The Appeal of Animal Jewelry

Animal jewelry has always been popular. Even in ancient Egypt, people wore jewelry fashioned after animals like the cat and the ibis. In modern times, you see animal jewelry captured in charm bracelets and necklaces. Why is animal jewelry still popular today? Here are a few reasons to consider when you think about how appealing animal jewelry can be.

1)
Animals are nice to look at.

Who can ever get tired of watching birds fly or kittens play? Because animals are fun to look at in nature, jewelers use them in their work. People often go to nature for inspiration and then use it in their creations. Animals have a simple elegance to them that is always complementary to a nice outfit.

2)
Animal designs don�t go out of style.

Fads and trends are just that; they are here today and gone soon after. Animal designs seem to withstand all of that because they don�t change. Over the course of human existence, animals have remained in about the same state as they were when we first saw them. Polka-dots, loops, zigzags, and starburst bracelets all go out of style at some point. Animals have a degree of permanency that allows for constant design inspiration.

3)
The animal depicted in the jewelry represents the person wearing it.

My mother has a leopard lapel that she got from her mother as a birthday present. She and her family come from South Africa, so the leopard lapel reflects great significance to her roots. My mother likes to wear it on special occasions, to church, and just for fun because it reminds her of home.

Other people wear certain animal jewelry because it is a representation of them. Someone who wears a lot of dolphin jewelry might have an affinity for the ocean, freedom, playfulness, and intelligence. Someone else might like elephant jewelry because they are bold, strong, and majestic. Overall, animal jewelry can be a symbolic interpretation of the individual and an appealing display for others to observe.

About The Author

Pete McFraser

To get a sense of how varied Harris Michael Jewelry's collection of animal jewelry is, visit http://www.harrismichaeljewelry.com/animal-jewelry.html.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas

If you own a pet you will have fleas in the house from time to time. In some cases you may become infested with fleas. We have had as many as four cats at our house and we have been infested with fleas a few times. We only have two cats now so it is not as bad, but we still have to use the process I am about to tell you about.

You really don't have any control if your pet goes out of your yard, but you will need to spray your own yard about two times during the summer months with a good flea insecticide. If you kill all the fleas in your house with out killing the little pest in the yard you will continue to have a problem inside.

One of the main reasons a house will become infested with fleas is, after you vaccum your house and put the vaccum away, every flea that was in the vaccum bag will crawl right back out of the vaccum cleaner and into the house and start multiplying.

The way to stop this is to take the bag out, spray some flea insecticide in the bag and tape the hole of the bag up. Then spray the insecticide around the house. If you will repeat this process every two or three days for two weeks you will not be infested with fleas any more.

You can resume your normal schedule of vaccuming after you clear up the infestation, but you will still need to tape the vaccum bag up just in case you pet brings a couple of fleas in from outside.

About The Author

Clint Pollard is the webmaster of http://ncave.com/sites/germanshepherd.html.

Jumping Up

from David the Dogman

The ten worst excuses not to spay or neuter a pet are:

1. Just one litter and then we'll have Fluffy spayed.
   
   (Studies show that virtually the entire pet overpopulation stems from the "just one litter mentality.)
   
   
   
   
2. My dog doesn't run loose, so he doesn't need to be fixed.
   
   (Murphy's Law says otherwise.)
   
   
   
   
3. We always find homes for the kittens.
   
   (And that means that an equal number of kittens at the pound will be killed.)
   
   
   
   
4. I want the children to witness the miracle of birth.
   
   (Rent a video.)
   
   
   
   
5. My dog is so cute and unique, there should be more of her.
   
   (The shelters and pounds are full of cute and unique dogs, most with only a few days to live.)
   
   
   
   
6. It's not natural.
   
   (There hasn't been anything "natural" about dogs since we began to develop breeds thousands of years ago.)
   
   
   
   
7. I just couldn't look my dog in the eye if I had him castrated.
   
   (Watch it, you're anthropomorphiizing.)
   
   
   
   
8. A female dog or cat should have at least one litter for health reasons.
   
   (Medically, factually and ethicaly indefensible.)
   
   
   
   
9. Neutering my dog will make him fat and lazy.
   
   (Too much food and not enough exercise make a dog fat and lazy.)
   
   
   
   
10. Fixing my pet will change its personality.
    
    (The main influences on an animal's personality are the kindness and care with which it is raised.)
    

Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.



Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.



Do you have any problems with your pet? Then why not send your problem to DAVID THE DOGMAN.

David is a Canine Behaviourist who works and lives in Marbella, Spain. Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388.
His web site is located at: http://www.thedogman.net.

David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for many newspapers and magazines. David has been working with dogs for many years and started his career in Israel, working on the Border Police. He has been involved in all forms of training, including air sea rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding drugs. David has devoted the past 10 years to studying behaviour and the very passive approach. He does not use choke chains, check chains, or any form of aggression.

David The Dogman is available for private consultations in your home, for further details telephone; Tel; (95) 2883388

Diagnosing pancreatic disease in Pets

The laboratory diagnosis of pancreatic disease in dogs and cats has taken has made some significant progress in the last few years. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is now recognised in both dogs and cats and while most affected animals are young there are a number of older animals that are affected. The canine Trypsin-Like Immunoreactivity (TLI) test is both sensitive and specific for EPI and is assayed as part of the canine intestinal profile together with folate and cobalamin. Feline TLI has been shown similarly to be an excellent assay for EPI in cats, however this test is currently available only in the USA. As a result, we do not routinely include this test in the feline intestinal profile but we would recommend adding it for all cats with steathorreic faeces and for cats that are thin despite eating well where other causes have been ruled out.
The laboratory diagnosis of canine pancreatitis is complicated by the fact that amylase and lipase quickly return to normal following the onset of clinical signs � so normal results need not exclude pancreatitis. In addition, mild increases in amylase and lipase can be seen with intestinal and hepatic disease and both are affected by reduced renal function. As a result these tests are neither completely sensitive nor specific.
In cats with pancreatitis amylase and lipase are only occasionally abnormal and they are considered of little diagnostic value in this species.
Pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI) however, holds out considerably more promise for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in the dog and cat. In dogs, PLI elevations appear to persist for longer than other tests and this is now considered the best test for chronic pancreatitis. In cats with pancreatitis, PLI has been reported to be more sensitive than TLI (70% vs. 30%). This is particularly useful in cats as the clinical signs in this species are often non-specific (lethargy, anorexia, dehydration) with only 35% showing vomiting and 25% showing abdominal pain.
Currently the PLI assay is only available in the USA so the turnaround is about 10 days. It is likely however that we will be able to offer this assay more directly in future. To request PLI for dogs or cats simply indicate this on the request form (B33) and ensure that an additional 0.75 ml non-lipaemic serum is submitted.

About the Author

Nick graduated from Edinburgh Veterinary School in 1980 with an
Honours degree in Pathological Sciences and in 1982 as a Bachelor
of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. In 2003 Nick became a diplomate
of the Royal college of Pathologists in veterinary clinical pathology.

The Myth Of 100% Complete Processed Pet Food

Every day, people by the millions pour food from a package into their pet�s bowl. Day in and day out, meal after meal, pets get the same fare. This strange phenomenon is not only widely practiced, but done by loving owners who believe they are doing the right thing. Why? Certainly because it is convenient, but also because the labels state that the food is �complete and balanced,� �100% complete,� or that the food has passed various analytical and feeding test criteria. Furthermore, manufacturers and even veterinarians counsel pet owners about not feeding other foods such as table scraps because of the danger of unbalancing these modern processed nutritional marvels. The power of the message is so great that pet owners en masse do every day to their pets what they would never do to themselves or their children -offer the same processed packaged food at every meal.

Think about it: Our world is complex beyond comprehension. It is not only largely unknown; it is unknowable in the �complete� sense. In order for nutritionists and manufacturers to produce a �100% complete and balanced� pet food, they must first know 100% about nutrition. However, nutrition is not a completed science. It is, in fact, an aggregate science, which is based upon other basic sciences, such as chemistry, physics, and biology. But since no scientist would argue that everything is known in chemistry or physics or biology, how can nutritionists claim to know everything there is to know about nutrition, which is based upon these sciences? This is the logical absurdity of the �100% complete and balanced� diet claim. It is the reason a similar venture to feed babies a �100% complete� formula has turned out to be a health disaster.

Claiming that anything is 100% is like claiming perfection, total knowledge, and absolute truth. Has pet nutrition really advanced that far? Does a chemist make such a claim? A physicist? Doctor? Professor? Did Einstein, Bohr, Pasteur, Aristotle, Plato, or any of the greatest minds in human history make such claims? No. Has the science of pet nutrition advanced to the point where everything is known about the physiology, digestion and biochemistry of animals, or that everything is known about their food?

Certainly not.

