IPIP Blog

2012-05-03

Bandera County 4H salutes volunteers

Contributed

Bandera County 4-H, in celebration of National Volunteer Month, thanks the volunteers who help make their program a success. The Horse, Shotgun, Rifle, Photography, Food and Nutrition, Clothing, Beef, Goat, Lamb, Swine, Rabbit, Poultry, Range Science, and Small Pets are just some of the projects in which Bandera County youth benefit from the timeless efforts of adult leaders.

The new value of volunteer time for the US is $21.79 per hour. The price is never worth the value of the time and hours the 4-H volunteers have worked. And all of their work is done free of charge by these individuals.

Adult volunteers play an important role in 4-H youth programs. 4-H volunteers help 4-H members to develop leadership and life skills, make new friends, give back to the community, and build connection with others.

To learn more about 4-H or to volunteer, please call the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bandera County Office at 830-796-7755 or visit their website at

http://bandera.agrilife.org

Pictured: Bandera County 4-H creates success due in large part to the number of skilled and enthusiastic volunteers involved in the program. Kim Fulenwider and Dina Buettner are just two of many who share their expertise with Bandera Countys young people.

Its probably not a picture of a wild canine slipping almost unseen through a city neighborhood, stealing trash from unsecured containers and dog or cat food from residents back porches.

But theyre doing that, in Mount Vernon and other places. Theyre found in all 88 counties in Ohio and the population is considered stable or increasing. Coyotes are similar in appearance to a medium-sized dog and have a distinctive bushy tail, usually tipped with black. Most are gray, but some have some rusty, brown or off-white coloration.

Theyre generally not a threat to people, said Knox County Wildlife Officer Mike Miller, but you might want to keep an eye on small pets. Coyotes have been known to kill house cats and small dogs. Miller said hes never had a report of one attacking children.

After the Easter rush, a lot of unwanted temporary pets given as gifts of Easter – rabbits and maybe some other small animals – will either be unkindly abandoned outdoors to try to survive (domestic animals like this will struggle to survive in the wild, particularly in a warm climate) or neglected if they pose as a one-time thrill to their recipients, usually small children who need to learn better from their parents, who may not know better.

Pet stores need to take responsibility and tell all of their customers the things they need to know if they are to buy a chinchilla, guinea pig, bird or rabbit. Tell them that chinchillas are very easily susceptible to heat stroke, can die in temperatures over 80 degrees, need to live in a climate 64 to 74 degrees – as in get air conditioning. Anything above and they will succumb to heat stroke. And if you let a pet chinchilla go outdoors on its own, you wont see it again.

Please do not abandon small pets. Take them to the animal shelter. They have overnight holding kennels and no one will even know you did it, if its that big of a deal to you.

Ellen Garrison

Lahaina

Severe weather can be a troubling event, especially when there are animals whose welfare and comfort is of concern as well. Small pets can usually take cover with their owners, but what precautions can an owner take for larger animals such as horses?

The first step in protecting your horses and other livestock from severe weather is to realize what the severe weather risks are in your area, says Dr. Brandon Dominguez, clinical assistant professor at the Texas Aamp;M College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) amp; Biomedical Sciences and member of the CVM Veterinary Emergency Team. For many areas, springtime brings threats of severe thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes.

Often owners like to keep horses stalled in a barn to protect them from lightning during a storm, but giving them the ability to travel could keep them safer.

Generally, if horses are in a pasture with trees or near a lightning rod, the risk of the horse being struck is greatly diminished. A three-sided shelter can help to keep them warm and dry during a storm in addition to shielding them from lightning strikes, says Dominguez.

Dominguez believes that when storms become more severe, to possibly include tornadoes or high gusts of winds, horses are even safer outside of their stalls.

It is wise to keep barnyards and pastures clear of debris before storms are due to strike. If a tornado were to hit a barn with horses secured in stalls, the likelihood and severity of being hit by debris would be considerably increased, says Dominguez.

True, horses in pasture may not escape completely unscathed, but the cuts and contusions are usually less significant.

With torrential rainfall, flooding, and particularly flash flooding, if horses are given the opportunity to move to higher ground away from danger, they will follow their natural instinct for survival. Flash flooding, if injury or obstacles prevent horses from escaping, can lead to a horse being swept downstream and potentially drowning.

Less harsh, but just as serious, are the consequences of standing in perpetually flooded pastures. The chronic exposure to moisture could lead to softening of the hoof and sole leaving a horse susceptible to stone bruises, sole abscesses, white line disease, and infection such as thrush, says Dominguez.

Dominguez explains that rapid drying may cause hooves to crack and become brittle, but keeping feet cleaned and picked out and applying hoof conditioners will help minimize the harm from flood waters. Additionally, flooding may cause toxins to spread from storage areas to pastures where horses are gathered exposing them to contaminants that they would not ordinarily contact.

