Ted Kennedy Quote About Splash

From interview in 2003 with Ted Kennedy, "I like to have two dogs in my office. Splash, here, is wonderful company. He's got a great personality. He's been known to bark when people speak too loudly or for too long. Some have asked that we make him a permanent member of our Democratic party caucus so that speeches will be shorter."

Kennedy Family with Dogs During a Weekend at Hyannisport 1963

Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act

There are tax deductions for buying a hybrid car, moving expenses, being self employed, and health savings accounts, so why not a deduction for pet care expenses? The Happy Act H.R. 3501 proposes to do just that, but to gain momentum, it will need public support. What this means for dogs and cats, is greater access to veterinary care, and quite possibly less pets ending up in animal shelters. What you can do to help make this happen is to write your local representative. Here is a link to locate your representative, and send them a message. Here's the full text of the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act, introduced to the House of Representatives July 31, 2009...

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3501

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 2009

Mr. MCCOTTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:

(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.

(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people’s emotional and physical well-being.

SEC. 3. DEDUCTION FOR PET CARE EXPENSES.
(a) In General- Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended by redesignating section 224 as section 225 and by inserting after section 223 the following new section:

SEC. 224. PET CARE EXPENSES.
(a) Allowance of Deduction- In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified pet care expenses of the taxpayer during the taxable year for any qualified pet of the taxpayer.

(b) Maximum Deduction- The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) to the taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed $3,500.

(c) Qualified Pet Care Expenses- For purposes of this section, the term ‘qualified pet care expenses’ means amounts paid in connection with providing care (including veterinary care) for a qualified pet other than any expense in connection with the acquisition of the qualified pet.

(d) Qualified Pet- For purposes of this section--

(1) QUALIFIED PET- The term ‘qualified pet’ means a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.

(2) EXCEPTIONS- Such term does not include any animal--

(A) used for research or owned or utilized in conjunction with a trade or business, or

(B) with respect to which the taxpayer has claimed a deduction under section 162 or 213 in any of the preceding 3 taxable years.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking the last item and inserting the following new items:

Sec. 224. Pet care expenses.

Sec. 225. Cross reference.’

(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.

H.R. 3501 The Happy Act

Ever thought about claiming your dog as a dependant on your income tax returns? You might be able to, kind of. If you would like to get a tax deduction for your dog, the H.R. 3501 Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years "The Happy Act" has recently been introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. It would allow pet owners to deduct up to $3500. a year for pet care expenses, such as veterinary care. Republican Representative Thaddeus McCotter, has introduced this legislation in hopes that it will help struggling pet owners. If you would like to support this, contact your local representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the act, and sign the Happy Act petition.

Create A Dog Holiday

I played. I ate. I slept. All in celebration of National Dog Day! OK. I guess I do that every day, but yesterday was extra special. It was fun. It made me wonder, how are holidays created? I've found that to make a national holiday, you have to contact your local congressman, and attempt to get it on the congressional agenda.

Not all of us want to go through that, you can instead, create a holiday by simply declaring it. You can declare it, advertise it, and hope it takes off. Someday I'll make a holiday, but I haven't decided on the specifics yet.

In the meantime, we have National Dog Week coming up in the last month of September, Adopt-a-dog Month in October, National Mutt Day on December the 2nd, Pet Dental Health Month all of February, National Puppy Day on March 23rd, International Guide Dog Day on April 18, Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month in April, Be Kind to Animals Week is the first week of May, and Take Your Dog to Work Day celebrated June 24th.

What dog holiday would you create?

National Dog Day : August 26, 2009

By the time you read this, National Dog Day will be today! This is a relatively obscure holiday that has been growing in popularity since 2004. It's a day to show appreciation for your dog, and a day to consider rescuing a dog from the shelter. Who's always there for you, rain or shine? Even though we get busy, it's always a good idea to express our love. Especially to your best friend that believes you're perfect, and treats you like a rock star every time you walk though the door. Let's get on with National Dog Day August 26, 2009!


