When I started reading this article, I had mixed feelings.
My knee-jerk was to see a threat to the lions from a tribe that competes with them for food in this region of Kenya. Re-reading, I started to worry about the Dorobo*.
I suppose that this is a perfect example of the dichotomy of life in Africa. Protecting one, endangers another.
[Continue Reading ...]
Wildlife Protection
Hunting is illegal in Kenya. Period. Intending to stop big game hunters, the government's blanket law has been applied at all levels - including traditional tribes. In addition, Ol Kinyei (where the tribe and three lion prides coexist) has recently been set aside by a Maasai community as a wildlife sanctuary.
The Ol Kinyei Conservancy, part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, "covers an area of 8,500 acres in the Koyaki Lemek area of the greater Mara ecosystem." A 4-hour trip from Nairobi, it is a pristine wilderness that is home to plains, forests, streams and rivers, and a wide variety of animal species. It deserves to be protected.
Allowing man to slaughter its animals, in this time of ever-decreasing animal populations in the wild, should be aggressively discouraged. And yet ...
Source: BBC Earth
Lifestyle Protection
"In a time when stories about endangered wildlife regularly hit the headlines, few people seem to notice that incredible human cultures are being lost; ‘like swatting a mosquito – no-one seems to notice’." This is the threat to the Dorobo.
This Kenyan tribe has hunted, gathered, and scavenged on these plains for generations. When they were unable to make a kill to feed their families, they bravely (or foolishly) took from the lions. If the hunt was good, they left the excess for the lions.
Living in harmony with the lions, almost symbiotically, they know the Ol Kinyei and they share it, peacefully. But because other humans cannot share, cannot live in peace and harmony with nature, the Dorobo way of life is as threatened as that of the lions.
Choices
Hopefully, there are choices.
Jackson Looseyia, who runs a safari lodge in the Masaai [sic] Mara, has started employing Dorobo men to be spotters and trackers for his tourists. Jackson says, 'If the Dorobo way of life disappears, so too does their knowledge. The Dorobo can spot and name any distant bird or animal, identify any nearby track or noise, and tell the story of hunt through reading the tracks in the sand.'
Only time will tell if an entire culture must be sacrificed to save the animals of the Masai Mara.
* Actually, from what I've been able to determine, there is no specific 'Dorobo' tribe. The term Dorobo "referred to the original forest-dwelling hunters in the Rift Valley of what is now Kenya and Tanzania." Various unrelated groups are called by that name, possibly originating from the Maasai word Torobo which sounds very much like Dorobo and means 'poor people (who do not have cattle)'.
I fell in love with ARKive.org years ago. They offer, from what I've been able to find, one of the most extensive databases of animal images, videos, and information on endangered species around the world.
It wasn't until I saw this link - ARKive's Top Ten Grumpiest Faces - in a news feed that I realized how long it's been since I wandered over to 'ooh' and 'ahh' and 'awww' over this amazing collection of information.
[Continue Reading ...]
But, at the risk of sounding like a PR agent, ARKive is more than a bunch of pretty pictures.
ARKive is an incredible resource, and an awareness program dedicated to "promoting the conservation of the world's threatened species, through the power of wildlife imagery." Over the years, they have worked with leading wildlife filmmakers and photographers, as well as conservation groups to find, save, and share images of the world's species.
It started with the report of an invading land snail in Singapore. Apparently, this not-so-little creature hitchhiked in on imported plants and has the potential to be a serious problem. The "giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) has been called one of the world's top 100 worst alien species."
Although I am quite fond of escargot, I can't see 6 or 7 of these babies - which are almost as big as my hand - plated and swimming in garlic butter.[Continue Reading ...]
On the same day, a federal judge reinstated endangered status for the West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had violated the Endangered Species Act by ignoring the species recovery plan that they had established in 1990.
I guess USFWS, with the backing of the timber industry, decided that making paper and boxes was more important.