The most ideal confinement during severe weather would be a large pasture with a three-sided shelter to protect animals from the elements, but that also allows them to escape from danger. Not being in the lowest portion of the field, but in the vicinity of trees or a lightning rod is also advantageous, says Dominguez.

With the variety of horse-owners, horse-properties, and horses, planning before severe weather occurs should take into consideration the ability to keep everybody safe.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 28, 2012

Paparazzi and beauty pageants aren’t just for the bikini clad this spring. Small pets, such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits, get a chance to show off their talent, personality, intelligence and, of course, beauty during Petco’s monthly Meet the Critters event. According to the American Pet Product Association, five million US households care for small animals – this event is their opportunity to put the spotlight on their pet!

Guests are invited, with their furry buddy, to their local Petco to snap pictures in the “Small Animal Photo Booth” or to be a pet paparazzi during the Small Animal Beauty Contest taking place on March 31 and April 1 from 1-3 pm. The barrage of free flash-happy activities are sure to amuse pet parents while offering them a chance to hold on to fun memories of their furry friend in the spotlight.

For those who don’t own a small animal or just want to find out more about these mini-pets, knowledgeable staff will be on hand for an interactive meet and greet. Kids of all ages will get a chance to find out about habitat, diet, care and other fun facts, such as:

• A happy guinea pig may jump straight up and down. This movement is called “popcorning.”
• Guinea pigs are social creatures that need daily quality time and interaction with their human family.
• Guinea pigs can develop social relationships with people or other species of animals.
• Feeding your hamster fruits and vegetables occasionally is important to their diet.
• Hamsters should be let out of their cage to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Many teachers have hamsters and other small animals as classroom pets to teach children compassion and responsibility.

Customers are also encouraged to upload their pictures from the Small Animal Photo Booth and Animal Beauty Contest to Facebook.com/Petco for a chance to win a Petco gift card. For more information on the event please contact your local store or visit http://www.petco.com/kids for more information.

About Petco

Petco is a leading pet specialty retailer that provides the products, services and advice that make it easier for our customers to be great pet parents. Everything we do is guided by our vision for Healthier Pets. Happier People. Better World. We operate more than 1,100 stores nationwide, including more than 30 Unleashed by Petco locations, a smaller format neighborhood shop, and http://www.petco.com. The Petco Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, has raised more than $90 million since it was created in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. In conjunction with the Foundation, we work with and support approximately 7,500 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 250,000 animals through in-store adoption events every year.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/3/prweb9333668.htm

Severe weather can be a troubling event, especially when there are animals whose welfare and comfort is of concern as well. Small pets can usually take cover with their owners, but what precautions can an owner take for larger animals such as horses?

The first step in protecting your horses and other livestock from severe weather is to realize what the severe weather risks are in your area, said Dr. Brandon Dominguez, clinical assistant professor at the Texas Aamp;M College of Veterinary Medicine amp; Biomedical Sciences and member of the CVM Veterinary Emergency Team. For many areas, springtime brings threats of severe thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes.

Often owners like to keep horses stalled in a barn to protect them from lightning during a storm, but giving them the ability to travel could keep them safer.

Generally, if horses are in a pasture with trees or near a lightning rod, the risk of the horse being struck is greatly diminished. A three-sided shelter can help to keep them warm and dry during a storm in addition to shielding them from lightning strikes, Dominguez said, adding when storms become more severe, to possibly include tornadoes or high gusts of winds, horses are even safer outside of their stalls.

It is wise to keep barnyards and pastures clear of debris before storms are due to strike. If a tornado were to hit a barn with horses secured in stalls, the likelihood and severity of being hit by debris would be
considerably increased, Dominguez said.

True, horses in pasture may not escape completely unscathed, but the cuts and contusions are usually less significant. With torrential rainfall, flooding, and particularly flash flooding, if horses are given the opportunity to move to higher ground away from danger, they will follow their natural instinct for survival. Flash flooding, if injury or obstacles prevent horses from escaping, can lead to a horse being swept downstream and potentially drowning.

Less harsh, but just as serious, are the consequences of standing in perpetually flooded pastures. The chronic exposure to moisture could lead to softening of the hoof and sole leaving a horse susceptible to stone bruises, sole abscesses, white line disease, and infection such as thrush, Dominguez
said.

Rapid drying may cause hooves to crack and become brittle, but keeping feet cleaned and picked out and applying hoof conditioners will help minimize the harm from flood waters. Additionally, flooding may cause toxins to spread from storage areas to pastures where horses are gathered exposing them to contaminants that they would not ordinarily contact.

The most ideal confinement during severe weather would be a large pasture with a three-sided shelter to protect animals from the elements, but that also allows them to escape from danger. Not being in the lowest portion of the field, but in the vicinity of trees or a lightning rod is also advantageous, Dominguez said.

Zsa Zsa was not seriously injured, but Brooks told police of the incident, who then alerted the entire community after getting word of another hawk attacking a small dog in the village a couple of weeks ago.