Chew toys and treats are a nice bonus for National Dog Day, but what dogs crave the most is your undivided attention. Even if it's brief, set aside a period of time to spend with your dog. For National Dog Day, why not take an extra 30 minutes or so out of the day? Start a training program to teach your dog a new trick, lavish your dog with praise, chase after a ball, give a belly rub, and let your best friend know that he's special to you.

Dogs Pain Relief With Herbs

Did you know that certain herbs offer medicinal qualities to alleviate pain? Herbs provide natural dogs pain relief, and are safer and healthier than conventional drugs. For a serious illness or emergency condition, always consult your veterinarian. The following is an example of certain herbs that offer an alternative remedy for dog pain relief.

Feverfew is a herb that is known to be beneficial for painful inflammatory conditions. R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD mentions it on his website that deals extensively with dogs suffering from Degenerative Myelopathy. Dr. Clemmons says, "Feverfew is a natural NSAID compound without the side-effects of prescription drugs. It can be used in dogs with pain or arthritis to help reduce inflammation and discomfort. I do not recommend it for routine use; but, if your dog has pain from arthritis, give 1 capsule every 8-12 hours as needed. You can use this for 5 days out of the week, safely." There are many natural remedies for dogs pain relief on his site, so if you're dealing with this issue, it may be worth checking out.

An additional home remedy is the Skullcap/St.-John's Wort combo for dogs pain relief. Natural Dog Health Remedies is another interesting site that offers natural dogs pain relief along with recipes. With the Skullcap/St.-John's Wort combo they say, "Skullcap is an effective herbal nervine and is commonly used to relieve pain resulting from nerve-related injuries or diseases, especially when combined in equal parts with St. John's wort." along with this recipe:

An alcohol tincture can be used for this purpose. The following dosage can be fed to the dog for up to one week:

For each 20 pounds of the dog's body weight, combine:

12 drops of skullcap
12 drops of St.-John's Wort

Feed 12 drops (per 20 lb.) of the mixture to the dog 3 times a day.

Alfalfa, boswellia, neem, yucca, and devil's claw are herbs used for dogs pain relief as well. According to the Whole Dog Journal, "Several herbs have anti-inflammatory properties that help dogs with arthritis and sports injuries. Boswellia (Boswellia serratta), bupleurum (Bupleurum spp.), cayenne (Capsicum frutescens), devil’s claw root (Harpagophytum procumbens), feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and yucca (Yucca baccata) have all been used to relieve joint pain and increase canine mobility and range of motion. Most herbalists recommend short “courses” of herbs, such as five days on and two days off, to monitor the animal’s response, adjust dosage, or switch from one herb to another."

Naturally Formulated Dog Aspirin

Herbal medicine has been used to treat pain for centuries. By naturally formulated dog aspirin, I'm not actually referring to buffered aspirin that is commonly used with dogs, but herbs that have been formulated to act as a dog aspirin. To find the most common herbs used to relieve pain in dogs, I've looked at some ingredients of herbal products on the market designed specifically for dogs. The first one is Pet Bounce, which I've actually started promoting on this blog because they offer a risk free trial, and it appears to be a great product.

The active ingredients in Pet Bounce dog aspirin is Apis mellifica, Belladonna, Caulphyllum, Colchicum autumnale, Rhus toxicodendron, and Ruta graveolens.

*Apis mellifica alleviates fluid retention, burning, and stinging pain.

*Belladonna for stiffness, swelling, and back pain.

*Caulphyllum treats spasms and arthritic stiffness.

*Colchicum autumnale is used for gout and spasms.

*Rhus toxicodendron has antihistamine properties and is anti-inflammatory.

*Ruta graveolens treats stiffness, swelling, and joint pain.

It's important with these herbs for dog aspirin to have the correct formulation, because incorrect dosages can lead to toxicity. Another excellent herbal dog aspirin is K9-MX, which also has glucosamine and collagen in the ingredients. K9-MX dog aspirin has Boswellia Serrata, White Willow Bark, Sarsaparilla, Yucca, Feverfew, Devil's Claw, Bromelain, Collagen Type II, Glucosamine Sulphate & HCL, Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin Sulphate, Keratan Sulphate, Dermatan Sulphate, Herparan Sulphate, Alkaline Phosphatase, Neutrophils, Pantocrine, Bone Morphogenetic Protein, and L-Proline.