The fact of the matter is that the �100% complete� claim is actually �100% complete� guesswork. At best, one could say that such a claim is the firm possibility of a definite maybe. Each time regulatory agencies convene to decide how much of which nutrients comprise �100% completeness,� debate always ensues and standards usually change. This not only proves that what they claimed before was not �100% complete,� but this should also make us highly suspicious about what they now claim to be �100% complete.�

Additionally, consider that in order to determine the minimum requirement for a certain nutrient - say protein - all other nutrients used in the feeding trials must be adequate and standardized. Otherwise, if vitamin E, for example, is in excess or is deficient, how would you know if the results of the study were because of the effects of protein or due to something amiss with the level of vitamin E?

If the minimum requirements for all 26 essential nutrients were all set and absolutely etched in stone, then there would be no problem. But they aren�t. They are constantly changing. This means each time any nutrient requirement is changed, all test results for all other nutrients using the wrong minimum for this nutrient would then be invalid. Most nutritionists simply ignore this conundrum, feeling like cowboys trying to lasso an octopus - there are just too many loose ends. But they continue to perpetuate the �100% complete� myth, and excuse themselves by saying they make adjustments when necessary.

The point is, don�t believe the claim on any commercially prepared pet (or human) food that it is �100% complete and balanced.� It is a spurious unsupported boast, intended to build consumer trust and dependence on commercial products - not create optimal health.

Adopting A Pet Pomeranian

If you are looking for a toy dog that is intelligent, curious, lively and cuddly, then the Pomeranian could be the dog for you! Before you enter into dog ownership of any breed, however, you must ask be honest with yourself about if you are ready for the commitment of money and time that it takes to be a responsible dog owner.

The first thing you must do is make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Are you ready to spend time training and grooming your Pomeranian? Is your family agreeable to the decision? Are you aware of the expense associated with responsible dog ownership and are you must insure your Pom has the appropriate veterinary care?

If your answers are yes, then all systems are go!

Before you pick out your perfect Pom, think about where you want to get him from. There are 2 basic places you can use to find a Pomeranian that suits you � A rescue organization or a Pomeranian breeder.

At a rescue organization, you will be able to find Poms that have been left homeless either to abandonment, death of owner or simply because they got lost. Some of these Poms may not have had a happy life before getting rescued and may have some problems, but there are many others that have no issues at all. You may have to wait a while before one that fits your criteria comes up, but it is a great way to give a needy animal a loving home.

If it�s a puppy you want to buy, or you plan to show the dog, you probably want to go straight to a breeder. If you do plan to buy from a breeder, make sure you use one that has the good of the breed at heart and not just trying to make a quick buck. Some things to consider when reviewing breeders are:

- Length of time in business and how many puppies they produce every year � too many may be an indication that they are more interested in money then in enhancing the breed.
- Ask if they are involved in rescue for the breed- it shows a compassion and caring for the breed.
- Make sure they know the standard for the breed.
- Find out if their breeders are registered.
- Ask if any of their dogs have been found to have genetic defects � they should not still be breeding these dogs.
- A reputable breeder will be most concerned that his puppies are going to good owners. If the breeder is grilling you about your family schedule and living environment then this is a good sign!

Once you have found your perfect pet Pomeranian, make sure you dedicate the time to proper training and grooming so that your dog can be a happy healthy companion for life!

About the Author

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.pomeranian-pages.com where you can find out everything you need to know about Pomeranians. Looking for a Pomeranian? Find out more about Pom rescue at http://www.pomeranian-pages.com/Pomeranian-Rescue.html

Barking

Dr. Kevin Nunley

USE THE MEDIA--marketing help for biz.

"Do News Releases Work?"

Invariably, when I talk with business people on-line, someone asks that question. Many of us have sent out a press release only to be greeted with silent indifference from the media. But that doesn't have to be the case. The media needs, must have, craves, can't do without a steady stream of usable news. YOU are the person that can supply the news they need. And you can get free publicity for your business at the same time.

Even better, you can email your press release to the media. That makes it much cheaper to send a release to lots of media sources

The news release is the time honored method of putting nformation before the media. This is especially true for businesses and organizations. It takes the form of a page or two detailing your message, generally slanted a bit to favor your goals. In its most basic form, the news release has your name and contact number at the top, followed by some points that will interest the media outlet.

You Gotta' Be Newsworthy!

Make sure your story is something that the reporter will agree is important. Newspapers don't like it if you send in an ad for your business to be used as a news story. Their attitude is, "Hey, if you want to advertise, call the advertising department and buy and ad." You have to cloak your message in a story that is newsworthy, a story that readers will find helpful, interesting, simulating, sad, or hopeful.

If your message seems too commercial for your local daily newspaper or TV newscast, try sending your release to a trade publication in your industry. A story that is of little interest to the general pubic will often be welcomed with open arms by a more specialized industry newsletter or e-zine.

The bottom line is this: think like the media, shape your message to fit their likes. Do that and your message has a good chance of being used. Above all, don't let up. While one media manager may not have the slightest interest in your idea, another will welcome you with open arms. The media needs piles of fresh stories everyday.

Where Do You Find the Addresses for the Media?

It used to be that you had to shuck out a few hundred bucks to buy a media guide on CD-ROM. Now that just about every media entity in the world is on-line, the process of getting accurate addresses is much easier and
cheaper.

Gebbie, a well-known guide, has jumped ahead of the pack and put their addresses and links on a well organized web site (http://www.gebbieinc.com). I recently sent a press release via e-mail to over 1000 of the radio stations Gebbie has listed and hot very good
results.

Remember, bulk mailing your press release to media is not the same as spamming individuals. Media expects to get unsolicited promotional announcements. That's the business their in.

There are also companies that will send your press release out for you, although I'm not so sure you'll get better results than the do-it-yourself method. Mostly automated press release ser

Pet Flea Control

Summary Review of Controlling Fleas and Ticks with Pets

Fleas are the most common external parasite of pets in North America. Fleas are small wingless insects that use their specialized mouth to pierce the skin and siphon blood from their host. When a flea bites, it injects a small amount of saliva into the skin to prevent the blood from coagulating. Some animals become sensitized to flea saliva and animals that are allergic can have severe itching and scratching from a single bite. Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common disease among dogs.

Current flea control products are primarily either oral or topical systemic treatments. Most of the products may be used for prevention as well as to treat existing flea problems. One group of products control fleas by interrupting their development by killing or stopping the maturation of flea larvae and eggs. These drugs are called Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs). One common oral product used is lufenuron which is found in the Program� line of products which are administered orally in tablet or liquid form. Methoprene and pyriproxifen are also IGRs that are available as sprays or collars. The FDA shares regulation of these products with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Because even the same products from other countries have not been approved by these agencies, it is illegal to purchase or import these products for use in the United States.

Currently the most popular flea control products kill adult fleas (adulticide), are applied topically and work rapidly. Popular topical products utilize fipronil which is the key ingredient in Frontline� Top Spot and imidacloprid which is in Advantage�. The most popular product on the market, Frontline Plus�, utilizes both an adulticide and an IGR. An oral adulticide that is also available is nitenpyram which is in Capstar� and begins to kill fleas in 30 minutes. Frontline Plus also kills ticks which makes it the most popular product where ongoing tick protection is required.

Consult with your veterinarian to determine which flea and tick control products are best for you. The choice of flea control will depend on your climate, environment, your pet's activities, and potential for exposure. However, with consistent use, it is almost always possible to control your flea problem. Using these products throughout the year typically will eliminate the need for regular insecticidal use. The following provide additional summary information on selected popular products.

Program from Novartis�

Program is available as a once a month pill or oral liquid suspension to be given with a full meal. Adult fleas that ingest Program's key ingredient, lufenuron, produce sterile eggs. Program does not kill adult fleas so pets remain susceptible to fleas hatching and maturing pupa already present in the environment. Therefore, some time may pass before the all fleas are killed in an environment. In order to stop the life cycle, every animal in the environment must receive lufenuron. Pets should also be sprayed with an adulticide during the first week or two of starting Program.

Advantage from Bayer�

Advantage is applied topically on both dogs and cats and seems to be very well-tolerated by sensitive cats. Advantage kills fleas within 24 hours and 100% protection can be maintained for cats for 21 days and 90% protection can be maintained for dogs for 28 days. Advantage is susceptible to washing off so dogs that are active outdoors and dogs that swim or must be bathed frequently should be re-treated frequently. Up to weekly re-treatment is allowed. The imidacloprid in Advantage does not effect ticks, but K-9Advantix, with permethrin does. K9 Advantix is only labeled for once a month K9 Advantix is ONLY FOR USE WITH DOGS and MUST NOT BE ADMINISTERED TO CATS.

Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus And Frontline Top Spot from Merial�

Frontline Spray, Frontline Plus, and Frontline Top Spot comprise the market leading Frontline flea control product line. The fipronil

Why "Doggie Breath" is nothing to joke about.