Two days later, the U.S. Geological Service released a report on deep-sea black corals living in the Gulf of Mexico. Fascinating creatures, over 2,000 years old, living in the deep waters of the Gulf. It is hoped that, given their growth patterns, they will offer insight into the health of the region, over decades of change.
Despite their name, black corals come in a variety of colors.
Wolves
It is, however, the wolves of the Northern Rockies who have had the most 'exciting' few days. And that isn't necessarily a good thing, if you've been following the plight of these animals.
In 2009, the federal government delisted some of the wolves in the Northern Rockies. Conservation groups complained, and sued. A U.S. district judge ruled with conservationists and, in August 2010, ordered protections for all of the wolves in the area restored.
Not willing to stand on legalities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - the federal agency that is responsible for protecting endangered species in the United States - started negotiations to, once again, delist the Northern Rockies wolves. On April 9th, the same judge refused to approve the latest delisting plan. A 'settlement agreement' that would have allowed Idaho and Montana to, essentially, put 1,200 wolves on the 'most wanted list' for ranchers and hunters in their states.
It didn't last long. In fact, it never - technically - happened.
Late on the night of April 8th/9th, Congress reached an agreement on the budget. Buried in that budget bill was a "provision to strip federal protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana and portions of Oregon, Washington and Utah as part of [the] Continuing Budget Resolution". In passing the budget, Congress effectively took the potential settlement agreement off the table. Long before the Montana judge made his decision, Congress had rendered it moot.
While headlines joyously proclaimed Northern Rockies Wolves are safe for now, the government was painting a bulls-eye on virtually every Northern Rockies wolf. They opened hunting season and put these amazing animals at the top of every list.
I was under the impression that Congress had no say in listing or delisting endangered species in the United States. That job belongs (belonged?) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who, it must be said, isn't very good at it. Although at least they, periodically, pretend to care.
Frankly, I have to believe that this unprecedented action means big trouble for the climate, as well as protection of the environment and all endangered species. Anything that gets in the way of big business and their lobbies is now seriously threatened.
Apparently, I am being punished for not watching the babies.
For years, I faithfully watched The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Hubby #2 and I spent every Valentine's Day with the puppies. We watched, assessed, and battled heavily over which dog would win each group and, eventually, Best In Show.
Since moving to Arizona, I have been ... unable ... to keep up. Until this year. And what happens, since I'm finally glued to the screen, watching faithfully - on ... ahem ... USA, by the way?
The network drops coverage to CNBC, so they could run ... wait for it ... WWE Monday Night Raw!
Words cannot express how {sigh} incredibly sad that is.
In a story that boggles my mind, several sources report the slaughter
of more than 70 sled dogs by an employee of Outdoor Adventures
Whistler.
Business Downturn
Apparently, with business falling off after the Winter Olympics last
year, the owner could no longer support all 300 of his dogs. When a
veterinarian refused to euthanize healthy animals, an employee was
drafted to execute dozens of animals. [Continue Reading
...]
Attempted Adoptions
Some sources tell of attempts to adopt out the sled dogs. No report
I've found has any documentation that any adoptions took place. And
many of those articles are highly critical of later claims that the
animals were too old to adopt out.
A Rifle, A Knife, and A Mass Grave
Either way, on two days near the end of April 2010, the drafted
employee - by
fair means and foul - killed upwards of 70 dogs. Not all of the
dogs died quickly or easily; some ran off and had to be shot again,
long distance. Rumors tell of some dogs having their throats slit or
being dumped into mass graves while still alive.
This
story made me think of an episode of Eureka, right after
the knee-jerk gagging reflex kicked in.
Apparently, a scientist in South Carolina is attempting to grow meat
in a lab. And, he's not alone. There are, according to the article, a
handful of scientists worldwide trying to do the very same thing.