The ingredients for a Chinese herbal dog aspirin called Quad-Flex include: cang zhu (rhizoma atractylodis), dang gui wei (extremitas radicis angelicae sinensis), du huo (radix angelicae pubescentis), fen fang ji (radix stephaniae tetandrae), huang bai (cortex phellodendri), lu lu tong (fructus liquidambaris), luo shi teng (caulis trachelospermi), qing huo (radix notopterygii), qin jiao (radix gentianae macrophyllae), sang zhi (ramulus mori), shi gao (gypsum fibrosum), wei ling xian (radix clematidis), wu jia pi (cortex acanthopanacis), xi xian cao (herba siegesbeckiae), yi yi ren (semen coicis), and zhi mu (radix anemarrhenae).

It should be easy to see that buffered aspirin, which can lead to gastro-intestinal problems if used long term, is not your only option for an arthritic dog. There are a wide variety of herbs, and naturally formulated dog aspirin on the market which can help relieve pain. As with human medicine, herbs may not always be as powerful as a drug. There are times when you need to bypass the herbal treatment, and go the more conventional path for immediate relief. In cases of mild pain however, the herbal dog aspirin will be a much healthier choice long term.

Is It Safe To Give A Dog Aspirin?

Buffered aspirin is considered to be safe in dogs, with a dosage of 10 mg per pound your dog weighs, given every 12 hours. It HAS to be regular buffered aspirin, not ibuprofen (Advil), OR Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen can actually be dangerous for your dog. You don't want the enteric coated, as dogs have a difficult time digesting the coating. To find a buffered dog aspirin, look for brand names such as Bayer and Bufferin. Read the label and ensure there are no additives such as caffeine or codeine. You can find dog aspirin at pet stores as well, that are basically liver flavored buffered aspirin.

The dosage of buffered aspirin given to dogs, can be adjusted depending on pain level. The range is somewhere between 5-15 mg per pound your dog weighs, given every 12 hours. As with any drug, giving your dog aspirin has inherent risks. You need to be careful with dosaging, as too high of a dose of dog aspirin, can cause renal failure. As with people, it can cause gastrointestinal upsets, and ulcers in long term use. If your going to start giving your dog aspirin, a recent blood test is a good idea, since aspirin should never be given to a dog with kidney issues, or certain medical conditions, such as von Willebrand's Disease.

In conclusion, the most common use for dog aspirin is arthritis and joint pain. It's advantage is that it's cheap, readily available, and can relieve discomfort from arthristis pain. It not necessarily something you would want to give long term, as chronic use can cause kidney, liver, and gastrointestinal problems. Before administering any drug, it's always best to check with your veterinarian first.

Pet Memorial On USA Today

For many of us, the loss of a pet can be just as traumatic, as the loss of a close family member. It's painful. There is really nothing you can say or do to make it better, until time passes, and memories of the happy times of their life dominate, rather than thoughts of the sad ending and goodbye. For those who have lost a pet, USA Today is inviting you to upload a picture of your pet, and write a memorial or tribute in their name.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown

Dog Raises Piglet

If you can't see video above, here's the direct link: Dog Raises Piglet

Here's a story about a maternal dog who nursed, nurtured, and raised a piglet in China. The real mother did not produce enough milk, and the dog decided to adopt one of them.

Dog Flu

Dog flu is caused by a highly contagious virus with a 5% to 8% fatality rate. In the news today, it was reported that an animal shelter in Fairfax County, Va. is on lockdown for dog flu after one dog died from the respiratory disease. There are six additional confirmed cases of dog flu there, and 26 dogs have been placed in quarantine with suspected symptoms. This has basically shut down the entire animal shelter.

Since the first case of dog flu in 2004, dog flu has been diagnosed in almost every state including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington State, and Washington, DC.