Your dogs health is important to you. You show him how important by keeping him well fed and groomed, making sure he gets plenty of exercise and providing a collection of fun, safe toys for his entertainment. You don't skimp on the quality of his food. And to reward good boys and girls, there are always lots of delicious treats in the cupboard.

But if he has bad breath, you could be overlooking a serious problem with your dogs health.

"Dog Breath" is such a common condition that we make jokes about it. Sometimes we even tease our human "friends" using "dog breath" in play-ground style name-calling ( although hopefully this is limited to teenage boys.) And I know many pet owners who comment that they love their dog or cat like a child, but just can't stand the smell of the animal's breath! Well, guess what? "Dog Breath" isn't normal.
It's estimated that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over the age of three suffer from the periodontal disease � a serious deterioration of the gums and supporting bones of the teeth. Yes, it's periodontal disease that's responsible for "dog breath". But the problem doesn't confine itself to your furry baby's mouth. It's an infection, and the tiny creatures responsible for it can break loose and enter the bloodstream. Once they do, they can infect vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, endangering your dogs health by causing a far more serious illness.The best way to insure your dogs health, especially where periodontal disease is concerned, is with prevention. It can make all the difference.�

Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, which is virtually harmless and completely treatable. If allowed to move to the next stage--Periodontitis-- it can be stopped, but not cured. And the worse it gets, the faster it progresses. This applies to all animals, two legged and four legged alike. Think of a car parked at the top of a hill. The emergency break is released, and the car begins to roll downhill. Now, if you hit the breaks right away, no harm done. But the farther the car rolls the faster it goes, and the more momentum it builds. It gets harder and harder to stop it. By the time it's halfway down the hill, you could be headed for disaster!
You can maintain your dogs health nicely with proper home care. But, like the rolling car, if disease is already present, stopping and controlling it is a bigger job.

Prevention involves, above all, regular veterinary checkups and professional cleanings beginning early in your dog or cat's life. I'll show you how you can help maintain oral health at home, but it's impossible to do a thorough cleaning on an animal who's awake. Trust me on this. It's hard enough to do a thorough job with a cooperative human patient. When we're talking about animals who don't understand what we're doing or why, forget about it.

Most veterinarians recommend annual cleanings, but more frequent or involved treatment may be needed depending on your animal's condition. Please, no matter what you're doing at home, follow the vet's recommendations. As for your part, introduce your dog or cat to the idea of having his teeth brushed as early as possible. I know, it's not easy, and it takes time and daily conditioning to get your little guy or gal used to it. But your dogs health is worth it!

So how do you prevent the most common of threats to your dogs health? Brush her teeth, of course! Every day. Just like you would your own (twice a day for you, and floss too!!). This isn't easy, but it can become an expected part of your dog's routine if you do it right. Here are some suggestions:

Start when your dog is a puppy. The earlier the better.

At first, you just want her to get used to you handling her head and looking inside her mouth. Practice lifting up her lips and looking at her teeth and gums--front, back and both sides of her mouth.

Now begin gently touching the gum tissue with your finger and rub along her gums and teeth as if your finger were a toothbrush. Let her get used to the sensation. This is

Why Contract the Services of a Professional Pet Sitter for Y

A Professional Pet Sitter provides in-home pet care while you?re away. Keeping your dog at home helps maintain his normal eating and exercising routines. It also helps minimize the stress suffered by both you and your dog. This article examines what may happen when your dog stays at a kennel and the benefits of contracting the services of a Professional Pet Sitter.

Part I: What Really Happens at the Kennel?

To better understand the benefits of hiring a professional pet sitter, let?s look at the reality of keeping your dog in a kennel while you are away. Please keep in mind that these generalizations are based on the experiences of the author and may not represent every boarding facility.

The first thing you want to consider is the care your dog will receive. In a kennel, your dog may be exposed to sick pets and parasites due to the close proximity of the boarders.

Your dog may be staying in a stacked cage with several other barking, whining, and crying dogs. This can be a stressful event for your dog, especially since he is not in his familiar surroundings in the first place.

If you have a larger dog, he will probably be in a run. The run probably has a concrete floor for easy clean up from messes. Will your dog sleep on a warm blanket or a hard floor?

When the lights go out, will he be sad because he is not in his home and does not have his family? Will his stress result in diarrhea, vomiting, or a bloody stool? Will he lose weight from refusing to eat? Believe it or not, these are common stress symptoms of boarded dogs.

You should also know that Kennel Attendants are paid at about the same rate as fast food workers. The low rate of pay contributes to high turnover and a younger workforce. Some of your kennel staff may be inexperienced and learning on your dog.

Finally, consider one more thing that happens at the kennel. Routine! Of course, it is not your dog?s routine where he gets personal attention, touch and affection, playtime, walks, and potty relief when he asks. It is the routine of the business that is followed.

Your dog will probably be let out to potty while the kennel staff freshens up his cage/run. Then, he will immediately return to his cage for his food and water where he may stay until the process is repeated in the evening.

The attention your dog gets in a boarding facility depends on several uncontrollable factors such as the number of dogs currently boarded, the experience of the staff, and the protocol established for caring for the animals. Would you rather ensure your dog receives personal attention while you are away?

Part II: How a Professional Pet Sitter Can Help

A Professional Pet Sitter provides personalized care for your dog in his own environment where he feels safe. Dogs are territorial pack animals. He understands his boundaries and position in the pack at home.

He may feel insecure, unsafe, and uncertain of his position when he is not at home. Uncertainty results in physical and emotional stress for your dog.

A Pet Sitter will ensure your dog?s normal routine is maintained. He will be able to go potty whenever he needs to go. He will be fed his normal diet plus any special treats as instructed.

Your dog will have a human contact which is extremely important for these social animals. He will continue his normal playtime routines as well as scheduled walks.

?Playing ball? is very important for some active dogs. One couldn?t expect that type of attention or commitment from a boarding facility; however, your Pet Sitter could easily toss a disc or throw a ball around the yard.

Another key benefit to your dog is a Pet Sitter can administer medications for your sick, elderly, or injured dog while you are away. They can also tend to your dog in the event of an emergency and ensure he receives the attention of your veterinarian.

While a Pet Sitter may provide light grooming assistance such as daily brushing of long-haired dogs, they may also provide pet taxi service. This means that your dog will be abl

Pit Bulls and Heartworms

Pit Bulls and Heartworms
By: je Dunn

It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your pit bull dog.

First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog�s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.

The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.

This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.

A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.

What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?

Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs� hair may become dull and brittle.

The infected dog also may tier easily.

A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.

�In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.

If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.

What Do I Do If My Pit Bulls Is Infected?

Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.

The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.

Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!

About the Author

je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: Pit Bulls
Health Tips

Preparing for Your New Pet

Getting a new pet can be a lot of fun. You can choose from a dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, rabbit, and the list goes on and on. No matter what pet you choose, you will need to outfit them with the latest and greatest in pet gear. If you shop smart, you should be able to find many of your items for cheap.

The key to getting a good deal on pet gear is to shop early. Buy your items before your pet comes home with you. That way you won�t be rushed to pay more for the necessary items. The following is a list of supplies needed for a new pet.

�Health supplies- vitamins and medications. These are available through your vets office or pet health websites like petmeds.com.

�Food- daily food, plus treats. Do a bit of research to find the best type of food for your pet. Don�t forget to have treats for good behavior or to add variety to your pet�s diet.

�Toys- catnip for cats, exercise wheels for hamsters, and chew toys for dogs. Try to get a variety of pets to keep your pet entertained and happy.

�Cages/Crates- a place for your pet to call home. Every pet needs their own personal space. Make sure to set up their area prior to bringing the pet home.

�Grooming supplies- specific to your type of pet.

The specifics of course, depend on the type of pet that you choose. All animals need food and water daily, as well as a chance to exercise and play.

Finding the cheapest pet gear is easier than you think. Try shopping online for the biggest discounts. You can try the larger chains like petsmart.com or you can try smaller specialty shops. Don�t forget to try auction sites like EBay.com. I like to go to Couponchief.com for coupon codes for almost everything I buy. They have a section dedicated to pet gear, and you may be able to save quite a bit on your pet gear. Look for free shipping deals to help sweeten the deal.

A new pet can bring a lot of joy into a family. Don�t break your budget buying pet gear. Bargain shop for the best deals, and buy only what you need. You can always buy more toys and treats as you find a good deal, so don�t worry about buying out the store on the very first day.

About the Author

Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of CouponChief, is always shopping around for the best deals. You can find pet supply coupons available around the web at CouponChief, all in one location. Always find an online coupon 1st before making ANY purchase!

Why Contract the Services of a Professional Pet Sitter for Y

A Professional Pet Sitter provides in-home pet care while you?re away. Keeping your dog at home helps maintain his normal eating and exercising routines. It also helps minimize the stress suffered by both you and your dog. This article examines what may happen when your dog stays at a kennel and the benefits of contracting the services of a Professional Pet Sitter.

Part I: What Really Happens at the Kennel?