I understand the logic behind the work: As the population of the world
increases, we are running out of room to raise animals for food. By
engineering meat in a lab, science "could help solve future global
food crises." But, still ... ick? [Continue Reading
...]
Which brings me to Eureka. In an episode from Season 2, while
in the midst of a crisis (when aren't they), members of the town of
geniuses start to get ... stupid. This leaves the sheriff (when
doesn't it), not the sharpest of the residents, to save everyone.
It turns out that the woman who supplies chicken to the town cares
just a little too much for her bird. Yup, bird. She only has one
rooster that she is very, very attached to.
Rather than raise animals and have to kill them, she clones her
rooster and grows 'chicken' in a building on her property. Turns out
that one of the chemicals she uses in the cloning process interacts
with the human brain - making everyone into idiots.
And that, boys and girls, is why we shouldn't try to 'grow' meat.
There have been a number of stories, this week, about contaminated
eggs from Germany. With each story, the news gets worse. Although the
UPI story, on January 7th, of contaminated
eggs used in UK products is nothing to sneeze at, the actual alert
came just after the first of the year.
Acting quickly, officials have traced the dioxin
to an oil supplier in Schleswig-Holstein. This supplier shipped
oils, meant for biofuels, to animal feed manufacturers. According to
the reports I read, animal feed contaminated with dioxins[1]
found in the biofuels oils, was distributed to thousands of chicken
and pig farms in Germany.
[Continue Reading
...]
It's estimated that 150,000 tons - yes, tons - of contaminated feed
may have been fed to animals. By consuming this dioxin-laced food,
the contamination spread to eggs, poultry meat, and pork. (South
Korea and China have already banned imports of German eggs, chicken,
and pork products.)
Some of those eggs made it to the Netherlands, where they were
processed and mixed with non-contaminated eggs. This liquid egg
product was then shipped to the UK for use by bakeries and
manufacturers in products for human consumption. Although officials
said the level of dioxins in the mixed eggs didn't pose a health
risk, it's still a frightening prospect - not knowing what might be
in that cake, quiche, or jar of mayonnaise.
Today, Germany announced an anti-dioxin
action plan that sets higher standards for the production of
animal feed. This plan includes a licensing system for oil and fat
producers, as well as mandatory separation of fats and oils intended
for industrial use and those meant to be a component in animal feed.
In addition, animal feed producers will be required to personally
test their ingredients and report the results to authorities.
Private laboratories will also be required to report discovery of
suspect items in food or animal feed.
"The government will investigate expanding the criminal law to food
and feed safety regulations, possibly making infringements of food
safety law a criminal rather than civil offence," according to the
Reuters article. This comes amid suspicions that the Harles and
Jentzsch plant in Schleswig-Holstein may have operated illegally.
It, apparently, sought to avoid official regulations by not
registering the company, according to an earlier statement by a
spokesman for the German Agriculture Minister, and is now in
bankruptcy (insolvency).
Today's article explains that "prosecutors in Germany are
investigating the cause of the contamination and specifically
whether industrial fats and feeds company Harles and Jentzsch
distributed fatty acids meant for industrial paper production to
animal feed processors." Dutch and EU authorities are also
investigating the possible involvement of an intermediate trader.
Even if that were the case, if a third-party mixed up the shipments
- delivering the industrial product to the feed manufacturer -
wouldn't there be obvious labeling differences to eliminate improper
application of the ingredients? I'd be willing to bet that the
mandatory separation of industrial and feed ingredients is going to
include some strict new labeling guidelines, as well. If not, they
probably should.
""Dioxins" refers to a group of chlorinated organic chemicals with
similar chemical structures. Dioxins have no uses. They are formed
unintentionally and released as byproducts of human activities
such as waste incineration, fuels combustion, chlorine bleaching
of pulp and paper, or pesticide manufacturing." "Scientific
Facts on Dioxins." GreenFacts - Facts on Health and the
Environment. 13 Dec. 2004. Web. 14 Jan. 2011. <http://www.greenfacts.org/en/dioxins/index.htm>
As an old man walked down the beach one day, he saw a child picking something up from the sand and throwing it into the sea. The old man asked the child:
"What are you doing?"