What are the symptoms of dog flu?

In dogs with a mild case, they may experience a soft moist cough that lasts for 2-4 weeks, and a thick nasal discharge. In the severe cases, the cough may be accompanied by a high fever, nasal discharge, respiratory distress, and Pneumonia. The dog flu virus is unique to dogs, and cannot be transmitted to humans.

John Strong - Coney Island Freak Show

John Strong that runs the Coney Island freak show is ranting and raving about the five legged puppy again. To sum it up, he put a $1000 deposit down to get the puppy, but the owner changed their mind, realizing they don't want the puppy to end up being gawked at in a freak show it's whole life. The owner decided to adopt the puppy out to a loving home, which planned to get the fifth leg amputated, which has been making it difficult for the puppy to get around.

Even though John Strong from the Coney Island freak show was given a complete refund of his deposit, he sued the owner for several thousand dollars for breach of contract and said he is going to try to get custody of the puppy. With that threat, the new owner has had the fifth leg amputated ahead of schedule. Now John Strong is reportedly saying, "I’m going to get it back on the dog,” he said, demanding that the leg be frozen so it could be reattached. “She doesn’t have a right. I don’t like people cutting off my puppy’s leg.”

Yes that's right, John Strong is actually wanting to sew the amputated leg back onto this puppy. Disgusting, isn't it? In the meantime, "Lilly" the Chihuahua-Terrier mix is in good hands with Allyson Siegel. "In my mind it's kind of over. Just let it be over," she says, referring to Strong's legal threats. "I'm very happy that Lilly is fine and that she's going to be a normal dog. And get to have a normal life and not be in a cage. I don't personally have anything against him, Mr. Strong, I don't know him. This was really always about Lilly."

Is Your Vet Still Over-Vaccinating Your Dog?

This is an eye opening article about vaccinations by Daniel Beatty DVM, I'm reprinting it here with his permission.

Is your dog being overvaccinated and your vet is not following the new guidelines? How many of you are still getting annual "shots" for your dog? Has your vet told you that there is a "new" protocol for vaccinating your dog? I say "new" loosely because the guidelines have been around for over 5 years now! That is beside the point, lets just go with the new guidelines given out by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) last year in 2006.

First, a bit of information about the vaccination of your dog. The most common other vaccination given to your dog besides rabies is a 5 or a 6 in one shot. Meaning there are 5 or 6 different types of diseases your dog is being vaccinated for in one shot. The common acronym for this vaccine is DHLPP and sometimes added in there is a C. The letters each stand for a different disease - D=Distemper, H=Hepatitis (also known as Adenovirus), L=Leptospirosis, P=Parvo, P=Parainfluenza, and C=Corona.

For the new guidelines lets take the three core vaccines, the three that your dog should be vaccinated for Distemper, Parvo and Hepatitis (Adenovirus). After your dog has been initially vaccinated for these three core diseases usually as a puppy and then a year later with a booster, your dog has prolonged immunity against those diseases. What do I mean by prolonged immunity, well the research shows, your dog is immune for 6 to 9 years! That's correct!

The research done by reputable immunologists, such as Dr. Ronald Schultz, shows that after the initial puppy vaccination and a one year booster many dogs are protected for the majority of their life. WIth this new research AAHA developed some new guidelines. Their suggestion or guidelines, after puppy vaccination and the yearly booster is that the three core vaccines, only need to be boostered every three years. So according to the AAHA guidelines, instead of annual revaccination, your dog really only needs to be revaccinated every three years.

In fact, did you know, annual vaccination of your dog can cause severe diseases. Overvaccination has been linked to cancer, allergies, and other auto-immune diseases such as Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. More research needs to be done but many of the recent studies show these links exist. In fact, in cats, overvaccination has been proven to cause sarcomas, a very severe cancer.

