My Friendly Pets

In Colorado, a dog was found alive in a mass of rubble that was a result of a massive explosion which critically injured his owner. The dog was found 8 days after the explosion occured. Lulu is a Springer spaniel. She was with her owner, Brian Mislanski, when a huge explosion rocked the building where Lulu and Mislanski were house sitting for friends whose apartment was located above their business called Good Times Adventures. Good Times Adventures is a business that deals with snowmobiling and dog- sledding.

Brian Hold, one of the owners of the business was going through the debris and rubble on Sunday and thought he heard whimpering. Then he turned off the radio and called Lulu’s name. Lulu responded with some really strong yelping. It took about 45 minutes of digging through some of the 6000 square feet of debris to find Lulu in a crawl space, covered by 15 feet of rubble.

Mislanski, still in the hospital recovering from his critical injuries was able to see Lulu the other day when friends who are now caring for the dog, brought her to the hospital. Mislanski was glad the dog was saved and I’m sure the visit was good for both dog and owner alike.

Lulu has basically survived through a miracle. Shortly after her rescue she was taken to a local vet to be examined and treated for potential injuries. Surprisingly, the dog only suffered from mild dehydration and some trauma to her left eye. It is believed by the vet that Lulu survived by eating melting snow (remember, this happened in Colorado) and eating food scraps that she may have come across in the rubble. The fact that the dog wasn’t crushed is a true miraculous feat.

I’m sure this is one experience neither Brian Mislanski or Lulu will forget for a long time to come. The explosion is still under investigation, but is most likely accidental according to local fire officials.

For a great laugh, check out The Office on Thursday nights. For some great info on the show, check out the blog about it, by clicking here.

There are many many myths about dogs out there, that probably most of us still believe. However, as a result my research I have learned to rethink many of the things that I believed to be true about our best buddies!!! Here are some..think about changing what you believe!!!

1. Dogs like only tasty foods. - Not true, in fact science has proven that dogs have very weak and undeveloped taste buds. They eat food based on the sensory information they receive from their sense of smell, not their sense of taste. I have seen dogs eat some pretty stinky stuff, so that obviously isn’t always a determining factor either.

2. Indoor dogs don’t require heartworm treatment - FALSE, FALSE, FALSE!!!!! The heartworm is caused by mosquitos and whether we like it or not, mosquitos get inside of our homes. Also, if the dog is mainly an indoor dog, they still have to go outside for a couple of reasons, and at that point they can be exposed to the mosquito bites that could ultimately cause the heartworm. Have your dog checked and insure that they receive heartworm treatment. Its painless and most dogs love it when given in “treat” form.

3. Dogs will let you know when they are sick - NO!! Obviously, dogs can’t speak to us and let us know that they aren’t “feeling well”. In fact they usually won’t let us know and will hide it as much as possible because of an innate sense of survival. If the dog appears weak and vulnerable, then he/she would be considered as prey, and with survival as the primary goal, dogs tend to hide sickness and pain for as long as they can. According to my veterinarian, dogs have a very high tolerance for pain and will only succumb when that pain becomes unbearable. It is always important to watch your dog for signs of illness or pain. Things like a lack of appetitie, lethargy, and trouble moving around should always be considered a sign to bring the dog to the vet.

There are so many more myths to cover, but I’ll come back to them. In the mean time, be happy and enjoy your pooch!!!

Since we all have a quest to feel and look better, I am inspired by an entry by fellow blogger, JM!!! Rock on and check it out!!!

Like anything else, myths about dogs begin and then multiply with each person adding their twist to the story. Lets try and dispell some of those myths today.

1. Dogs always need a large yard - If that were true, there would be no dogs located in any city. There are some dogs who need more running room than others, but for the most part, dogs want to be with us as much as possible. Remember, they are pack animals and we are their pack. If we are outside, they want to be outside. If we are inside, we can guarantee that they want to be close by. The main point being, dogs want to be with us, so when you let your dog outside, go with them; throw a ball or a frisbee or just walk around with them by your side. That’s their desire, not a 5 acre run with no one to play with.

2. Never play tug-of-war with your dog as it will make them aggressive - This is really false and if you have ever played tug-of-war with your dog, you will see that they truly enjoy it. In dog(wolf) world, this activity resembles the last stage of the hunting process. In a pack, the dogs (wolves) will pull and tug on the prey and the dog(wolf) that ends up with the prey is to assume the role of leader in the pack. This activity, as long as you win, will establish yourself as the leader of the pack, which is how you want it to be. So don’t give in to the dog so that they will “win” as they will percieve that act in the way described above and behave accordingly!