To better understand the benefits of hiring a professional pet sitter, let?s look at the reality of keeping your dog in a kennel while you are away. Please keep in mind that these generalizations are based on the experiences of the author and may not represent every boarding facility.

The first thing you want to consider is the care your dog will receive. In a kennel, your dog may be exposed to sick pets and parasites due to the close proximity of the boarders.

Your dog may be staying in a stacked cage with several other barking, whining, and crying dogs. This can be a stressful event for your dog, especially since he is not in his familiar surroundings in the first place.

If you have a larger dog, he will probably be in a run. The run probably has a concrete floor for easy clean up from messes. Will your dog sleep on a warm blanket or a hard floor?

When the lights go out, will he be sad because he is not in his home and does not have his family? Will his stress result in diarrhea, vomiting, or a bloody stool? Will he lose weight from refusing to eat? Believe it or not, these are common stress symptoms of boarded dogs.

You should also know that Kennel Attendants are paid at about the same rate as fast food workers. The low rate of pay contributes to high turnover and a younger workforce. Some of your kennel staff may be inexperienced and learning on your dog.

Finally, consider one more thing that happens at the kennel. Routine! Of course, it is not your dog?s routine where he gets personal attention, touch and affection, playtime, walks, and potty relief when he asks. It is the routine of the business that is followed.

Your dog will probably be let out to potty while the kennel staff freshens up his cage/run. Then, he will immediately return to his cage for his food and water where he may stay until the process is repeated in the evening.

The attention your dog gets in a boarding facility depends on several uncontrollable factors such as the number of dogs currently boarded, the experience of the staff, and the protocol established for caring for the animals. Would you rather ensure your dog receives personal attention while you are away?

Part II: How a Professional Pet Sitter Can Help

A Professional Pet Sitter provides personalized care for your dog in his own environment where he feels safe. Dogs are territorial pack animals. He understands his boundaries and position in the pack at home.

He may feel insecure, unsafe, and uncertain of his position when he is not at home. Uncertainty results in physical and emotional stress for your dog.

A Pet Sitter will ensure your dog?s normal routine is maintained. He will be able to go potty whenever he needs to go. He will be fed his normal diet plus any special treats as instructed.

Your dog will have a human contact which is extremely important for these social animals. He will continue his normal playtime routines as well as scheduled walks.

?Playing ball? is very important for some active dogs. One couldn?t expect that type of attention or commitment from a boarding facility; however, your Pet Sitter could easily toss a disc or throw a ball around the yard.

Another key benefit to your dog is a Pet Sitter can administer medications for your sick, elderly, or injured dog while you are away. They can also tend to your dog in the event of an emergency and ensure he receives the attention of your veterinarian.

While a Pet Sitter may provide light grooming assistance such as daily brushing of long-haired dogs, they may also provide pet taxi service. This means that your dog will be abl

Top 5 Best Gifts For Your Pets

Most individuals or families view their pets as a member of the family as well. That said there is no reason why they should not be included in birthdays, Christmas or any other holiday for that matter. It�s a special day for them as well and it should be celebrated. So what are you going to get for your feline friend on their birthday? Why not consider some of these popular ideas which are sure to excite your pet on their special day:

1.
Pet Carrier � Your pet will love this gift! A pet carrier is a bag large enough to allow room for you pet. Your pet then sits in the carrier while you tote them around town. Imagine how excited they would be to go everywhere and never have to walk a step. These items can cost anywhere from $20 to thousands of dollars depending on the style, make and size of the bag.

2.
Pet Clothes � Just as humans like clothes for the birthdays, pets do as well. They like dressing up and they also like sweaters to keep them warm in the winter. There are many places to buy clothing for your pet and they can cost as little as $10 or as much as thousands depending on your preferences and the amount of money you are willing to spend.

3.
Tasty Treats � Every pet will love the gift of food. Their favorite treats are sure to make them feel special on their birthday (or other occasion) and this can end up being a very inexpensive, yet effective, gift.

4.
Pet ID Tags � These items can be personalized with their favorite designs or characters but what�s most beneficial about these gifts is that if they get lost they will be brought back to you. That would probably be the best gift they could wish for.

5.
Manicure/Pedicure � I know this sounds crazy but it really isn�t. Think about how much walking your pets do on their paws. Just like we like manicures and pedicures, your pets will appreciate the special treatment as well. Keep in mind this will only work for animals with paws and most likely is only best for those of female nature.

There are many other great gift ideas for your pets. It�s up to you to decide which is best for them but also within your budget. Many individuals spend unreasonable amounts on gifts for their pets but you really don�t need anything extravagant, just something small to let them know you care. In the end it�s the thought that counts�not the price tag.

About The Author

Christine Arbor is a pet lover who works as a contributing writer for http://www.topsellingpetsupplies.com � a site that offers information on buying pet supplies such as pet meds, dog food and more.

Weave of the Gods: The Real-Life Golden Fleece

Paleontologists tell us the camel family arose in the North American Great Plains about 45 million years ago. One group took the Bering land bridge into Asia to establish the populations of Bactrian camels and dromedaries, while the other chose the southern route through Panama when that land bridge rose from the sea about 3 million years ago. Several of those species prospered in South America, including the guanaco, vicu�a, Lama owenii, and Lama gracilis.

Ancient humans likely witnessed the extinctions of the latter two but, according to prevailing wisdom, bred the domesticated alpaca from the vicu�a and the llama from the guanaco. They prized the fleeces of all four, but to them the most precious and magical was that of the vicu�a.

Type        Microns
-------------------
Vicu�a      6-13
Chiru       7-9
Alpaca      10-28
Merino      12-20
Cashmere    15-19
Guanaco     16-18
Llama       20-40
Chinchilla  21
Human       15-200

As you can see from the table above, only the chiru, a gravely endangered Asian antelope which is legally off-limits, rivals the fineness of its cinnamon-colored wool. Beyond that, vicu�a is exceedingly rare due to the amimal's small size (about 90 lbs, yielding only 6-8 ounces of fleece every two or three years), its obstinacy (supremely evasive and disinclined to eat or reproduce in captivity), its death-defying habitat (greatly surpassing 14,000 feet or 4300 meters) and the cashmere-like fragility of its fiber. If you were to own, say, a pair of trousers made of pure vicu�a, they'd look and feel heavenly but unless you resolved never to sit down in them you would quickly wear through the seat. To strengthen it or make it go further, the Incas would often blend their vicu�a fiber with that of the viscacha, an Andean rabbit-like animal; but in any case by law only their royalty could wear such exquisite fabric.

In 1958 vicu�a was on everybody's lips. President Eisenhower's favorite golfing buddy and Chief of Staff Sherman Adams got the boot after reporters learned that he had accepted various sumptuous finery, most famously a vicu�a coat, from a certain Boston textile magnate named Bernie Goldfine in exchange for some extra lenient treatment by federal regulators. The scandal even engulfed future columnist Jack Anderson, who was caught bugging Goldfine's hotel room.

Since as far back as the Spanish conquest, hunting and poaching has been stressing the vicu�a to the brink of extinction. By the 1970s there were only a few thousand left. But thanks to vigorous conservation measures undertaken toward the end of the 20th century, most significantly on the part of the Peruvian government, their populations have recovered. In 2002 the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reclassified the vicu�as of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru from endangered to threatened and legalized exports from those four countries, subject to stringent documentation, for the first time in decades.

To the impoverished paisanos in the high Andes this new industry shows great promise. They've revived an ancient tradition called the chaccu that involves much singing, dancing, and feasting. Hundreds link hands and create a living human fence to gradually encircle the vicu�as and herd them into pens. There they shear the animals, sometimes tag them, and then turn them loose. The per-ounce price of this ethereal fiber spans a wide range from $10.00 wholesale (raw) to $250.00 or so retail. A coat like Sherman Adams's might cost $20,000.00 nowadays. The firms Loro Piana, Lanificio Agnona, and Incalpaca handle this sort of highflying yet eco-friendly couture and market it through outlets like Nieman Marcus. But mercifully you can also find such things as scarves and shawls, using vicu�a blended with other fibers, for $200.00 or less. So far there are very few legitimate sources for this species beyond those mentioned above, but among them the Gaucho Shop (www.gauchoshop.com) stands ready to take your order. And besides llama, vicu�a blends, and other wearables

Your Pet's Health - What Every Pet Owner Should Know

So you want to purchase a dog or cat. There is something you should know before you take the leap. House pets are to be taken care of like your very own children; it is natural that they become part of the family. All animals have wants, needs and health issues just like human beings. You really have to be prepared because there are many things you need to care for your pets in order to keep them happy and healthy. In regards to pet health, you have to realize that it can be costly for veterinarian visits, so you may want to consider pet health insurance.

Health insurance for our pets is an option growing in attractiveness to many owners of our canine and feline friends, especially because most consider their pet a full-fledged family member. More policies have been sold in the last year and a half than in the last 20 years, with the average monthly cost being between $9 and $25.

