'll pass it on to my daughter, but doubt she's going to make the effort. That's why, adorable as they are, they're not invited to my house :-)

I'm with you on the veggies. Admittedly, have convinced myself that chicken grows in cellophane packages. Gave up the red meat long ago.

Thanks again for your ferret info.
Judith

Re Housebroken Ferrets and Freely Fallen Fruit
 

Rook, thanks much for all the ferret information. I'll pass it on to my daughter, but doubt she's going to make the effort. That's why, adorable as they are, they're not invited to my house :-)

I'm with you on the veggies. Admittedly, have convinced myself that chicken grows in cellophane packages. Gave up the red meat long ago.

Thanks again for your ferret info.
Judith

Male Baby Chicks
 

Something brought to my attention yesterday. Thought I'd post it here and see if anyone from down on the farm has the authentic scoop on this one....

All of the chicken we buy in the supermarket is from female chickens? Right? When the eggs hatch, do they routinely kill all the new male baby chicks that are going to grow up to be roosters and keep just a couple for fertilization?

Know capons are very fancy male emasculated roosters that are supposed to be extremely succulent and wildly expensive. Trying to envision someone taking the time to do a vasectomy on a young rooster.

Now, what about bulls? Red meat eaters buy hamburger and it's always from a cow, isn't it? Never saw a package of cellophane wrapped bull. So, do all baby male cows become veal at birth, except those kept on hand for their seed?

Anyone with first hand farm knowledge???

No idea about sheep, but now I'm wondering if lamb chops are all little boys and cheaper mutton is the mama.

I grew up on a farm, we didn't castrate any roosters, however when they were of a certain age, and not required for their procreative abilities, we butchered them and ate them. Hens that were poor layers or not needed were also butchered. Old hens were butchered and they were not fryers but stewers. I don't know how the big corporate chicken outfits handle this. Most of the beef sold in stores comes from steers, bulls that were castrated at an early age, and raised specifically for the table. The meat from old bulls and old cows is quite often mixed with into hamburger from younger animals. Cows are usually kept as baby making machines, one bull can easily service 500 cows. The demand for veal is minute compared to the productivity of the beef industry. Sheep is similar to the beef industry; mutton is an older ewe, comparable to a stewing hen.

We didn't name something, we intended to eat.

I used to have a pet rooster...
I was a kid, though...
He was an Easter gift {dyed purple}, nowadays I know that's a rather cruel action, but, to kids from poor residences, it's the closest to Nintendo.
After he molted the last of the Dye, he turned out quite "handsome"...
Beautiful tail feathers, my neighbors kept sayin' I should train him for cockfighting and get some money out of it..
At the time, I didn't even know how that was done, my closest neighbor, Cheo, would give tips...
"keep him away from other roosters, don't breed him, feed him well until the day before..and always use long spurs"
I got my first taste at 13, I managed to win 6 bets in a row..after the 6th, my so-called bookie said 'no more, they'll think she's got insider information'
Sooo, I sat ringside, and saw how they fought...
When the round was done, I think I turned green from nausea at the thought of my pet being the Loser {They think it's humaine to snap the Loser's neck}.
I did ask on the way to the car what was the end result..
My neighbor shrugged and said "Probably a good stew the next evening"
I thought of that while they tried on some rather sharp spurs for "Don Quixote", and I told 'em to take it off, when he started squawking and making a fuss...
They did protest and I waved it off with "he's my rooster, go away"
yeah, I would walk him -smirk-
Small cushioned string to his leg, i let him strut while I bought candy from an elderly neighborhood lady...
Eventually, landlord said to get rid of him, something about Policy and city codes.
My uncle said he had a farm that could use a Rooster.
I was young, not stupid...
I would visit, and ask for him, and they'd stutter..
"he's busy....there's a cute hen he likes, let's not disturb"
-snort-
For quite some time I didnt talk to them..
Recently he asked "you're still mad at me over that damn rooster?"

I think this is the closest possible pic resembling him..Quixote's "Crown" was a bit more prominent :vigil:
http://images01.olx.com.ec/ui/1/94/84/8999084_19.jpg

___________________

Thanks Liam. Going to pass this one on to my daughter who has recently announced her intention to become a "vegan" (no milk products or eggs). She heard that all the baby boy chicks were slaughtered upon hatching and didn't want to be a participant in the massacre.

Just hearing about old bull and cow being mixed in with young ground meat kind of diminishes any lingering fondness for the old fashioned hamburger.

Whole different life on the farm. Imagine not naming your critters because they're going to end up on the dinner plate! When I've been overseas in third world countries, I've never become accustomed to the casual practice of selling chickens on the road - chopping off their heads at the "check out".

