PuppyPurse Pet Carrier

Lightweight Gingham "Country Boy" flexible PuppyPurse Pet Carrier

Swing your partner, do-si-dog! This lovely, lightweight gingham PuppyPurse puts the "country" back in the puppy. An added layer of ruffles will keep heads turning till the cows come home! So, git along, little doggies!

Unlike other carriers, PuppyPurse has flexibility all figured out. With its easily adjustable swivel straps PuppyPurse is designed to let you find the most comfortable way to carry your pup. This unique carrier allows you to interact with your pet in his or her carrier the way other carriers can't. Not only that, it is particularly suited to small breed dogs who crave the attention and work so well with this flexible design.

Easter Eggs Dog Sweater

Your Poochy will be the Best in Show this Easter wearing this confection. Hand-knitted yellow sweater with green fluffy fringe. Pastel Easter Eggs are separately hand-crocheted, then beaded with small pearl beads. An amazing work of art, sure to please!

Xylitol sweetener is toxic for dogs

A sugar substitute found in a variety of sugar-free and dietetic cookies, mints and chewing gum is proving highly toxic, even fatal, to snack-snatching dogs.

Xylitol, popular in Europe for decades but a relative newcomer to the U.S. alternative-sweeteners market, can be "very, very serious" to dogs when ingested, says Dana Farbman, spokeswoman for the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"It doesn't take a whole lot (of xylitol), and the effects are so rapid that the window of opportunity to treat the dog is extremely small," Farbman says.

The ASPCA sent an advisory to veterinarians last August warning them about the potential for serious harm or death. Veterinarians have used a variety of means to get the word out, including posting signs in their offices and making copies of the bulletin for clients to augment the caution the ASPCA has posted on its website.

Symptoms To Look Out For In Pets Following Food Recall

There is still plenty of concern for pet owners following the dog and cat food recall by Menu Foods.

The company says a number of cats and dogs have suffered kidney failure after eating its products. And about ten of them have died. So, how do you know if your pet is sick? Pitt County veterinarian Dennis Johnson says dogs or cats that have eaten the tainted food will show symptoms like tiredness, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea.

For more information on product codes, descriptions and production dates,GO here. --> http://www.menufoods.com/recall

What's in a Can of Dog Food?

A pet-food manufacturer recalled 60 million units over the weekend after at least nine cats and a dog died of kidney failure. No one has identified the source of the contamination, but the company said the recalled products included a suspect batch of wheat gluten.

What else goes into pet food?

Thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—which oversees the pet-food industry with the advice of the Association of American Feed Control Officials—the list of ingredients on a tin of dog chow gives you a general sense of what's inside. But pet-food companies manipulate the order of the list such that meat (and meat byproducts) appear first, even when other ingredients are used in larger quantities.

Savannah Cats & Safari Cats

Savannah Cats

A cross resulting from the breeding of an African Serval and a domestic cat has recently resulted in the replication of the striking coat pattern and body structure of the Serval.

Savannahs are smaller (up to 32 pounds) and more manageable than Servals, but are the largest hybrid feline available today. Savannahs are the newest breed of cat available.

Prices for pets are as follows:

• F1 (75% Serval) $6,000 - $7,000
• F1 (50% Serval) $6,000 - $7,000
• F2 (25% Serval) $2,500 - $4,000
• F3 (12.5% Serval) $1,500 - $3,000
• F4 & F5 $2,000 - $5,000

Safari Cats

The Safari cat is a hybrid of the South American Geoffroys cat. The Safari is an unusual animal that provides the look of the wild with the affection rarely found in the sweetest domestic.

Some of the first Safaris were bred in the early 1970’s. A limited number were produced for pets and a few were produced for use in Leukemia research by Washington State University.

Average prices for Safaris are as follows:

• F1 (50%) $6,000 - $8,500
• Males are sold as pets only due to sterility

"Toygers" Breed Conservation Awareness, Animal-Rescue Concerns

Jenifer Santee always dreamed of owning a tiger.

But knowing that wild creatures should not be kept as house pets, she did the next best thing: She joined a small group of cat breeders working to create a fully domesticated look-a-like of the largest member of the feline family.