"Chucking the starfish." the child replied.
"Why?" asked the old man.
"The starfish washed ashore in the high tide. If they stay on the beach they will dry out and die, so I'm chucking them back into the ocean."
The old man looked at the child and at the beach and said:
"There are hundreds of starfish on this beach. How can what you're doing make any difference?"
The child bent down, picked up another starfish, pointed to it, and said:
"It makes a difference to this one." and threw it into the sea.
Our neighborhood, more precisely our complex, is overrun with kittens. Judging by their size, they were born this last spring. And they come from a pretty broad gene pool.
There's a seal point/shorthair, a couple of tuxedo cats, and everything in between. Most are noticeably antisocial, bordering on feral. They hiss and spit at most everyone who comes near them.
The potential problem is that, in many communities, feeding stray or feral cats on your property for 30 days makes you their owner - with all of the legal responsibilities. Legally, someone caring for these cats can be required to register, tag, spay or neuter, and confine all of the animals. I don't know how many people are aware of these confinement laws, but they certainly surprised me.
Maricopa County, from what I can find, supports a TNR (trap/neuter/release) program for stray/feral cats. Sadly, no one - city or county or private - will pick up cats or even respond to calls about loose animals. AZCats, now merged with Altered Tails, was organized to assist in TNR of free-roaming cats, but it appears that the public has to bring the animals to them.
Believe me, I appreciate the goal of so many organizations, like Maddie's Fund to eliminate euthanasia as a form of population control. However, the cats can breed faster than the public - who, around here, are mostly unwilling to help - can round them up and get them to a clinic. Given the financial situation in our county, who knows how long before the government sees confinement laws as a revenue source that has been ignored for too long?
"Who among us will look tigers in the eye and say: 'We admired everything about you, except your very existence'?" WWF on YouTube
Nick Jewell, [cc-by-2.0] Wikimedia Commons
With 2010 being the Year of the Tiger, this is the perfect time to take a look at what the world is doing to and for our tigers. And never forget - we are all responsible for the health and safety of the world's animals. For tigers, the news isn't good.
Due to conflicts with humans and illegal trading in tiger parts, tiger numbers are 3.2% of what they were just 100 years ago. And, in only 10 years, 40% of existing tiger habitat has disappeared. Today, an estimated 3,200 tigers are trying to survive in a range that is a mere 7% of what it once was.
[Continue Reading ...]
Tiger Facts
All in the Family
There is only one species (Panthera tigris) that we call the Tiger. Over time, as populations became more isolated and scientific testing improved, variations within that species led to the identification of nine (9) sub-species: six (6) extant (living) and three (3) known to be extinct. The common names provide a good indication of the native locations for each.
From largest to smallest, (with range and estimated numbers), they include:
Amur or Siberian Tiger (P. t. altaica ) Range: Russian Far East, Northeastern China
Hunted to near-extinction by the 1940s, creation of protected areas and a ban on hunting helped bring them back. However, the fall of the Soviet Union saw an increase in poaching that continues to threaten their tenuous recovery. Today, the population is estimated at 450.
Bengal Tiger (P. t. tigris ) Range: Indian Sub-continent
With the largest numbers of any sub-species, these cats live in the forests and grasslands of Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Myanmar, and, primarily, India. Establishment of tiger reserves and national parks, as well as conservation efforts begun by Indira Gandhi, have undoubtedly contributed to the relative stability of this population numbering about 1,850.
Caspian or Persian Tiger (P. t. virgata ) Range: Western and Central Asia - [Extinct]
This third largest tiger sub-species (and second to become extinct) is believed to have shared a common ancestor with the Siberian sub-species, as there is only one genetic code letter difference in their DNA. Despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary and an extensive native range in which to hide (Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Caucasus, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), scientists are convinced that the Caspian tiger is extinct and has been since the 1950s or, depending on the source, the 1970s.