These are just two myths that most people believe. I’ll go over some others tomorrow in the hopes of changing your mind about some unique dog issues.

I came across a video this week that should all make us sit back and reflect. This video is of a woman, who has weeks (that’s right, weeks not years) to live and her greatest dream was to be able to run with her dog at a competitive challenge one last time. The video is great, but the message is better!! Be inspired each day to do the best you can…don’t get caught up in the negativity of those around you and be grateful, because each day is a gift. Please click here to see Lisa’s video

Just because Earth Day has come and gone, we shouldn’t forget our promises to stay green. Get some great global green info, by checking out a recent entry by Sandra Williams.

I don’t know how many of you have been to New York City recently, but it is a changed city in many ways from the city prior to 9/11/2001. Of course the twin towers are gone, and the memorials at ground zero are their for everyone to remember.

Many say what happened on that day should never happen again and thanks to a federal grant and dogs like Clipper, hopefully the tragedy felt by millions that day will be the last. I was down in New York City last week, specifically down in the financial district off of Wall Street. This was 1 day prior to the Pope’s arrival in New York City, and it was evident then that there was a new security initiative taking hold in the city. There were NYPD officers all over and with them, there were dogs like Clipper, shown above.

Clipper is a bomb sniffing dog. That means he has been trained to detect gun powder, commercial explosives and military explosives. Bomb sniffing dogs have long been present in international airports and other cargo transporting venues. The initiative of the New York City Police Department to use bomb sniffing dogs in the subways and other high profile areas in New York City is possible, in part due to counterterrorism funding from the federal govenment. The dogs to be used in Operation TORCH will not only be used in the subways, but in and near other NYC landmarks such as, Grand Central Terminal, Herald Square, and Times Square.

Many of the dogs that are used for bomb sniffing, ironically enough are not from this country. Most are European bred as Europeans breed a much better quality of working dogs than what appears to be bred in the United States. That is the basic opinion of many bomb sniffing dog trainers. The temperament, attitude and ability to do the work all contributes to a dog being chosen for this very special task.

For our continued safety, we thank those hard working dogs and those who share their jobs!!!

As an exercise slacker (I try, but most times unsuccessfully), I found a fellow blogger’s entry very inspiring…check it out!!

Every once in a while we have to do something that just makes us feel good. No other reason is needed. We want something that makes us smile and doesn’t require us to think too hard. Well, I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I look for this.

I think I found a site that will do that for just about everyone. The site is called Pet of the Day and can be seen by clicking here. We all think our pets are special and believe they are better than others. Well, this site is here to let everyone know that your pet can be special.

You first have to nominate your pet, which means sending a variety of information into the website. When nominating your pet, they want you to include a good, clear photo of your pet, my preference are the dogs, but they say you can nominate any type of pet. You also are supposed to include the pet’s name, age, breed, location where you live and say something special about the pet you’re nominating. Does it sound corny? It sure does, but why does everything have to be logical and have a significant purpose? Why can’t something simply be done for the joy of doing it and sharing the joy with others?

The picture above is today’s winning nomination. Lex is an 18 month old male dachshund (long haired minature) from Ontario Canada. Who ever nominated Lex obviously loves the dog very much. They talk about what a special place Lex fills in their hearts. Dachshunds have a reputation for being a bit standoffish, moody and temperamental. But Lex defies all of those stereotypes. People can then comment about the winning nomination of the day. The comments are warm and heartfelt. Its just nice to see people being treating each other with kindness and respect. Where has that gone?

If you are a Lost Fan, check out fellow blogger, LiRa, for her thoughts on the show. My daughter loves the show!!!

If you remember a prior entry about cloned dogs, you’re going to love this entry. Click here to check out the prior entry.

Seven cloned Laborador retrievers are being trained near Incheon Airport in South Korea to sniff out drugs and other negative items. Sniffing dogs need to have exceptionally an ultra sensitive sense of smell and they must be highly trainable for this dangerous and important work. Because of the difficulty in finding dogs who can do this type of work, cloning dogs with the superior tendencies is cost efficient and creates the best dogs for the job. Only about 10% - 15% of the dogs tested possess the required criteria to be a qualified sniffing dog.