"It's a designer cat that was bred specifically to preserve the beauty of an exotic animal," said Santee, of the SanteePride Cattery in Manteno, Illinois.

Dubbed toygers, for toy tigers, these playful, black-striped felines have been registered as a breed with the International Cat Association (TICA) since 1993. (see photos of toygers vs. tigers --> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/photogalleries/cats-toygers/index.html)


Santee is among 25 breeders worldwide working on perfecting the pedigreed cat. So far, 360 toygers—each valued at upward of $3,000 (U.S.)—have been registered with TICA.

And starting this May toygers will join more familiar breeds—including Abyssinians, Persians, and Russian blues—that can be judged as championship cats at TICA-sponsored cat shows.

Public demand for the tiny tiger replica is "overwhelming," Santee said, and has likely been fueled by recent national media attention on the breed's progress.

Hippity Hoppity (bunny parade)

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail,

Hippity hoppity,

Easter's on its way

Got your bunny ears on?

Let's start the bunny hop ...


found here --> http://www.theeagle.com/community/032105pawrade.php

from flickr, by basykes --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/basykes

found here --> http://fogcity.blogs.com/photos/haute_dogs/index.html

from flickr, by Doxieone --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/doxieone

found here --> http://inwiththenew.typepad.com/weblog/dog/index.html

from flickr, by msmaria --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmaria

found here --> http://www.liberalconspiracy.com/BArchives/2004_04_04_barchive.html

found here --> http://rulingcatsanddogs.com/funny-pet-stuff-pet-wallpapers-2.htm

found here --> http://threetimeloser.typepad.com/three_time_loser

from flickr, by Cynr --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/cynr

found here --> http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/0408ar-parade0408Z14.html

from flickr, by Happy.Phantom --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwehler

found here --> http://dess4brats.blogspot.com

found here --> http://www.xanga.com/weezpops

found here --> http://www.lazydoginn.com/Photo_Contest_2005.htm

found here --> http://beardie.net/hobo/media/media2.htm

from flickr, by kentkb --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/kentkb

from flickr, by Tigole Bitties --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/21206761@N00

found here --> http://www.straydog.org/Month200404/20040413DogLog.html

found here --> http://www.aphids.com/stan/index.php

fround here --> http://www.drinkatwork.com

Fairy Princess Costume

Highly-detailed, high-quality Fairy Princess Costumes are perfect for trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, or photos.

All costumes feature Velcro® closures for easy-on/easy-off dressing, and are available in an array of sizes to suit any dog. Coordinating headwear features an elastic band for a comfortable fit. Wipe Clean with a damp cloth.

Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich'

Debbie Parkhurst poses with her dog, Toby, in Calvert, Md., Monday, March 26, 2007. Parker claims the 2-year-old golden retriever saved her life Friday by performing a doggy version of the Heimlich maneuver, knocking her to the ground and jumping on her chest to dislodge a piece of apple stuck in her windpipe.

(AP Photo/Cecil Whig, Adelma Gregory-Bunnell)

Bloodhounds on the trail to extinction

For generations the bloodhound has been a faithful friend. Now, however, it is being pushed to the brink of extinction, by a celebrity-led trend for new crossbreeds.

It is one of a number of traditional breeds fighting for survival as owners opt for toy dogs such as labradoodles and puggles.

New figures for the number of pedigree pups born have alarmed breeders as they show 24 breeds below the benchmark deemed viable for a healthy long-term population.

The Skye and Glen of Imaal terriers, the field spaniel and the smooth collie are among them.

"It all seems to be about fashion," said Julien Barney, of the British and Irish Dog Breeds Preservation Trust. "But the breeds that need help are the rare ones that are just as unusual."

Breeders reckon that a birthrate of 300 puppies a year is needed to guarantee a large gene pool and a long term, healthy population, but 10 breeds had less than 100 puppies in the last year.

The lowest birth rate was among Glen of Imaal terriers, which had 41 puppies, while 51 otterhounds were born.