Indochinese or Corbett's Tiger (P. t. corbetti ) Range: Indochina, north of the Malay Peninsula
Recognized as a separate sub-species in 1968, Corbett's tiger calls seven (7) Asian countries home. Found in hilly or mountainous forests typical at the borders of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, recent records indicate a mere 350 of these critically endangered cats exist today.
Malayan Tiger (P. t. jacksoni ) Range: Southern Malay Peninsula
Living in the southern end of Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, this tiger was (provisionally) designated a sub-species separate from it's northern neighbor in 2004. Similar in appearance to the Indochinese tiger, it more closely resembles the smaller Sumatran in size. Due to varying methods of estimating populations, the count for this sub-species has a rather wide range. However, most sources place it at around 500 individuals.
South China or Amoy Tiger (P. t. amoyensis ) Range: Southern China - [Extinct in the Wild ?]
Believed by many to be the evolutionary ancestor of all tigers, estimates placed the South China tiger population at 4,000 in the 1950s. Following village incursions and livestock deaths, the tigers were targeted in an "anti-pest campaign" that quickly and dramatically reduced their numbers. The IUCN notes that no wild South China tiger has been documented since the 1970s, while The South China Tiger Project mentions anecdotal data for 20 remaining in the wild. The captive population is 72 worldwide, with 57 in China that are showing signs of inbreeding.
Sumatran Tiger ( P. t. sumatrae ) Range: Sumatra
For more than a million years, these smallest living tigers have populated Sumatra's tropical jungles. These days, they are usually found in isolated and/or protected areas where, nonetheless, they continue to be threatened by expanding agricultural plantations and illegal trade in tiger parts. An estimated population of 400-500 has not been updated since 1998 and does not include the 51 tiger kills per year reported from 1998 to 2002.
Javan Tiger (P. t. sondaica ) Range: Java - [Extinct]
Roaming the entire island in the 1800s, Javan Tigers were hunted down as pests and nuisances until they were feared extinct in the 1960s. A small population was confirmed in 1971 and the Gunung Betiri was declared a reserve. Due to an inability to protect the reserve, only 3 individuals were documented in 1980. The sub-species became the third to reach extinction, sometime during that decade.
Bali Tiger (P. t. balica ) Range: Bali - [Extinct]
With the dubious honor of being the first to reach extinction, the Bali tiger was the smallest of the sub-species. More people on Bali and Europeans with improved firearms after WWI, led to increased deforestation and a rise in hunting tigers for sport. The last documented tiger was an adult female killed in the western part of the island on September 27th, 1937. Like the Caspian tiger, stories of sightings persisted for decades. However, scientists believe Bali has long lacked sufficient habitat to support even one tiger.
Location, Location, Location
In the last century, Panthera tigris ranged from the "forests of eastern Turkey and the Caspian region of Western Asia, across to the Indian sub-continent, China, and Indochina, south to Indonesia, and north to the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East," according to the WWF Tiger Factsheet. Today, however, tigers are limited to small pockets of China and southeast Asia, as well as far-eastern Russia.
Tigers no longer roam west of India and have vanished completely from the Caspian, Bali, and Java. Additionally, they are considered regionally extinct in Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and several Chinese provinces. The IUCN believes that these big cats "may still persist in North Korea," although there is currently no supporting evidence.
Tiger Range Map: 1900 - 1990
Tiger Range Map: History to Present
A number of methods are used by governments and conservation organizations to determine animal populations. Some work better than others; some groups are more accurate than others. In terms of recovery and survival, biologists look at the number of breeding pairs for a species or location which may be as few as 40%, or less, of total population. Therefore, a simple 'head count,' as it were, may not accurately represent the health and viability of a group of animals.