The world’s first cloned puppy was created at Seoul National University in 2005 by a team of scientists. That puppy was an Afghan puppy known as Snuppy. The seven puppies born between 5-6 months ago were cloned from a skilled drug sniffing dog who is still on the job.

All of the puppies, named Toppy, are undergoing various types of physical as well as temperament testing along with the training they are receiving. According to their trainer, “They have a superior nature. They are active and excel in accepting the training,” said Kim Nak-seung, a trainer at the Customs Service-affiliated dog training center. If the dogs continue with their successful training and positive testing results, it is possible that these puppies could begin work as “expert sniffers” as early as this coming July.

In addition to being able to produce dogs that are genetically superior for this type of work, the cost of cloning these dogs is less than it would be to find, test and finally train other dogs. Only about 3 out of 10 dogs who are chosen and trained at a cost of about $40,000 each actually end up qualifying to serve as “sniffing dogs”.

The dogs will be watched and monitored along with their training, because in actuality, they are still experiments in progress. This is a scary and fascinating field of study. Only time will tell the true advantages and consequences of this scientific method.

There are true heroic stories of the dogs who love their families and the lengths they will go to save those they love, sometimes at the risk of losing their own.

Jamie Hanson of Wisconson lost her leg in an automobile accident in 2003. Her dog, who was trained to help the disabled woman, saved her life. In October 2006, Hanson’s cat was jumping over some furniture and knocked over a candle. A fire soon erupted and Jesse, Jamie’s dog that she had for 13 years retrieved the woman’s artificial leg and phone so that she could escape and call 911. Upon hearing the cries of the cat still trapped in the house, Jesse returned to retrieve the cat. Neither the cat or Jesse returned and could not be saved. The true heroics of that dog is magnificent.

Lassie, a collie owned by Robert and Elsie Whitson, woke them up in March of last year by licking and nibbling at their hands to alert them of a fire in their home. The Whitsons, both in their 80’s escaped out of the house located north of Indianapolis and believed that Lassie had as well. But the remains of this hero was found later by firemen under debris from a collapsed roof caused by the fire.

Also in March of last year, in Calvert, Md., a two year old golden retreiver named Toby saved the life of his 45 year old owner, Debbie Parkhurst by performing a modified Heimlich maneuver. Ms. Parkhurst was eating an apple when a piece got lodged in her throat. She tried to perform the Heimlich on herself, and it wasn’t working. When Toby noticed his owner’s distress he jumped on Debbie’s chest similar to the way she had beaten on it herself. The apple dislodged and Toby, thankful as he was, continued to lick Debbie’s face so that she wouldn’t pass out. In the Heimlich maneuver, the force used can sometimes be strong. Evidence of that is located on Debbie’s chest where she says she has black and blue paw prints. Check it out more here by watching the video.

These are just some of the amazing stories of dogs saving peoples’ lives. But we know our dogs are heros in our lives every day.

Along with my blog writing, I also teach business managment courses part-time. One of the most interesting topics to explore is leadership. A new interview in a fellow blogger’s (Brian McNeany) entry has some great information. Check it out.

Most dogs were originally bred to work and serve their human masters. Over years and generations, dogs have assumed more of a domestic, less job related role in our lives. They are our companions, friends, and confidantes (you never have to worry about them telling your secrets). Some of the most popular working dogs were herders, who helped to keep herds of sheep, goats or cows together so that many just didn’t wander off and become lost.

Those herding dogs rarely lose their inate desire to herd and now there is a places where they can excercise their breed specific qualities while also getting out into some wide open spaces. There is such a place located about 1 hour outside of Los Angeles where dogs can run and play and herd, known as Drummond Ranch. The ranch, facilities and training are part of a trend that allows dogs to be what they are by nature and to get away from the leash and fences that most are used to. According to the ranch owner, it does wonders for the dogs, “It really, really seems to center the dog and give the dog a sense of confidence and fulfillment, a good assertiveness, a good energy,� said ranch owner Janna Duncan, who has taught dozens of canines and their owners the art of moving livestock.

According to the American Kennel Club, these types of herding clubs and establishments are popping up all over the country. It is estimated that more than200 herding clubs held competitions last year where over 10,000 dogs participated. This was a significant increase over 2006. With today’s busy lifestyles, owner don’t necessarily have the time or ability to allow their dog to exercise freely and do what they were born to do. These herding clubs serve that purpose to perfection. Owners are amazed when they see their dogs jump right in and begin to herd the livestock. They are proud and surprised to observe the skills that they never realized their dogs possessed.