Some newer policies cover regular check-ups and routine care. You may not consider this to be a benefit seeing that the routine care that is covered usually costs less than the insurance premiums. Economically, pet insurance that covers unexpected, expensive health care costs make better sense. You have to as yourself some pretty grave pet health questions. For instance, if you had to pay out of your own pocket, would you seek treatment of internal injuries from an accident? Would you pay for needed cancer treatment or treatment for other diseases? What if your dog has hip dysplasia? Odds are, your pet will never need such care, but if he does, you might welcome the coverage when faced with a $5,000 bill. Other pet health questions to ask: Would I be able to afford a sequence of treatments that might add up that high? Would I feel forced to euthanize my pet if I could not come up with the money to pay? To some it is not an option.

Once you have considered these questions it will help you decide if you are going to purchase pet insurance. Deciding to purchase a health insurance policy for your pet may not be an easy decision. In many cases, preexisting medical conditions are typically excluded from coverage. Many companies that sell the policies in the past have gone out of business leaving policyholders hanging. If you decide to purchase a policy, make sure you are familiar with the fine print explaining what is covered and what is not. Gather all the information you can before making a final decision. Also before purchasing a policy make sure it is accepted by your local veterinarian or veterinarians. Be sure to review what veterinary procedures and supplies are covered. Pet health policies are similar to human insurance policies; annual premiums, deductibles, and different coverage plans based on what the owner chooses. Plans are based on breeds, age, pre-existing conditions and in some cases, lifestyle of the pet (i.e. indoor vs. outdoor cat).

Most companies start policies at age 6-8 weeks, some have no age limit, and of the others I researched, one had a limit of 27 years, others had a limit of 8 years of age (if the animal was insured when less than 8 years, coverage would continue beyond 8 years). The current overall average for annual deductibles is around $100.00. The policy costs vary, depending on the animal and the different packages that owners can choose. Some packages are comprehensive, including such things as: annual checkups and vaccinations, routine care, preventive medications (like heartworm preventive supplements) and spay/neuter surgeries. Other plans cover only accident and illness. Most plans offer immediate coverage for accident claims, and 30 days for illness claims on new policies. Additional pets are usually covered at a reduced rate after the first policy-holding pet.

So you thought the hardest part to purchasing a pet was going to be choosing the one you would take home! Well now you know that being owning a pet has all the responsibilities of having a baby. It is important that people understand before becoming pet owners there is more to it than keeping their fur flea free, purch

Dixie Dawg

DIXIE DAWG
Copyright 2004, Michael LaRocca

I met Lisa when I was 21 years old. She was 15. Her father took us to their house. Meeting the family cats may not sound like a big deal to you, but it was to Lisa's family. One cat was Siamese. Her name was Dusty.

Here's what I knew about Dusty.

When Lisa was a baby, crying in her crib, Dusty tried to shut her up by biting her. This was an ancient family pet, full of pride and dignity, greatly loved by all.

Here's what I didn't know about Dusty.

She hated people. Lisa's mother was her best friend in the world. Lisa and her father were tolerated. Lisa's older brother and sister were glared at from a distance. All others were attacked on sight.

I walked into the house and sat on the sofa. Dusty entered the room and breaths were held. She crept toward me, eyeing me suspiciously. She stealthily approached like a leopard stalking an impala. She sniffed my leg. She pounced upon my lap and then she...

She lay on my leg and purred. I rubbed her head. The spectators' fears gave way to total shock. Then they told me how hateful Dusty was.

I saw Dusty approach many visitors after that day. Without exception, she viciously attacked them. And yet, she didn't attack me. She loved me.

"Animals are excellent judges of character," I explained.

Dusty died several years after Lisa and I married and moved to Watha, North Carolina. Dusty was well over 20 years old.

We hadn't been in our new house for very long before Lisa visited the local Humane Society. She saw a female Siamese cat who was the spitting image of a young Dusty, and we all know how this story ends. Lisa named the new cat Witchie.

Witchie had two rather nasty scabs wrapped around her neck, courtesy of a dog. Guess what waited for Witchie at her new home? My new puppy, Spooky. As in, he who spooks at everything. He was such a harmless little wimp, but Witchie still lived atop the highest cupboards for about a week before warming up to the little mutt. Then, well, he died. Breaking my heart and setting the stage for the real story here.

"Free puppies, Dalmatian mix." That's what I saw in the newspaper. I went to the house and saw six positively adorable black puppies, all fat and energetic, wrestling vigorously beneath a heat lamp in a garage.

"We had to take them from their mom because she kept trying to bite everyone who wanted one. She's on the porch. Her name's Molly."

I looked to the fenced-in porch, where the barking had been non-stop since my arrival. I saw a healthy, gorgeous, angry Dalmatian.

I wanted a girl. In theory, less likely to wander out onto the highway. The biggest puppy in the litter leaped at my face and bit my nose. I checked, and she was a she. I took her home and named her Dixie.

As a pudgy little puppy, Dixie burrowed to the bottom of any bowl of canned food without stopping for air, then raised her head and sent food flying. Then she emptied the bowl, cleaned the floor, and licked the food from her face.

Dixie slept with me on every day except one, which comes later. When the alarm clock rang on that first morning, Dixie growled at it. I hit the snooze button. When it rang again, she growled again. She did this every time it rang, every day of her life. How can you not love a dog like that?

Witchie descended from the top of the kitchen cabinets to beat the pure crap out of that pudgy puppy. Well, she tried to. When Dixie got larger, Witchie returned to the kitchen cabinets for a month or so. As I watched how fast this puppy grew, finally losing her fat belly to sheer length and muscularity, I wondered when she'd stop. I'd unknowingly brought home a monster.

As an adult, Dixie weighed seventy pounds. She was built like a Rottweiler. I tried to put my shirts on her, which she did enjoy, but I could never button them around her massive neck. Her chest stretched my T-shirts more than mine did.

I thought of her as a Dalmatian wearing a tuxedo. All four paws were white

Your Kids Want a Pet - You Don't Want To Pet Anything

�Mom, can we get a puppy?� Who hasn�t heard that line before? The kids think it�s time for an addition to the family, but you know you don�t have time for a family pet.

We�ve got the perfect solution to make everyone happy!!
Hermit Crabs!!

Now before you start to panic because you just heard the word �crab�, just listen! They�re not that bad. Trust me, I�ve had a few and after a while they were definitely part of our family.

Let me tell you why you should be convincing your kids to get a hermit crab:

1.They don�t bark, chirp or meow
2.They won�t pee on your carpeting
3.You don�t have to train them
4.They won�t climb up your screens or run away
5.They�re very easy to care for
6.Your kids will love them more than a puppy!!

Hermit crabs do not need attention every day or even need to be feed everyday�.that�s the best reason already! Hermit crabs live in smaller cages and stay in side of a shell. They eat hermit crab pellets and drink water from a sponge.

Believe it or not, hermit crabs are even FUN!! Because they live inside their shells, you can buy shells for your kids to decorate how they want and then the shells are placed inside the cage for the hermit crab to switch shells and live inside the painted ones! It�s so neat and your kids will be so thrilled.

Give hermit crabs a chance�

About the Author

Jennifer is the owner of www.MomOnABudget.com. MomOnABudget is an excellent resource for every mom providing you with work at home ideas, quick easy recipes, money saving tips, decorating on a budget and so much more.

Saving the Iberian Lynx

Of the 32 remaining species of big cat left in the world, the Iberian Lynx is the most endangered, even more so than the Siberian tiger. Western Europe�s last remaining big cat is in serious trouble, recent estimations place the number of lynx�s remaining at just over 100 and biologists maintain that if drastic action isn�t taken soon then the species will be extinct by the end of the decade � if this happens then it�ll be the first species of bit cat to be made extinct since the Sabre-toothed tiger died out about 10,000 years ago.

The question as to why the number of lynx�s in Spain has plummeted to such an alarming level is down to a confluence of a number of factors. The modernization of Spain and Portugal since the 50�s and 60�s has seen vast areas of the lynx�s natural habitat destroyed. Once abundant on the Iberian Peninsula, the animal can now only be found in two breeding areas in Andalusia.

Another reason we can look to is the simple lack of enough food to sustain the lynx population. Feeding almost solely on rabbit means the two animal�s destinies are inextricably tied to each other. Diseases such as Myxamatosis hammered European rabbit populations in the 50�s and 60�s with as many as 80-90% of adult rabbits being killed in Spain � with the decline of Spain�s rabbit population it follows that the number of lynx would also be hit; an average sized adult Lynx requires about one rabbit per day in order to survive. It�s also fair to say that it gets harder for the species to coexist with man; illegal hunting and trapping still takes place but the biggest killer of all is road accidents, where lynx are hit and killed by cars. In the Do�ana nature reserve in Andalusia it is thought that 80% of Iberian Lynx�s killed, die in this way and the proliferation of roads throughout these areas continue to be a huge threat to the species.