That dog was more seriously injured, police said, and required extensive medical treatment.

Both dogs that were attacked weighed fewer than 20 pounds, police said.

Were not looking to cause any type of panic or cause for alarm, but just simple awareness that dogs shouldnt be left unattended,said Hinsdale Police Deputy Chief Mark Wodka.They should be in the presence of the owners, and just being aware that this is not a myth, that this has happened.

Suggestions from the Willowbrook Wildlife Center on Protecting Pets:

• Keep small pets (cats, rabbits, small dogs) indoors. Dont allow them to run free at any time. They are easy prey.
• Keep an umbrella or coat available to make yourself appear larger if needed to scare away other animals.
• Use a short leash when walking your pet.
• Do not leave domestic pet food outside. All wildlife will soon depend on it.
• Fences do not guarantee your pets safety, particularly from above.
• Always attend to small pets outdoors.

Skip Wyland and Carol Noren are no strangers to death. Wyland spent 30 years working as a funeral director; Noren was a pastor and hospice chaplain for 25 years.

“We’ve been dealing with human death for a long time,” Noren said.

But when Wyland’s black lab Max passed away 10 years ago, the former Red Wing pair found that there just weren’t the same support services available that there are for families experiencing human death.

“There’s a tremendous need to say goodbye,” Wyland said, adding that for many people, pets are more like family members than animals.

That led Wyland and Noren to create Pets Remembered, a pet cremation service that also offers body pick-up, grief support and memorials. The business, based in New Brighton, Minn., opened last fall and serves the entire state.

What makes Pets Remembered different than cremation services offered by veterinary clinics, Wyland said, is the individual service his business offers. Pets are cremated one at a time where veterinary services may cremate multiple animals together.

Currently, Pets Remembered is able to cremate animals up to 200 pounds, which includes most companion animals. So far, Wyland and Noren say they’ve seen many dogs and cats, a few birds and the occasional alpaca.

“We don’t charge by the pound,” he said. “We feel pets are family members.”

Now, Wyland and Noren have partnered with Red Wing Pottery to provide urns for pet ashes.

“We’ve known (Red Wing Pottery owner) Scott Gillmer for a long time,” Wyland said.

“When Skip and Carol started this job, we talked about how to link our businesses,” Gillmer added. “This made a lot of sense.”

The urns, which come in a variety of sizes to accommodate large and small pets, come in either salt-glazed or stoneware finishes. Each is stamped with the Red Wing Pottery symbol and has a blue paw print design.

However, customers can also order customized urns with pets names stamped on them.

“There is the demand for this type of product,” Gillmer said.

But Pets Remembered doesn’t just provide services that deal with the pet’s body. At their New Brighton location, they also provide grief support and a place for family to gather at the time of their pet’s death.

Mahn Family Funeral Home will be providing those services locally.

“We understand that people see a pet as a family member,” Joe Mahn, of Mahn Family Funeral Home, said.

Mahn added that they are available 24 hours a day, and families can bring their pet to the their Red Wing location at 602 Plum St. They will also go out to people’s houses, he said.

“We’re a resource for any death of a family member,” Mahn said.

For every pet they cremate, Pets Remembered also offers an online obituary and a certificate of cremation. Garden markers and stones, tribute candles and keepsake jewelry, among other things, are also available.

The details

What: Pets Remembered Cremation Service

Where: 15 SE Second Ave., New Brighton, Minn., with services available locally

Hours: 24 hours a day

Contact: 651-633-4564, www.petsrememberedcremation.com

Tags:
red wing,business,lifestyle,community,minnesota,social

Updated: April 7, 2012 2:05AM

Police in Hinsdale are warning dog owners about the threat of bird attacks after two reports of large birds — possibly hawks — attacking small dogs in the past month.

In one case, police said, the bird severely injured the dog. Both dogs that were attacked weighed less than 20 pounds.

The Willowbrook Wildlife Center recommended keeping small pets (cats, rabbits, small dogs) indoors and not allowing them to run free at any time.

When walking a dog, keep it on a short leash, the center said. And pet owners should keep an umbrella or coat available to make yourself appear larger if needed to scare away other animals, the center said.

The center also advised not leave pet food outside because it will attract other animals.

I would like to see BC Transit change its pet policy to allow dogs that cannot be contained in small carriers on public transport. In many cities, it is possible to take your dog on buses or subway trains, providing the dog is on a leash.

I lived for many years in Toronto where this was possible and never saw any problems. I was surprised when I moved here to learn that pets had to be contained in a carrier small enough to hold on your lap. This is all very good for small pets, but not for a dog of medium or larger size. London, England, a very big city, also allows dogs on public transport, as do many other European cities.

A revision to BC Transits pet policy would be a great convenience to senior citizens and other people who do not have cars, when taking their pet to the veterinarian. The only way now is by taxi, which can make the cost of a vet visit even more expensive, not easily affordable by many pensioners.

Robert B. Ganton

Victoria