Moving closer and closer back to 100% vegetarian myself.

Thanks, Liam, for the info. Any more stories down on the farm? :mohawk:

I really want birds and tropical again. My cats are the problem with birds. but, my silly dog loves to watch both fish and turtles (sometimes birds) at the pet store. I put him up on a cart so he can see them and he just stares quietly following the fish in the tank.

When I am out at the bay with him during shore bird feeding, he is a little conservationist. Sits next to me just watching them. never tries to after them and is quiet. Maybe he is meditating.... pretty zen little guy.

Natura Brand
 

Hi, Folks. When looking for an old web site I wanted to post up here yesterday (which I never found), I came across some information about Natura Brand Food I think others may be interested in.

Natura Food makes Innova, Evo, California Natural, and Karma (I think that is it?), brand dog foods. In June 2010, they were sold to Proctor and Gamble.

Natura Foods has been known for their high quality dog foods for a long time.

Proctor and Gamble has a history of buying dog foods (Eukanuba, for example) and dropping the quality of the ingredients substantially. They also have a history of testing foods on their animals in not so great conditions.

Law does not require them to change the ingredients on their dog food bags for up to 6 months after changing the ingredients (and evidently, they have a history of doing this).

Subsequently, if you use any of the Natura products, you may want to consider changing, and unfortunately you cannot wait until you see the ingredient list change.

After a couple of hours of research, I have decided to change to Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck/Salmon/or Chicken.

Just an FYI for those who may use Natura products.

:dog:

I had a rescue horse with Cushings, put him to sleep a year ago last Monday, it really sucks, he was an awesome animal and had been a former buggy horse for the Amish.

One of my dogs, a Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) was going to be put down by his breeder because his ears flopped, he is now mine, cutest little booger EVER!

Thank you DapperButch for the info on the dog food :)

I want to scream! Today is one of those days that I absolutely prefer my fur-kids to people!! Time for a long dog walk to work out my aggravation with humans of the idiotic and self-serving variety!!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

:fastdraq:

I Prefer furkids over humans has been holding a solid third on the planet poll.

UGH! Just found out the pet sitter I use that stays at my home with the fur-kids is returning to Argentina. I was checking on some time I will need her for here for a surgery coming up. And I so want to make the ReUnion in the Fall and this woman is someone I really trust. Whenever I have had her take care of them, I am not certain they want to stay with me or go with her when I return!

So, I have to line up some interviews after getting some possibles. Damn! Celia has been so great and I am just a worrier when I leave them. My older cat needs needs medical stuff done, too. He's doing really well, so I have no sense of losing him before then. But, I don't want him too upset with being sick. Yet, stressing him further with boarding just doesn't feel right. He is better off at home.

Oh well, just need to get going on my hunt for someone new. I'll see if my vet has some names. Will check on my niece, perhaps. And I will be able to check someone out on a shorter term with the surgery and will only be across the Bay in SF for a few days in the hospital. Probably have to have the person come for a few days afterwards for help anyway- then I can see how everyone responds to her or him. That would feel better before taking off for at least a week in the fall.

Frog Dog got a new ball today and was one happy silly boy throwing it all over at the dog park. Totally was cracking me up. He did victory laps squeaking it as he was "killing" it.

I want to get on the Frenchie Rescue list, but right now, another pet is just not the thing to do.. phooey! I want a little companion for Frog Dog that will keep him in line! Female Frenchies tend to be bossy and that is what he needs!

Sharing my home and life is the sweetest, handsomest little Cattle Dog/ Mix His name is Bear, but I also call him Monkey Butt because he is! <grin> Bear turned two on Halloween and is my pride and joy. :) This little guy really does attract the ladies when we are out and about...but to him, not me! :|

Here is a link to his pic...
http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2103&ppuser=1312

Jesse

Three Girls
 

I have three girls, 1.) a Jack Russell (Coogee), 2.) a Basset/ Beagle mix (Uluru) and 3.) a Baby Basset Hound (Didgi). Coogee is from MA, she my little fluffy girl, Uluru was rescued from a 7 day kill in the Central Valley of CA and Didgi is my show dog! I've been showing/ tracking/ hunting her for the last three months and she's doing very well. I can honestly say that Uluru is the most incredible dog I have ever had. She's been with me for a year (10.04.2009), she's the most faithful and loving dog. She's always at my side, she protects me, and she always does as I tell her to do such as all the necessary comands to protect her. I can't imagine my life without the girls. They are all so different, yet there's a common threat of love that runs through all of them.