So now the question becomes, if the vaccines have been shown to produce immunity that lasts quite a bit longer than what was originally thought and annual vaccination might be the cause of certain allergies and other immune system diseases including cancer, then why has my vet not told me about this? Unfortunately, the answer is money, if not money then it is pure ignorance on your vet's part. Yes ignorance, as in not current in their education or just an unwillingness to change because the old way is the way things have always been done. Money is the other answer and no it is not because veterinarians are greedy, but rather in many veterinary offices, 33% of the annual income comes from vaccinations. This is a large percentage of income that with the new guidelines will be cut.

Veterinarians are not prepared for that kind of an income cut. Many could go out of business. Many clinics do not have the management skills or their other services are not priced correctly to compensate for that kind of an income loss. So changing to the new vaccination guidelines although would benefit your animals health can be a tough business decision for the owner of the veterinary clinic. Just remember though you have a responsibility as a pet owner for the health and well being of your pet and less vaccinations IS better for your pet, regardless of the business problems that some clinics may have going to the new guidelines.

So if your veterinarian is still requesting annual vaccinations, ask why. Be informed, make the right decisions, choose to protect the health of your dog by learning what your veterinarian is giving to your dog and why - specifically why, not just because he is the vet and it is to better the health of your dog. Ask questions, be dangerous!


About the Author
Be dangerous to your veterinarian, be informed, make intelligent decisions based on knowledge from credible sources. You can find more information about the topic of dog health care at Dr. Dan's website - e-Vet Clinic and his blog Dog Health Care

Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Day

Today was Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Day, a day of awareness for animals left behind in animal shelters. The originator of this day, Petfinder, did some research to find out exactly what makes a pet considered to be less adoptable. Shelter workers and rescue groups reponded with information based upon their experience in adopting out animals.

Older pets were at the top of the list, and were considered to be the least adoptable. It's a shame, as older animals actually make excellent pets. Easier. Less work. Calm and relaxed. Most likely they will already be housebroken, and tend to transition into the household easily.

Next on the list, were dogs and cats with medical problems. Dogs with physical disabilities need love too. One of my best friends was a Boxer with only three legs, the only ones who ever looked at him with pity were strangers that didn't know him very well. He could still run faster than most people, and would not allow the absence of a leg to put a damper on his love and zest for life.

There was also breed discrimination issues that will make a pet less adoptable, as with Pit Bulls. If you can provide a loving home, you might want to give them another look. Of all the dog breeds that exist, Pit Bull enthusiasts are probably the most eager to show you the way. You can easily find Pit Bull forums and Yahoo groups searching Google.

Other "less adoptable pets" include shy pets, those who need to be the only pet, and dogs and cats with black fur.

Funny Dog Photos

Canine Testicular Cancer

As I'm writing about canine testicular cancer, I would like to start off by saying, it's a fallacy to suggest that neutered dogs are healthier. In fact, neutering your dog will make him three times more likely to get prostate cancer and osteosarcoma. With that said, castrating your dog will prevent canine testicular cancer. Simply because, testicular cancer is impossible without any testicles.

In comparison to prostate and osteosarcoma, testicular cancer will usually have a much better prognosis. Because of the low rate of metastasis (5%-15%) in canine testicular cancer, treatment usually consists of neutering the dog, and rarely chemotherapy. The three types of canine testicular tumors are seminomas, sertoli cell tumors, and interstitial cell tumors. While they are different types of tumors, they are all treated in the same way. Diagnosis is made by physical examination and biopsy, with radiography and blood work to check for metastasis.

Symptoms of canine testicular cancer include swelling of the scrotum and testicles, enlarged testicles, dark pigmentation, symmetrical hair loss, and enlarged mammary glands.

Pica - Is that Rock Tasty?

Pica is a term to describe a craving for non-food items. Your dog may attempt to eat plastic, rocks, safety pins, ballpoint pens, sand, tile grout, chalk, tissue paper, carpet, wood, paper clips, string, paper, coal, rubber bands, socks, and who knows what else. If the item is not digestible, or ends up blocking the intestine, this will most likely result in emergency surgery to remove the item. Pica is far more common in puppies, but they may not grow out of this behavior.