Pets in America: The Story of Our Lives with Animals at Home

Americans are passionate about their pets, so much so that two-thirds of American households own at least one animal. "Pets in America: The Story of Our Lives with Animals at Home,” on view at the National Heritage Museum March 31 through October 14, 2007, is a charming and informative exhibition exploring our relationships with the furry, feathered, and sometimes scaly creatures we hold dear.

"Pets in America” will feature more than 200 objects and photographs including pet portraits from the 1800s, a dog treadmill from the 1890s, early veterinary medicines, vintage pet food packaging, antique collars, birdcages, aquariums, and print ads. The objects are drawn from public and private collections across the nation. The exhibition explores American love of the company of animals, and how this relationship has changed as our country and culture have evolved.

The exhibition also has a companion web site, which provides a virtual tour. It can be accessed at www.PetsinAmerica.org.

Something to smile about

At www.mypetsmiles.com pet owners can enter to win a three-day, two-night spa getaway for them and a guest. All it takes is a quick registration and a picture of your dog or cat "smiling"

Pets get in on the fun also by winning a three-day, two-night stay at a pet hotel.

Not everyone's pets are warm and fuzzy

Robert and Beth Hall of Sheboygan don't have your run-of-the-mill house pets.

Among their menagerie of reptiles and invertebrates are 38 snakes, including a 17-foot Burmese python, along with two alligators, a tarantula, 16 scorpions, a green iguana, an Australian tegu, a Nile monitor and three tortoises, one weighing 50 pounds.

"We first started out with the tarantulas because they do take up less space," Beth Hall, 23, said. "Then, our first few reptiles that we had, we had a green iguana and a bearded dragon."

The Halls got more animals as people learned about the animals they had.

"Then, they were like, 'Oh, I can't keep my snake anymore. Do you mind if I drop it off at your house?'" Beth said.

Dog Saves Elderly Woman

Mary Hartman, 91, slipped on a patch of ice as she was attempting to deliver cookies to a nearby neighbor.

Hartman called for help, but it was a cry that only neighbor Judy Sawatzki's Jack Russell terrier mix, Taz, could hear.

"He would run to the window and come back to me," Sawatzki said. "He would whine and bark, and then go back to the window again."

That's when Sawatzki let Taz outside, and the terrier mix shot down the driveway barking for her to follow. Taz led her to Hartman, who was crying for help on the icy driveway.

How Much is that Designer Doggie?

Conde Nast Portfolio.com reports that the biggest trend in pets isn’t purebreds, but specially created hybrids.

For example, this puppy is a Kimola (American Eskimo dog and Lhasa apso.)


Isn't he cute?

We used to call these dogs "mutts" and get them at Animal Welfare for a minimal cost.

Times are changing.

Wow! That's a lot of puppies

Had all of the 21 puppies in Great Dane Kenya's litter lived, she would have broken the existing record of 20 surviving puppies in a single litter.

Nineteen newborn puppies still make for a lot of feeding and care, so Kenya is receiving some assistance. Half the puppies nurse on Kenya and the rest feed on formula in baby bottles. Then they rotate.

Kenya's owner, Julie Nelson, plans to sell all of the pups, probably for $1,000 to $1,200 each, although she said a couple of them may be sold for more because their markings are so good.

Adorable baby bats - honestly - snuggled in wool at animal shelter

Wrapped up in their tiny blankets, the bundles of woe pictured below are surviving on the milk of human kindness.

The orphaned baby fruit bats are being raised at a rescue centre after a plague of poisonous ticks swept through their colony.

Used to snuggling up to their mothers, they need to be kept warm and are fed through teats with a sugary liquid full of nutrients.

Scroll down for more...

Saviour: Helen Darbelly, a helper at the rescue centre, making sure her little bundles are kept warm and fed

Normally adults carry their baby on their back but as those which have been infected slowly die, the youngsters, with no mother to feed them, also perish.

"We walk around the bat colony in the Bush every day and you can hear the young bats crying for their mothers," said Jenny Maclean, who runs the rescue centre on the Atherton Tablelands in northern Queensland.

Orphans: Baby bats whose colony has been destroyed by poisonous ticks are being raised in a sanctuary. The teats used to feed them are top right