For many this begs the question what is to be done to reverse the trend that has seen numbers fall from 1000 a decade ago to the figure we see today? The obvious and most easy solution is basically to educate people about the plight of this solitary creature � not as high profile or well known as the less endangered Siberian Tiger, fewer people are aware of the critical situation facing west Europe�s last big cat species. However this appears to be changing with pressure coming from groups like the WWF and also activities of football club owner Corrado Correggi whose Algarve United club are nicknamed the Lynx�s and also donate 10% of all gate receipts and membership fees to Lynx conservation.

In his excellent article �Iberian Lynx: the last chance�, Carlos Sanz points towards the protection of habitat and preservation of food supply as key to saving the species: �Vegetation needs to be regenerated, and preventing the destruction of the Mediterranean shrub land is paramount, because it�s not only the ideal habitat for the lynx but also for it�s main prey, the rabbit�. The simple equation is if there are more rabbits then there�s more food for the Lynx and numbers will increase. There are already programmes in place to replenish the rabbit population with healthy, disease-free rabbits being bred in captivity and released into lynx territory.

At the moment due to the isolated nature of the breeding communities there�s a greater chance of inbreeding � this only serves to weaken the species by narrowing its genetic code, making them more susceptible to disease and defects. One way to avoid this is to breed more captive lynxes and earlier this year three lynx cubs were successfully born at a programme set up in the Do�ana reserve. There�s certainly hope that this majestic animals can be saved from extinction but there�s still a lot of work to be done with regards habitat and their food supply before these creatures are safe � for western Europe�s last big cat, the struggle is just beginning.

About The Author

Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currenlty working to provide additional content for B

The Top Ten Reasons Why You Can't Trust Vicious Pit Bull

(Feel free to use this article on your website. You must leave the entire article intact and include the author's bio.)

The Top Ten Reasons Why You Can't Trust Vicious Pit Bulls

10. They will steal your spot on the
couch while you are up getting a soda.

9. They will take the treat you give
them and bury in the back yard like a
paranoid crack head hiding their stash.

8. They will jump on your bed with muddy
feet. Making you do laundry...again

7. They will lick visitors with an
uncontrolled passion only they
understand.

6. They will cause children to smile.

5. They will make you feel horrible for
not walking them by looking at you with
deep sad eyes.

4. They will look at you like you
committed a crime against them if you
don't let them lick your ice cream bowl.

3. They will cause wide spread happiness
in large group settings.

2. They will crack you up by shaking
their butts so hard you think they are
going to snap in half.

And the number one reason why you can't
trust vicious Pit Bulls...

1. They will steal your heart like a
thief in the night, showing you complete
and pure love that only a Pit Bull can
show.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jason Mann is a American Pit Bull Terrier fancier and Freelance writer. You can view his website at http://www.pitbulllovers.com/ a website devoted to educating the public and dog world about the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Toys For Your Pet That Are Safe and Fun

There are plenty of toys on the market to keep your favorite pet entertained for hours on end, but there are also a number of factors to consider when purchasing toys for your pet. As with children�s toys, safety should be first and foremost in your thoughts when considering a new toy purchase for your pet.

Be sure not to give your pet toys that can be broken up and potentially stuck in their throats! Dog toys, like dogs themselves, come in various shapes and sizes. Dog toys should be durable, fun, and safe. Hard rubber toys such as the �Kong� line of products can provide your favorite dog with endless hours of chewing fun.

The �Kong� can also be filled with a mixture of your dog�s favorite treat and peanut butter! Please check with your veterinarian to ensure that it is okay to feed your dog peanut butter. Rope dog toys and rubber rings are always a bit hit with dogs that love to play fetch or tug-of-war. Playing �Frisbee� can also provide hours of entertainment for dogs and owners alike!

Dogs may also enjoy stuffed and furry toys, but be sure your pet cannot get at the stuffing inside as it can be a serious choking hazard. Toy birds and mice have traditionally proven to be very entertaining for cats. They especially seem to like the ones attached to string that you can pull and entice your furry feline to chase about!

They also seem to love simple cardboard boxes, tin-foil balls, and scrunched up newspaper! A recent favorite of cats and cat owners is the laser pointer. Cats never seem to tire from chasing that little red dot around, just be sure not to direct it at their eyes. The feather-and-pole type of toy is also very popular. Scratching posts are excellent forms of entertainment for cats, and they provide your cat something other than your furniture to dig their claws into! Hint: try sprinkling catnip on the post!!

There is also a series of catnip-stuffed toys and pillows that your cat will love. There are literally hundreds of pet toys on the market, just be sure to put safety first!

About The Author

Christine Arbor is a pet lover who works as a contributing writer for http://www.topsellingpetsupplies.com � a site that offers information on pet supplies, dog beds, cat toys and more.

Teething Blues

One of the things you may, or may not, be prepared for when getting a new puppy is its desire to chew. Often this can be quite destructive depending on exactly how you handle this situation.

Instinctively puppies often chew because they need to- not because they want to destroy your personal items. As puppies begin to loose their �milk teeth� and get their 42 adult teeth they chew to help alleviate some of the discomfort they are experiencing. Overall, the best thing you can do is protect your puppy from potentially harmful situations and help set him up to be successful.

Below you�ll find several ideas to help your puppy from being �bad� and to help it through this stage of development.

• Give plenty of exercise and attention to relieve boredom which often leads to chewing
  
  
• Crate the puppy if you cannot watch it
  
  
• Use commercial sprays to alleviate chewing of household items- Listerine is also good
  
  
• Do not give the puppy old shoes or socks to chew on- it cannot differentiate old ones from your brand new ones
  
  
• Give your puppy toys of its own to chew on- it is also good to give these to your pup when he begins to teeth on you
  
  
• Give your puppy one of its toys when it acts as though it may chew something it should not
  
  
• Move items you do not want the puppy to get out of its reach- cover all power cords, remove pens/ pencils, plants (many are poisonous), books, etc.
  

With a little bit of planning, patience and caring, you can help your puppy through this stage.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/

Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Debbie Ray

http://www.pedigreedpups.com is a website offering the best purebred dog breed information, online resources and high-quality dog content for all dog owners, dog lovers and those considering dog ownership. Debbie is the owner of pedigreedpups.com, a dog lover, owner and dog breeder of many years.

Weave of the Gods: The Real-Life Golden Fleece

Paleontologists tell us the camel family arose in the North American Great Plains about 45 million years ago. One group took the Bering land bridge into Asia to establish the populations of Bactrian camels and dromedaries, while the other chose the southern route through Panama when that land bridge rose from the sea about 3 million years ago. Several of those species prospered in South America, including the guanaco, vicu�a, Lama owenii, and Lama gracilis.

Ancient humans likely witnessed the extinctions of the latter two but, according to prevailing wisdom, bred the domesticated alpaca from the vicu�a and the llama from the guanaco. They prized the fleeces of all four, but to them the most precious and magical was that of the vicu�a.

Type        Microns
-------------------
Vicu�a      6-13
Chiru       7-9
Alpaca      10-28
Merino      12-20
Cashmere    15-19
Guanaco     16-18
Llama       20-40
Chinchilla  21
Human       15-200

As you can see from the table above, only the chiru, a gravely endangered Asian antelope which is legally off-limits, rivals the fineness of its cinnamon-colored wool. Beyond that, vicu�a is exceedingly rare due to the amimal's small size (about 90 lbs, yielding only 6-8 ounces of fleece every two or three years), its obstinacy (supremely evasive and disinclined to eat or reproduce in captivity), its death-defying habitat (greatly surpassing 14,000 feet or 4300 meters) and the cashmere-like fragility of its fiber. If you were to own, say, a pair of trousers made of pure vicu�a, they'd look and feel heavenly but unless you resolved never to sit down in them you would quickly wear through the seat. To strengthen it or make it go further, the Incas would often blend their vicu�a fiber with that of the viscacha, an Andean rabbit-like animal; but in any case by law only their royalty could wear such exquisite fabric.

In 1958 vicu�a was on everybody's lips. President Eisenhower's favorite golfing buddy and Chief of Staff Sherman Adams got the boot after reporters learned that he had accepted various sumptuous finery, most famously a vicu�a coat, from a certain Boston textile magnate named Bernie Goldfine in exchange for some extra lenient treatment by federal regulators. The scandal even engulfed future columnist Jack Anderson, who was caught bugging Goldfine's hotel room.

Since as far back as the Spanish conquest, hunting and poaching has been stressing the vicu�a to the brink of extinction. By the 1970s there were only a few thousand left. But thanks to vigorous conservation measures undertaken toward the end of the 20th century, most significantly on the part of the Peruvian government, their populations have recovered. In 2002 the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reclassified the vicu�as of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru from endangered to threatened and legalized exports from those four countries, subject to stringent documentation, for the first time in decades.