It's important to start by running a blood test to check for underlying health issues, as pica can be caused by a wide variety of health problems. These include a mild nutrient deficiency, that can be taken care of by a healthier diet, or even worse diabetes, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, digestive disorders, and intestinal cancer. In dogs diagnosed with pica, only about 10% are found to have an underlying medical condition causing it.

For the others, it's often times emotional. If a dog is bored, anxious, attention starved, nervous, lonely, and frustrated, they are at a great risk for developing the pica habit. Spend as much time as possible interacting with your dog, provide a high quality food, and try to keep non-food temptations out of reach.

Saving British Mascot Dog "Sandbag" In Iraq

British forces mascot dog "Sandbag", along with his sidekick "Hesco" the cat may have a brighter future ahead. The troops adopted the two at the base in Um Qasa in Iraq, and were desperately wanting to keep them. The British troops described Sandbag as a hero, who has managed to survive being shot five times. Hesco was the troops good luck cat, credited with keeping them safe as they made the rounds.

The British troops were devastated when they were ordered to leave the base last month, leaving Sandbag and Hesco behind. At this time, American troops are stationed at the Um Qasa base, and are temporarily watching over the mascots.

Photo: MoD

Many emphathize with the sadness of being forced to abandon a best friend, and have come together to support the troops and the animals they have befriended overseas. There is a Facebook page to campaign on behalf of Sandbag and Hesco with 36,621 members, and even a petition was created with thousands of people taking time out of the day to sign.

Even with all of this support, the government seemed unflinching and reluctant to budge. Yet things are now taking a turn for the better since a charity worker Emma Simpson saw the Facebook page and decided she was going to get involved.

"But now charity worker Emma Simpson and the Blue Cross animal welfare charity have set up an appeal to bring the Iraqi animals to the UK. A website and hotline have now been launched. Emma Simpson was alerted to Sandbag's plight on Facebook. She told Sky News Online: "As soon as I heard the plea was rejected, I thought:'God damn it! He's not bloody staying - he's coming here!'...The MoD spokesman said he was now with US troops at the base and the decision was theirs. "As far as we're concerned, so long as those in charge of him approve, he's free to go."

If the US is now responsible for the decision of whether to release Sandbag and Hesco from their service in Iraq, let's contact Obama at the White House and/or email Lt.Col Ryder(DOD Press Officer)at patrick.ryder@osd(dot)mil and politely request that the animals are reunited with the British soldiers, that are waiting to adopt them and provide a loving home in the UK.

Magazines That Hire Freelance Writers To Write About Pets

If you think that you would enjoy writing about pets, I've found a great opportunity for you. Are you aware that there are magazines that hire freelance writers to write about pets? To become a pet writer, you don't need to have a doctorate degree in English, all you need is plenty of passion and a strong grasp of the elements of basic grammar.

Magazines that hire freelance writers include Dog Fancy magazine, Dog & Kennel, Animal Wellness, The Bark, Animal Fair, Veterinary Medicine, Cat Fancy, Catworld Magazine, Cats USA Magazine, Cats & Kittens and Bird Times, I Love Cats Magazine, Bird Talk magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, Aquarium Fish International Magazine, and Reptiles Magazine.

It's not just magazines that hire freelance writers, newspapers are seeking pet writers as well. The Examiner is looking for writers right now, providing a stage for your very own online newspaper column. They are featured in 90 cities across the country, and get a lot of traffic. As a pet writer for The Examiner, you will gain a great deal of exposure. They offer a very competitive rate based on page views, unique visitors, session length, advertising performance, and will pay you directly with Paypal. Write for Examiner.com. Share what you know on the local and national stage. Join us.

Click the "join us" link above, it's easy to apply.

If you're expertise is on a different subject, that's ok too, The Examiner is looking for writers in a wide variety of niches. If you would like to write about animals, there are many newspapers and magazines that hire freelance writers to write about pets. As a pet writer, you will never run out of things to talk about. Educate the public on animal welfare issues, fun activities for your dog, information on different breeds, training for dogs, tips for basic care of dogs, health issues facing dogs, latest dog gadgets, personal experiences, and the list goes on...