Many dog owners have used this training and exercise rountine successfully with their dogs have been through several trainers and were deemed hopeless. The dogs aren’t hopeless, they were just not meant to sit home day in and day out waiting for someone to take them for a walk. They were bred to work and run and that’s what they want to do. Dogs who are determined to be trained through this method demonstrate significant benefits for the dogs and owners alike and it truly is a minor investment. On the Drummond Ranch, a four week training series is only $165.00. For more information, check out the American Kennel Club website.

Hey, do you have a spring headache? Is it allergies or sinus? Learn more by checking out a fellow blogger!!!

Snickers is an 8 month old Cocker Spainiel who has seen more of Pacific Ocean than many of us see in a lifetime. But now he is bound for the U.S. once again after being left on Fanning Island, a small island about 1000 miles south of Hawaii for over 3 months.

Jerry and Darla Merrow set sail many months ago in their 48 foot catamaran with their dog Snickers and their macaw named Gulliver travelling with them. However, somewhere along the line, they developed mast problems with their sailboat and had to “abandon ship”. They did so with their dog and bird in tow. They all ended up on Fanning Island, but the Merrows were later picked up by a cargo ship. The dog and the bird were left in the care of islanders.

However, last month Robbie Coleman, was good enough to let people know, via a boating journal ,that the two animals were going to be destroyed. Coleman and his wife are sailboat owners who often sail around Fanning Island. Bad news travels fast and there were many sympathetic to the plight of these animals. Retired Las Vegas resident Jack Joslin was ready to adopt both animals.

Some great Norweigan Cruise Line workers rescued Snickers on April 9th and delivered him to Ohau Island in Hawaii. He will remain there in quarantine until he is flown to Los Angeles, free of charge thanks to Hawaiian Airlines. It appears that there are many people pulling for this dog!!! The Hawaiian Humane Society has provided Snickers with a pet carrier, flea treatment and food.

It shouldn’t be long before Joslin will be united with Snickers. Various people have tried to contact the Merrows, but they seemed to have moved on with their lives without either Snickers or Gulliver. No one who has tried has been able to contact the original owners of these animals.

Joslin also hopes to adopt Gulliver, but he says that will prove a bit more difficult than it was with Snickers. There are only two ports in the U.S. that actually accept exotic birds and the birds are quarantined for a longer period of time due to the possibility of disease. This doesn’t seem to deter Jack Joslin. He feels this way “Snickers is going to live with me, I hope, for a long time, and we’re trying like hell to get the bird back here.” Hurray for Snickers and Gulliver!!! Another great rescue.

For another great rescue check out this entry!!!

Now the title of this entry might be a little scary, but it originates from one of those hard to believe stories. Ken Griggs took his dog, a black Lab named Callie to the Tail Wag-Inn Kennel when they went away over spring break. When he returned, he went to the kennel and brought home the dog he believed was Callie. But some unsettling things began to happen. First, Callie was well trained and had learned how to “heel”. The dog that was brought home to the Griggs couldn’t seem to respond to that command. Also, the Griggs’ cat and Callie had always been buddies, but upon arrival home, the cat just hissed at “Callie”. Ken Griggs knew something wasn’t right. He called Allison Best, the kennel owner and explained the dilema. Interestingly enough Callie shared a kennel with another Black lab during her stay named Dixie.

When the woman who owned Dixie was contacted, she said that although it seemed like her dog had undergone a personality change, she was convinced that the dog she brought home was her own.

Ken Griggs was still not convinced that the dog he had was Callie, so he took the dog to his vet and confirmed that the dog that was brought into the office was not Callie. Through xray comparisons, and other procedures that Callie had gone through, it was obvious that this dog was an “imposter”!!! With the information he now had, Ken Griggs contacted the Allison Best again and stated his case!!!

Best contacted “Dixie’s” owner and arranged for a meeting of the dogs and their families on March 31st. When the Griggs family arrived at the kennel, the waiting black lab got very excited when seeing the Griggs family. Now they knew they had found Callie. Dixie was returned to her owner and Callie went home with the Griggs. And as they say, alls well that ends well!!!

Springtime is a time of great flowers, good vegetables and better health. Check out some great health ideas with fellow blogger Brick Oneil.