With an estimated 3,200 tigers left in the wild - and that may be a generous estimate - it's time to support governments and organizations in their efforts to help these beautiful cats. We've seen them hunted to the point of extinction all over the world. And learned what waiting too long to act can mean for sub-species like the Javan tigers.
Protecting habitats and prey species is a good start. Increasing penalties for trade in tiger parts couldn't hurt. But, from what I've read, finding ways to improve living conditions and income opportunities for the locals - that don't involve poaching and massive deforestation - would seem to have the best potential for success.
In a real sense, it's the "Give a man a fish ... " course of action that potentially can reap the greatest rewards for everyone involved. What do you think? How can the world best help, not just tigers, but all endangered species?
From January 1 through December 31, 2010, for each Fan or Like of the Pedigree® Adoption Drive on Facebook, a bowl of food will be donated to shelters across the United States. Pretty cool, right? Well, it gets better.
I just learned that Pedigree is seriously rising to the occasion. From September 16 - 19, 2010, for every blog that posts about the Pedigree® Adoption Drive , Pedigree is donating a 20 lb. bag of dog food to animal shelters. That's all it takes - a post, sharing the plight of shelter animals and how the Adoption Drive is helping.
BlogPaws bloggers are hosting a BlogHop (cool, cool concept that was totally new to me) to get the word out and collect links so that no effort goes unrewarded. It's really amazingly simple:
Have a blog? Write a Post about the Pedigree® Adoption Drive.
Yup! That's it. No secret handshake; no annual dues or membership fees; no muss and no fuss. You don't even have to be a pet blogger.
If you don't have a blog, share the news with friends, family, neighbors, the guy at the corner store - anyone and everyone you know. Post a link on Twitter - Life With Dogs and Two Little Cavaliers have a lot of information and links available.
Oh, there is one small detail - be sure to add your blog post to the list (link below), so Pedigree doesn't miss a single effort.
I regularly beat up the FDA for not doing more to protect our food supply. In their defense, it is a bit like the cartoon dog who's fangs are pulled out by the scheming cat. He tries to protect his doghouse; he just doesn't have the tools anymore.
. . .
One could blame the dog for letting the cat get too close. Just as one could blame the FDA for continually slapping Scenic View Dairy on the wrist, without ever taking the steps to shut them down. Either way, when the dog has no teeth, the growling isn't very intimidating.
From 2001 to 2010, Scenic View Dairy was contacted 8 times by the FDA, with 11 written warnings from the USDA. Obviously unconcerned about these letters and warnings, the dairy continued to sell (for slaughter) cattle that had been treated with antibiotics in a manner that violated the "drugs' FDA-approved labeling and without a valid veterinary prescription authorizing such use."
Now, it's not against the law to give medications to cattle. However, it is against the law to continue medicating animals that are intended for slaughter, so that meat sold to the public contains abnormally high levels of those drugs. This is what, over 10 years and numerous cease-and-desist requests, Scenic View Dairy has continued to do.
As anyone can imagine, the problem with drug-infused beef (or pork or chicken) is that the people who consume the meat are dosed with whatever chemicals are in the tissue. In the case of Scenic Dairy, it was three different antibiotics. This type of overmedication has been blamed for the development of superbugs; bacteria that are resistant to standard antibiotic therapies.
It would appear to be in everyone's best interest for the FDA to get its fangs back from the cat and put a little bite behind its bark. The request for a DOJ injunction against Scenic View Dairy, while perhaps too-little too-late, is better than yapping at their ankles.
Hopefully, like us, you were not affected by the recent shell-egg recalls. (Luckily, the market where we shop uses a local egg farm.) Learning that USDA experts knew of problems at one of the egg farms, but didn't report them, made me want to reach through the monitor and slap someone. Really, really hard.
. . .