Black Dog Syndrome

Black dogs are statistically harder to adopt out, to the degree that shelter workers refer to this as the Black Dog Syndrome. They tend to stay in the shelter longer, and be more likely to be euthanized. One reason for this phenomenon, is that it's harder to make out the facial features when they are advertised on web pages. In shelters that have kennels with poor lighting, they don't stand out, and often go unnoticed. For some potential adopters, they do not view black dogs to be as friendly as lighter colored dogs, and in some cases even fear them. The following is a video explaining Black Dog Syndrome, sent to me by Pet Rescue By Judy.

Free Dog To Good Home

If you're looking for a home for a dog, offering a dog up for free to strangers, is a really bad idea. A "Free To Good Home" ad can attract all kinds, and it may lead to tragic consequences. There are stories of puppies and kittens being used as snake food, animal dealers "bunchers" who sell animals to research, animal hoarders that collect and neglect animals, and using Free To Good Home ads to find dogs for bait in dog fighting operations. Pet Rescue By Judy is an organization that rescues dogs, even those with special medical needs. They just sent this email, and I've included it in this post, along with the video.

"I am actually writing to ask you to help educate the public on why they should never post their pets as Free To Good Home. We just rescued Shader, a young pit bull that was obviously used as a bait dog. Gisele Veilleux created this wonderful educational video about it. Would you join us in spreading the word? Kind hearted people struggle to believe there is such evil in the world and are thus taken advantage of."

Shader will be able to experience a better life, because of the Pet Rescue by Judy, but there are others not as fortunate. If you're trying to adopt a dog, insist on a home check, ask for a veterinarian reference, if they are renting-speak to the landlord, ask a lot of questions to guage compatibility, and never adopt out a dog for free.

What Is Trichiasis In Dogs?

Trichiasis is just a fancy term to describe an ingrown eyelash. If you've ever experienced something in your eye that you cannot remove, you'll be able to grasp how unpleasant this may be. With Trichiasis in dogs, the eyelash grows the wrong way, and creates constant irritation. Brachycephalic breeds with an excessive nasal skin fold are at the highest risk for ingrown eyelashes. These breeds include the English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Bulldog, Pug, Lhasa Apso, and Shih Tzu.

Symptoms of Trichiasis in dogs include excessive tearing of the eye, squinting, and frequent blinking. The ocular signs often are epiphora, blepharospasm, conjunctivitis, keratitis and corneal ulceratíon. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and must eliminate the ocular contact of the misdirected eyelash that irritates the eye. Treatment ranges from ophthalmic ointments for mild cases, to surgery to close the inner eyelid margin, or specialized lasers, and electrology to remove the offending lashes in very severe cases.

Dogust 1st, It's Your Birthday!

Dogust 1st can be the universal birthday for all the rescued dogs adopted from shelters and stray dogs found running the street. Everyone should have a birthday, but if your dog has a mysterious past, the North Shore Animal League suggests to celebrate each year on August the 1st. They are even offering free birthday cards, and a special song to sing to the birthday dog.

Happy Birthday, Doggie Dear
Music: Henry Krieger
Lyrics: Willie Reale

Lyrics:
HEY DOGGIE
I DON’T KNOW YOUR BIRTHDAY
BUT I SURE AM GLAD YOU CAME
HEY DOGGIE
I DON’T KNOW YOUR BIRTHDAY
AND THAT’S A CRYIN’ SHAME
IT’S THE FIRST DAY OF DOGUST
LET’S PRETEND YOUR DAY’S TODAY
DOGGIE’S GONNA GET A TREAT
THEN GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY
NO, I DON’T KNOW WHEN YOU SHOWED UP
BUT I’M AWFULLY GLAD YOU’RE HERE
SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOGGIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOGGIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOGGIE MY DEAR
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF!

The North Shore Animal League is a no kill rescue that typically has several hundred dogs at any one time, and is responsible for finding almost a million dogs and cats new homes, and the opportunity to celebrate many more happy birthdays.

You can read more at nsalamerica.org