We have waited soooo long for the sunshine and warmth to return to those areas that bear the burden of true winter weather. From December until March, we cringe with the thought and reality of snow and ice. When the snow melts and the trees begin to bud, all living things including ourselves and our dogs come out of semi-hibernation and begin to “bloom”. Believe it or not, your dog is as excited as you are that the spring weather has arrived.

However, there are several things to remember in keeping your dogs safe during this time of year. Dog toys and other items that may have been buried with the winter snows will now emerge from hiding. Before allowing your dog the toys, inspect them for damage as there may now be loose pieces due to the weather’s impact over the previous months. If you have any doubt about the safety of the toy, toss it. It’s not worth your dog becoming injured to save the toy.

Mother Nature is at her best now. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and the grass begins to go. Many of us are truly excited to get into our home gardening and landscaping. Please keep in mind the chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers can have severe poisonous effects on dogs. Make sure you read the labels carefully, keep your dog away from any treated areas and if at all possible, limit or elimiate your use of these toxins. Better to have your dog in good health than a perfectly coifed lawn.

Always remember that this is the season for parasites who would love nothing more than to invade your dog and make their life and health miserable. If you haven’t begun heartworm treatment, speak to your vet as soon as possible. In this discussion, bring up the topic of flea prevention and always check your dog for ticks, because dogs are able to become victims of lyme disease and could suffer terribly as a result.

So enjoy your dog and enjoy the Spring. It is a short but very sweet season indeed.

Did you know that a dog can help those who suffer from headaches. Read about it from the words of fellow blogger, Rena Sherwood.

It is a shame that we have to have a month designated to preventing animal cruelty, but in today’s day and age it is necessary.

Animal cruelty is prevelant in today’s society, probably more so than ever. The stress on people is immense today. There is always too little time and too little money and often the object of a person’s frustration is the animal that is closest to them.

There are basically two types of cruelty defined by the ASPCA. The first is type of cruelty is anytime an animal is made to suffer or feel needless pain. Many times we think of this type of cruelty as intentional, but an animal may also suffer or feel pain through needless neglect. This is also considered cruelty. The second type of cruelty is simply neglect; meaning denying the animal the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, water or appropriate medical care. Even people who have the best of intentions may be committing animal cruelty by simply having too many animals. There are stories each and every week on the news about people who lost control of the number of pets they house and often those pets are forces to live in horrible conditions that are unsanitary and unsafe. People often underestimate the amount of money that it takes to adequately care for an animal. They can’t afford decent food for the animal, so they may purchase poor quality products or simply feed the dog an entire diet of table scraps. That could eventually cause physical hardship to the dog as many of our “people foods” are unsafe for dogs to eat. Refer to a prior entry for this information by clicking here.

I think the harder cases to hear about are the cruelty cases where people do horrible mutilating things to dogs, whether it is by engaging the dog in fighting for profit, or just for the mere pleasure of seeing a living creature suffer. I have always been wary of people who were cruel to animals. My theory is that if you can be cruel to a defenseless animal, what might you do to a human? I believe the way someone treats the animals in their life is a good indication of their individual character. You can learn a lot about about a person by watching them interact with a dog or a cat.

Without trying to bring in any specific cases, as that can be very depressing, I want everyone to remember that whatever effort you can make to keep an animal safe from harm is a wonderful thing. The animals can’t necessarily thank you, but I can!!!

We have heard about many programs that train dogs to be therapy or service dogs. We have even heard of programs that use inmates to train these dogs as it appears to help in the rehabilitation process for the inmate. However, there is a new program that has started to train dogs to help wounded soldiers who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. This program is unique in that the dogs are being trained by inmates, but they are military inmates. Yes, that’s right. Military inmates who are serving time in the “brig” at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina are training dogs to help wounded marines returning home from the war. While dog training programs using civilian inmates have been in existence since 1981, it is believed that this is the first dog training program at a military base. Top commanders at the base supported the idea, because the trained dogs will be given to injured marines and because they believe that the training that the inmates perform is beneficial for their personal rehabilitation. Some of the inmates in the program that were interviewed now feel that training these dogs gives their lives in military prison focus and it also allows them to give back to their country, which they feel they have disappointed.