Undoubtedly, you've read by now, that contaminated chicken feed that was behind the salmonella outbreak in shell-eggs from two Iowa farms. Apparently, USDA daily sanitation reports noted dirt and mold at one of the facilities. They just never bothered to share with the FDA, who is also responsible for the safety of our food [1] and drugs.
Just routine conditions, according to the USDA. Okay, dirt is probably routine - especially if you raise chickens outdoors, the way my family did. In fact, dirt would be guaranteed.
I am curious, however, about where this 'dirt' was found. Inside the supposedly-sanitary feed storage areas? Or the supposedly-sanitary animal areas? That would be really bad. Add mold to the mix and 'really bad' becomes a health hazard.
Then, there's the scope of the 'routine conditions' statement. Is it 'routine' for this farm to be filthy? Or 'routine' for all chicken/egg farms to be dirty and moldy?
Food safety is an important issue for everyone. For us, it's critical. With his suppressed immune system, it wouldn't take much to completely destroy Mark's health.
1. The article states that the "FDA has overall responsiblity for egg safety" and that isn't, exactly, accurate. They do work closely with the USDA, but actual oversight lies with the FSIS.
Responsibilities: "The FDA is charged with protecting consumers against impure, unsafe, and fraudulently labeled products. FDA, through its Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), regulates foods other than the meat, poultry, and egg products regulated by FSIS." Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is an agency of the USDA.
While we don't have pets, there are some pet care basics that we learned early on. It doesn't matter whether you have a dog(s) or a cat(s), a constant diet of soft foods can contribute - quickly - to dental problems. Getting tartar off the teeth and stimulating the gums is an important part of pet care.
. . .
Oh, and doggie breath?! That's really gotta go, too!
When I was a kid, my mom gave bones to our dog. He had pretty good teeth, but it still wasn't a very good idea. Bones, especially chicken bones, can break into sharp pieces. Those pieces can scratch the animal's mouth, throat, and esophagus; not to mention the very real risk of puncturing various parts of the digestive tract as they move through. Serious and dangerous problems that can easily be avoided.
Nylabone offers a natural product - Nubz, Edible Dental Dog Chews - designed to help clean teeth, reduce tartar, get rid of that icky doggie breath, and stimulate gum health. Nubz are made in the US with real chicken and without added sugar, salt and preservatives. Highly digestible, these treats are also gluten-free.
Like their owners, many dogs are sensitive to certain ingredients. And, to my mind, cereals (where gluten comes from) are just more filler that pets don't need. Sure it may keep the cost down, but how much grain does a carnivore really need in their diet? And, as a snack, it just seems like a bad idea.
What also impressed me was the size. Normally, we buy pet treats based on the size of our animals; the neighbor's Shih Tzu can't handle the same item you'd offer your Great Dane. With Nubz, a large bone can be broken down into smaller pieces - to suit everyone.
So, where do doggie parents find Nubz? That's easy - Costco, with a $3.50 coupon available to members in the monthly coupon book. But hurry - this offer is only valid from August 19th through September 12th, while supplies last.
I have a friend who raises horses and rides dressage. She knows about horse tack, but I had to do some research. Mostly to precisely define the phrase.
. . .
It was actually a lot simpler than I thought and I was not quite as ignorant as I feared (both good). By general definition, tack is the equipment used on a domesticated horse. This covers saddles, bridles, reins, harnesses, bits, stirrups, and halters.
But that isn't as cut-and-dried as it sounds. There are dressage saddles, show saddles, trail saddles, English saddles, youth saddles, and Western saddles. (And probably some I missed.) Bridles, stirrups, bits, halters, and martingales have similar options. And then there are the items that complete the riding set-up, such as girths, saddle pads and blankets, stirrup leathers and pads ... and ... and ...
And ... all of those options are just to be able to ride a horse. Don't even get me started on what it takes to care for that horse. Yup, my friend is a wonder woman!
It wasn't until I read that PETA had asked Miss Australia to not wear her boots (or sheep shrug) in the native costume portion of the pageant that I actually knew anything about Ugg boots. Or about mulesing. What a hideous practice!