To the impoverished paisanos in the high Andes this new industry shows great promise. They've revived an ancient tradition called the chaccu that involves much singing, dancing, and feasting. Hundreds link hands and create a living human fence to gradually encircle the vicu�as and herd them into pens. There they shear the animals, sometimes tag them, and then turn them loose. The per-ounce price of this ethereal fiber spans a wide range from $10.00 wholesale (raw) to $250.00 or so retail. A coat like Sherman Adams's might cost $20,000.00 nowadays. The firms Loro Piana, Lanificio Agnona, and Incalpaca handle this sort of highflying yet eco-friendly couture and market it through outlets like Nieman Marcus. But mercifully you can also find such things as scarves and shawls, using vicu�a blended with other fibers, for $200.00 or less. So far there are very few legitimate sources for this species beyond those mentioned above, but among them the Gaucho Shop (www.gauchoshop.com) stands ready to take your order. And besides llama, vicu�a blends, and other wearables

Your Pet's Health - What Every Pet Owner Should Know

So you want to purchase a dog or cat. There is something you should know before you take the leap. House pets are to be taken care of like your very own children; it is natural that they become part of the family. All animals have wants, needs and health issues just like human beings. You really have to be prepared because there are many things you need to care for your pets in order to keep them happy and healthy. In regards to pet health, you have to realize that it can be costly for veterinarian visits, so you may want to consider pet health insurance.

Health insurance for our pets is an option growing in attractiveness to many owners of our canine and feline friends, especially because most consider their pet a full-fledged family member. More policies have been sold in the last year and a half than in the last 20 years, with the average monthly cost being between $9 and $25.

Some newer policies cover regular check-ups and routine care. You may not consider this to be a benefit seeing that the routine care that is covered usually costs less than the insurance premiums. Economically, pet insurance that covers unexpected, expensive health care costs make better sense. You have to as yourself some pretty grave pet health questions. For instance, if you had to pay out of your own pocket, would you seek treatment of internal injuries from an accident? Would you pay for needed cancer treatment or treatment for other diseases? What if your dog has hip dysplasia? Odds are, your pet will never need such care, but if he does, you might welcome the coverage when faced with a $5,000 bill. Other pet health questions to ask: Would I be able to afford a sequence of treatments that might add up that high? Would I feel forced to euthanize my pet if I could not come up with the money to pay? To some it is not an option.

Once you have considered these questions it will help you decide if you are going to purchase pet insurance. Deciding to purchase a health insurance policy for your pet may not be an easy decision. In many cases, preexisting medical conditions are typically excluded from coverage. Many companies that sell the policies in the past have gone out of business leaving policyholders hanging. If you decide to purchase a policy, make sure you are familiar with the fine print explaining what is covered and what is not. Gather all the information you can before making a final decision. Also before purchasing a policy make sure it is accepted by your local veterinarian or veterinarians. Be sure to review what veterinary procedures and supplies are covered. Pet health policies are similar to human insurance policies; annual premiums, deductibles, and different coverage plans based on what the owner chooses. Plans are based on breeds, age, pre-existing conditions and in some cases, lifestyle of the pet (i.e. indoor vs. outdoor cat).

Most companies start policies at age 6-8 weeks, some have no age limit, and of the others I researched, one had a limit of 27 years, others had a limit of 8 years of age (if the animal was insured when less than 8 years, coverage would continue beyond 8 years). The current overall average for annual deductibles is around $100.00. The policy costs vary, depending on the animal and the different packages that owners can choose. Some packages are comprehensive, including such things as: annual checkups and vaccinations, routine care, preventive medications (like heartworm preventive supplements) and spay/neuter surgeries. Other plans cover only accident and illness. Most plans offer immediate coverage for accident claims, and 30 days for illness claims on new policies. Additional pets are usually covered at a reduced rate after the first policy-holding pet.

So you thought the hardest part to purchasing a pet was going to be choosing the one you would take home! Well now you know that being owning a pet has all the responsibilities of having a baby. It is important that people understand before becoming pet owners there is more to it than keeping their fur flea free, purch

What is Life Balance?

What is Stress?
Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which is understood to be a threat. It can be any force or pressure put on a system (living or nonliving) which may result in a need for the system to adapt or change. Stress on human beings is like a rubber band. You also stretch to meet the environment around you, the demands of your lifestyle, and the pressures you put on yourself. If pulled too far, stress manifests itself in real conditions mentally, physically, and emotionally. Like a rubber band breaks when stretched too far, human beings have a breaking point too. The secret is to learn how to handle stress in your life and avoid becoming over-stressed.

The A B C�s of Stress
Activating event
Belief about the event
Consequences of the event

Stress is the internal pressure we put on ourselves from external factors. Living with moderate stress keeps you sharp and ready to move forward, however extreme stress can put you out of commission. It depends on your stress levels---how much you can deal with effectively. Some people thrive with stressful situations and some people snap at the slightest uncomfortable circumstance. Depending on your current stress level, when confronted with a stressor, you may respond with shock or feel stuck.
The fast-paced, technologically advanced, complicated world has brought many changes to our lives. The pace of change does not seem to be decreasing, but rather increasing all the time. These changes put more demands and pressures on each of us to make adjustments to do more with less. While stress is a definite modern world reality, being �stressed-out� is not. We mistakenly believe that being stressed-out is �just the way it is.� And we often get in competition with each other about who feels the worst!
This is crazy thinking. Stress can be a powerful motivator in our lives, and in fact, you can learn to use stress to your advantage. If you think about it---one form of stress or another is responsible for everything big and small in our world. For example, the earth �stresses� a piece of coal until it turns into a beautiful diamond. The key is to find out how you can use the stress in your life to create a diamond out of a rock!
As with most things in life, prevention is the best medicine. By learning about your personal health risks, family history, current health, and life choices (eating, exercise, smoking, drinking, stress) you can make smarter decisions. Ultimately, your life choices affect how you feel and how you function.
Stress management comes down to self-management. It is about selecting appropriate options as well as making smart decisions.
The best way to avoid �burn out� is to become aware of your unique stressors and coping mechanisms. Burn out comes from experiencing stress over a prolonged period and often leads to a visit to the doctor. There are many ways to alleviate stress, however, you must find what works best for you and commit to doing it on a daily basis.

Michelle L. Casto is a whole life coach, speaker, and author of Get Smart! About Modern Romantic Relationships, Get Smart! About Modern Career Development, and Get Smart! About Modern Stress Management. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching, she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. Contact her for a free 30 minute coaching session:
www.getsmartseries.com and www.brightlightcoach.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Michelle L. Casto is a whole life coach, speaker, and author of the Get Smart! LearningBook Series. Visit virtually: www.getsmartseries.com and www.brightlightcoach.com Free coaching session!

3 Traits for Success

The other day I was conducting a group interview at one of
my off-line businesses. I was addressing about 15 applicants
for an office position and going over the three basic
character traits that I require. I've talked about these same
principles with every applicant since I started hiring help for
my businesses in 1976 and have since hired hundreds of people.
I have hired and worked people of virtually all types: men; women;
gay; straight; various races and religions; tall; short; skinny; fat.
See, to me, it's not any of that. It's the character and heart of an
individual that matters.

As I explained to them, these 3 traits are not only what I
require of employees, but what I look for in anyone I associate
with, whether they are vendors, advisors or friends. As are
most values, these were taught to me at an early age by my
parents. They are:

Honesty-Dependability-Attitude

Honesty-I only want to deal with honest people and I�m not just
talking about stealing. I mean people who, if you ask them a
question, they will tell you the truth-good-bad-or ugly! And
sometimes it isn�t only what you say that is dishonest, it is
what you don�t say. My dad always said that lying was the same
as stealing and aside from the fibs we tell for politeness (that
was a good dinner Mrs. Jones), I believe he was right.

Honesty in your business is a major key to long term success!!

Dependability-I was raised in a successful family business and
started working on the payroll when I was twelve. In my family,
you didn�t miss school or work unless you were too sick to get
out of bed. Otherwise, you dragged yourself in and hoped some-
body would have mercy and send you home.

I was also taught to always arrive at least 10 minutes early for
any scheduled event. There was no "fashionably late" to my dad.
Of course the result has been countless hours of waiting on
other people throughout my life and being the first to arrive
at parties.

Very few people today are that dependable and even fewer young
people and kids are being taught these lessons. I call being
habitually late and/or no showing, "The Silent Killers", because
very few customers or friends will tell you that being undepend-
able is why they no longer associate or do business with you!

I�ve found by starting and running eight successful businesses,
in varied fields and arenas, that just being dependable and
trying your best to keep regular hours, live up to your com-
mitments in a timely fashion and being consistent; can give you
a big head start on the competition.

Dependability alone can separate your business from the field!!

Attitude-Last but certainly not least is attitude. The longer we
live, the more we understand that our attitude is the one and only
thing that we have 100% control over! I�m sure I�ll have plenty to
say about attitude in future issues, so just a couple of thoughts.