The dogs in this program are lucky as well. Most of them were shelter dogs and one was to be euthanized on the very day he was adopted to be a training dog. The marines that train these dogs are trained by professional dog trainers. The company that provides the civilian trainers to the inmate program is known as Carolina Canines and is owned by Rick Hairston of Wilmington N.C.. He went to officials at Camp LeJuene after he had been approached by a ladies auxiliary group of a local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. The group wanted a dog for a wounded national guardsman. Having the inmates train the dogs could provide more dogs quicker to the many soldiers who will need them, thought Hairston. The company already had a two to three year wait list for dogs as it takes about two years to properly train the dog to do all the things that an injured soldier might require. Some of the tasks that are being taught to the dogs include loading laundry into the washers and pulling it out of the dryers as well as opening the frig and pulling out a cold beer or whatever is needed by the soldier.

I think this is a great use of our military prisoners. All are winners in this program. The inmates get meaning to their lives and gain some of their self-respect that they may have lost, injured marines have a companion and helper and the dogs get love, affection and truly serve those who have served us best!!!

Check out another organization of service dogs out in California!!!

It seems as if the longer I write this blog, the tougher some of the stories get. When I get to write about the happy endings, it’s wonderful. But when I have to write the tough stories, the stories about dogs that were tortured, neglected or abandoned, it is more and more difficult. However, I know it is important to write those stories, because that is how people remember and that’s how we keep the awareness alive. And most importantly, that’s how I speak for the dogs that can’t speak for themselves.

The dog above is from a place called Dutch Creek Kennels which is located is Westmoreland, Tenn. Police have charged Brittany Bergez, owner of the dogs and kennel with animal cruelty and neglect.

This was a kennel that kept very large dogs, some mastiffs and others and they were kept in horrible, dirty and unsafe conditions. According to Sumner County sheriff’s deputies, the large dogs were locked in their pens full of feces with only 1/2 bottle of water for three dogs.

A gentleman named Michael Cummins told the deputies that he had worked for the kennels for up until about a month ago and thought the dogs were in pretty good shape, except for a couple of dogs that tried to bite him. He beleived that there was some dog fighting activity going on at the farm.

According to the deputies, some of the dogs are scarred, have matted eyes and one even has a broken leg. The dogs were removed from the barn and taken to a place where they house police canines. It is hoped that the dogs will be moved to more spacious quarters in the very near future. Right now volunteers are caring for these dogs. It is hoped that in the near future a judge will allow the dogs to be adopted. Of the 44 dogs that were removed from the barn/kennels, 19 of them are mastiffs. These dogs truly require a lot of room as they can grow to be very large.

Well, at least we know that there are now 44 dogs less that are living in such terrible conditions. We can only hope that the lives these dogs have in the future are much better that what they had experienced at the hands of Ms. Bergez. I wonder how she would feel locked in a pen filled with feces…wouldn’t that be an “just” punishment?

Check out a prior entry where I speak about the Mastiff!!!

In Stephen’s City, Virginia, Kathy and Jimmy Martin are true animal lovers, and so it appears is their Golden retriever named Honey. Honey had produced some beautiful puppies, but hadn’t had a litter in over 18 months when Jimmy brought home a stray kitten that he had found. Jimmy noticed Precious (what they named the kitten) when the kitten ran in front of his concrete truck. He also noticed that no Mom cat came running and that’s when he decided to bring the orphan kitten home.

Of course the kitten was a little confused and cried for a period of time upon arrival at the Martin’s residence. In an effort to comfort the kitten, Kathy said that Honey began licking and loving the kitten. Well, within a few short days, Honey began to naturally lactate. Precious had no problem taking the milk from Honey and so she nursed the small kitten as if it was her own.

This was a welcomed relief for the Martin family. Precious wouldn’t take milk from a bottle and the family was concerned that Precious would die without proper nutrition. At first when Jimmy brought Precious home, they attempted to keep Honey and Precious separated. With the delicate condition of a kitten, they thought that perhaps Honey would play a bit to hard and injure the kitten. Honey would try whenever she could to get a sneak peek of the kitten. Eventually, the Martins allowed the two to meet and Honey was thrilled with the new Martin family member.

According to a vet that the Martins spoke with, interspecies nursing does occur, but it is a rare occurence. Recently however I came across a picture of a piglet being nursed by a dachshund. The piglet’s mom couldn’t take care of him, but the dachshund did and keeps this pink little “pup” especially clean. Mother nature is a wonderful thing, isn’t she!!!!

Watching tv for a good cause is always encouraged. Check out the Jon Stewart show on Sunday, where he will be hosting a “night of too many stars” This show was developed to raise autism awareness and funds to help organizations that work with those who have autism. Check out the blog by Winnie McCarthy for more info.