According to the article, Ugg uses sheepskin harvested by Australian sheep ranchers through a process called mulesing. In brief, mulesing involves surgically removing strips of skin from the animals' buttocks. It is designed to prevent a condition called Fly Strike or Myasis.
Myasis is a condition where flies lay eggs in a living animal's body. The flies are attracted to open sores, excretions, and infected skin. In as little as 8 to 12 hours, maggots develop and feed on the animal. It is critical to keep skin clean, dry, and healthy, in order to avoid this problem. Fly strike is major problem in, but not limited to, sheep. The article above is directed at pet owners.
Apparently, due to their wrinkly skin, Merino sheep are most at risk for Myasis and the primary victims of this practice. PETA is urging everyone to not buy Merino wool, in order to discourage mulesing and encourage Australian sheep ranchers to raise a different breed. I think that's a tad overkill, personally.
I can see boycotting Ugg boots - and any apparel manufacturer who uses mulesed sheepskin. However, sheered wool, from Australia or anywhere, is not the issue for me. And blithely punishing Merino wool producers is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Want to take action? How about visiting the mulesing link (above) and sending a message to the Australian government? I did.
A federal judge ruled, yesterday, that wolves in the Northern Rockies were illegally stripped of their protections under the Endangered Species Act. Thanks to Defenders of Wildlife and Earthjustice, working for and with other conservation groups, wolf hunting in Idaho and Montana is now illegal again.
Defenders of Wildlife Photo
Sadly, this is not the end of the battle. Anti-wolf sentiment is high in the area, due to conflicts between ranchers and wolves. Media misinformation feeds the problem.
Defenders and Earthjustice continue their battles to ensure the safety of the grey wolves until their recovery is complete and they can be delisted for the right reasons. But, for now, we can enjoy the victory.
Oh man, when Dug the dog started talking with his electronic collar, it was the best! “Hi there! My name is Dug, and I love you.” Anyone who watched the movie will have heard that line in Dug's voice. With Ed Asner doing the voice of the main character Carl, the movie was just perfect. There aren't too many movies that an adult can sit and enjoy with the kids but UP! certainly is one of those films.
The first part of the movie where it shows the life of Carl and his wife Ellie from the time they were kids is just a masterpiece of animated film. That was the most touching few scenes I've ever seen in any film whether it was animated or live action. I'm so glad we rented this on Direct TV pay-per-view. It was such a joy to watch. It's one of those movies you won't mind seeing again even though it is a cartoon. Of course though, the cartoons of today are nothing like they were when I was a kid. Even though it’s animated, it seems so real. I think it's the facial expressions that give the characters so much life. The animators pay attention to the little things that make the experience so much more enjoyable. You won't be disappointed watching UP!
In July 2007 - July 14, 2007 to be exact - I wrote a post which I called Some
'Interesting' News Stories. One of the stories was about a newborn
panther at the Belgrade zoo, being mothered by a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
The cub's mother, traumatized by NATO airstrikes, had tried to kill it.
A cute story, accompanied by a picture I found online. It didn't seem
like much and, at the time, didn't garner much attention. Boy have
things changed!
In the last couple of months, however, that photograph has become
tremendously popular. It keeps showing up in the keyword results for my
website. Oddly enough, for the 2 years and 5 months prior to that, no one seemed to notice it.
I wonder what triggered this renewed interest in a story that may or may
not, after all this time, be true?
Is it me, or did they move the Westminster Dog Show this year? I thought
it was a Valentine's Day staple, until I couldn't find it on TV
yesterday. Turns out, I didn't miss it; I was just a day early. Whew!
Looking forward to seeing the three 'new' breeds. Two from the herding
group and one from the sporting group. Anyone think a new breed could
actually take Best in Show?
Nah, me neither. But it will still be a great show. It always is.
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