Your attitude determines not only your honesty and dependability
but also all of your other actions. It ultimately will determine
not only the success of your business but of your entire life!

Put simply, your attitude is determined by your thoughts, and your
thoughts are determined largely by what you allow yourself to focus
or dwell on. Each and every day we have to be vigilant about what
we choose to watch, read and listen to. Our attitude can also be
influenced by those we choose to associate with. So choose wisely!

I certainly have times when my attitude gets sour. We all have bad
days! I like the analogy of the garden, where our good thoughts,
influences and associations are like the fruits, vegetables and
flowers. They need constant tending and attention to grow. Whereas,
the negative or self-defeating thoughts and influences are like the
weeds, they have to be pulled constantly. Unlike the flowers, doing
nothing favors the weeds and they will take over the ga

Baiting Your Business Hook with an E-zine

Publishing guidelines: Please feel free to publish this article exactly as written. No changes are permitted to article or resource box. Please notify the author regarding when and where you will use this work. mailto:heatherreimer@codetel.net.do. All copyrights remain with the author.

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Baiting Your Business Hook

By Heather Reimer

E-zine. Newsletter. Opt-in mail. Whatever you want to call it, everybody is trying to convince you that your online business needs it. And maybe you're wondering if it's the right bait to reel in a major haul of big spenders. The quick answer is... maybe!

Let's look at what a newsletter has to offer:

* A low-cost forum to promote your product or service.

* A means to generate goodwill by offering something for nothing (information, promotional gifts, etc.)

* And when your e-zine is well established, a way to make extra revenue by selling ad space.

So, with all that going for it, what's to lose? Quite simply, your time. A quality newsletter requires a lot of elbow grease administered regularly. Anything less than an interesting, easy-to-read newsletter won't be read... and then you really will have wasted your time!

So... here are four ingredients you absolutely must have to create and keep up an e-zine that sells:

1.
Focus. What's the point of the publication? Who are your readers? What action do you want them to take? Your content must answer to these criteria at all times.

2.
Good content. A blatant advertisement will be tuned out and deleted with a swift click of the mouse. If you don't have the time to write interesting, relevant material yourself, or the budget to pay for original content, visit a website that offers free content.

3.
A mailing list. Build up your opt-in list by offering to send your website visitors a free e-zine, full of information they simply cannot do without! All they have to do is enter their e-mail address. Invite them to sign up their friends. If you sweeten the pot with a free gift, your list will grow much faster.

4.
Automation. When your mailing list tops a few hundred, it's time to automate or you'll waste countless hours manually adding and removing names.

Now you're ready to concentrate on the magic words, the bait that hooks your readers. Ad executives follow a few basic rules when casting out their lines:

1.
First, The Big Opening. Start with a powerful statement that grabs attention and offers a benefit. For example, "Catch Bigger Fish with Better Bait." Short and punchy.

2.
Answer the question "What's in it for me?" Explain what your product can do and why it's better than anyone else's. "Tired of reeling in minnows and small fry? Better Bait guarantees a better catch."

3.
Prove it. This is where you brag about your satisfaction guarantee. Or your customer testimonials. And maybe a word or two about your own credentials. Convince those fish to snap at your juicy bait. For example, "Used by fishers who demand the best, like Ted Fisher of TV's The Fishin' Hole."

4.
Finally, invite them to bite. It may be clear as a mountain stream to you, but your readers need a direct call to action. "Insert your e-mail address here and click on submit. The Better Bait newsletter will arrive at your inbox a few minutes later, full of useful tips to help you reel in the big one!"

There! You've done it. But don't put away your tackle box just yet. Any ad campaign worth its salt monitors its sales progress religiously. Keep tabs on the catch your e-zine is hauling in� in other words, the number of sales you make as a direct result. Only then will you know if it's time to fish or cut bait!

*********************

How can you free up more of your precious time and improve your traffic and revenues? Hire an experienced content provider to write and regularly refresh your online material. It does make a difference!

Heather Reimer has been a professional writer for 16 years

50% of Yellow Page Directory Users are Looking for Just One

50% of Yellow Page Directory Users are Looking for Just One
Thing
Dr. Lynella Grant

Directory Users Seek Information about Location First
People who open the Yellow Pages already have a desire to
buy. That sets it apart from all other advertising media.
For a brief time, the eager-to-buy directory user checks the
competition, to see what each of them offers. They scan for
solutions that satisfy their needs. Readers hope to find ads
that leap out from the rest, and will simplify their choice.

So they ignore any ad that doesn�t match what they�re
looking for. And the piece of information that fully half of
them look for first is the location of the business. Buyers
want to know how easy it is for them to get there.
Businesses that are too far away are eliminated. So their
ads aren�t even read.

Convenience is the preliminary deciding factor. As readers
scan through the heading, they mentally delete: too far...,
too far..., don�t know where that is (so no)....

After Sorting by Location, Then they Read the Ads
The selected ads are then studied in more detail. Not until
that point, does the information in the ad actually get read
or considered. Aside from location, when directory users are
in the "information gathering phase," they�re looking for
many different kinds of answers, like hours, payment
methods, and brands offered (which differ according to
heading). They�re being educated by what they read in the
ads. They gain a clearer idea about their options and who
provides it (you being just one).

Directory users don�t want to drag that step out. So it�s up
to your ad to jump to the front of their brain with a clear
indication that you offer exactly what they�re looking for.
Look-alike ads just make readers work harder to uncover what
they want to find.

There�s no need to overcomplicate the matter. The test of a
good Yellow Page ad is its ability to generate calls. You
don�t have to be a graphic designer or a marketing whiz to
prepare an effective ad. You just have to know your
customers well enough to know how they think and what they
want. You need to be able to signal to them that you�ve got
what they�re looking for.

The Ad Sells the Call or Next Step
Some ads prompt directory readers to pick up the phone and
call one or more of the listed businesses. Callers often
continue down their short (close) list until they can find
enough of a reason to pick one.

Yellow Page industry studies show the average number of
calls a user makes is 5.3. An advertiser doesn�t have to be
the first choice, as long as it�s among the few chosen for a
call or visit. At that point, the business owner�s ability
to field questions or "sell" is more influential than the
published directory information. After the potential buyer
closes the directory, its work is done. They�ve move on -
one step closer to a purchase.

Location Defines Who Your Competition Is
The Small Business Administration states that distance is a
major factor as to who comes to buy from you. The average
independent store draws the majority of its customers from
not more than a quarter of a mile away. The average chain
store draws most of customers from less than three-quarters
of a mile away. For the average shopping center, that figure
is four miles. Service business have different distances.

Many kinds of business really only need to worry about
competitors within their immediate area. You don�t have to
beat out every other business in the heading. Compare your
ad to those competitors within four miles, and make sure
your ad is more prominent or enticing than theirs.

Some of the biggest, high-powered ads ahead of yours simply
won�t be called because they�re inconvenient. You need to
know where your customers come from, and how far they�re
willing to travel for you. Here�s where knowing their
specific mindset and priorities pay

Clarity or Blame?

Have you ever tried to figure out things you cannot

understand ... the "mysteries" of life?

There is hope in understanding it all, however, the

unlimited comprehension can come only from heaven

above. Learn to tap into this.

You now possess a limited quantity of knowledge,

understanding and experience. If you explore and

examine what you are presently with (as opposed to

without), is it not likely that you will receive more as

you "wade" through whatever is in front of you?

Immediately, get yourself into the process of "moving"

through what now exists for you, and I guarantee that

the next "piece of the puzzle" will be handed to you ...

the "piece" which is the Key to taking your life in the

direction it needs to go.

By all means, plan your work and work your plan in

complete detail. However, be sure to remember that

the ONLY thing that will remain permanent in this

process is Change.

On That road as you travel along on your success journey,

you WILL pass through fog. While in the fog, you will

lose some vision and clarity. It is at this time that you

must slow down AND keep moving forward. As you

do, as you slow, put on the fog lights and focus

intensely on the terrain, soon you will see what is ahead.

Then, you will know your next choice and take the

correct turnoff (as in road exit) getting ever so close

to your intended destination.

As the heat-seeking missile continually moves forward

and adjusts course during trajectory, you too, must do

the same.

The opportunity cost is too great if you do not. The blame

leaves too much pain and regret. Could have, Should have,

Would have, If only, Someday, Later, Maybe, etc. are

words to avoid. Decide, be confident and resolve to

perform what you ought without fail. When directing

blame toward others for why you are not going for

your dreams, you automatically create a void for

not taking responsibility for your own success.

Show others to be more responsible, by being more

responsible yourself (as an example) in your own doings.

Arrive to your destination on time and be willing to pay

the tolls as you go. Your future can be an exciting

place. Enjoy the drive and only look back to adjust

your rear and side-view mirrors.

************************************************************

Contributed by Ed Hirsch

#1 REASON stopping your business growth ...

WASTED resources on those who QUIT!

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