Black Labrador Cools Down
July 31, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Dog Pictures
Welcome back!
I enjoyed this photo of a pet lover with his black labrador dog getting some summer relief at a fire hydrant. Maybe this was taken outside a firehouse? Dalmatians are traditional but this could be a fireman and mascot.
Anyway, the owner seems to sincerely care about his pet - a reminder that most pet owners are like this and only a few are animal cruelty types. The media must look long and hard to find those mistreated animal stories.
Pet Lovers and Politics
July 31, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Pet Lovers
I found an article about pet lovers and their political leanings written by Tony Barboza of the LA Times. It was based on an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll.
I was interested to learn that dog owners favor McCain43% to 34% and pet owners overall lean towards McCain, 42% to 37%. Why would this be?
It seems that Senator Obama has no pets currently, while Senator McCain has a LOT of pets. Not just dogs and cats, but a ferret, salt water fish, two turtles and three parakeets! He sounds a lot like my customers.
I doubt that pet owners are consciously leaning towards McCain over Obama just because of his pet population. I’ll bet it has more to do with trusting someone who loves animals enough to fill every nick and cranny of his life with them. With all the confusion these days on who to vote for, which candidate is the biggest animal lover may be as good a reason as any to lean in one direction or another.
California Cat Lover Helps Pregnant Stray
July 30, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Cat Lovers
It’s nice to hear some news about a genuine cat lover. George McCloskey of Roseville California recently saved the life of an expectant mama cat and her brood of kittens.
She was a stray that luckily found her way into his heart and home. When she had difficulty delivering her kittens, Mr. McCloskey took her to the vet and paid to have a C-section delivery! What a wonderful thing to do, and how nice that he was actually acknowledged in a news story! (According to the report, all the kittens are doing fine.)
The real truth is that there are a lot more animal lovers than people who are cruel to animals, but you’d never know it by reading the papers and looking at internet news sources. I’d like it if all the happy ending, animal loving stories were as commonly published as the other kind. I’d wager that most cat lovers would rather read the stories with happy endings.
House Rabbit and Labrador - Picture of Co-Existence
July 29, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Pet Pictures
Here is a pet picture of two species that usually create fireworks seemingly living in good harmony. I suppose its a variation of the Lion and the Lamb possibility and a hopeful glimpse of a less violent way of life that humans might look forward to someday.
Any of you out there have pets that get along who normally shouldn’t?
Please feel free to send me your photos and stories and I will add them to this blog. Perhaps there are more of these pictures than pet lovers realize.
Oprah Winfrey, Dog Lover on a Mission
July 29, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Dog Lovers
Recently Elizabeth Snead reported that dog lover celebrity Oprah Winfrey broadcast a show dedicated to this topic in April after she discovered the horrors of puppy mills.
Puppy mills are often where that cute doggie in the window came from, one of a litter produced from a mother dog caged her entire life. The amazing thing is that these are legal operations, and as long as the animals are given sufficient food and shelter it is not considered abusive treatment.
Oprah’s dogs have all come from reputable breeders, but in the future she vowed to adopt from a shelter first. Good for you Oprah! Another famous dog lover spreading the truth.
A Tribute -Animal Lover Beatrix Potter
July 28, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Animal Lovers
Beatrix Potter, animal lover and artist was born during the time of Queen Victoria. From early childhood Beatrix was fascinated with animals and plants- drawing wonderfully well from a very early age. Recently my husband and I watched the film starring Renee Zellweger, a tender account of Miss Potter’s life from the time of her first book’s publication.
There were extras on this DVD- my favorite were drawings Beatrix did as a child- whimsical caterpillars carefully rendered and described in a journal. I’ve always loved her illustrations, and now that I know a little more about her, I understand more fully the delicate beauty of her work.
I recently came across a blog by a lovely lady named Anna. She mentioned a video set of animated versions of Beatrix Potter’s books, which I’m unfamiliar with, but which her children have grown up enjoying. I’m happy to find a young mother who appreciates the appeal of these wonderful stories.
Last night I babysat for my 4 year old granddaughter. She picked out her favorite stories for me to read, one of them Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck.” It always makes me laugh, this humorous account of a very stupid duck, unable to see through the wily fox whom she thought was “mighty civil and handsome.”
Beatrix Potter’s career included the publication of 23 children’s books. This marvelous animal lover has brought a sense of wonder and appreciation of nature to generations of children.
Claiming MyBlogLog
July 28, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Animal Lovers
Just a little post claiming my blog at MyBlogLog. Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification
Animal Lover Helps Birds and Reptiles
July 28, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Animal Lovers
Jen Miller is a true animal lover! This experienced veterinary technician makes sure that animals in Maryland State Parks get the best care possible. Seventy four birds and one hundred and fifty reptiles look towards Jen for help and healing.
Her life sounds like a constant learning experience, from outfitting raptors with proper perches to ensuring both birds and reptiles stay healthy in a captive environment. Like many wild animals surviving through the help of humans, they are unable to return to nature because of injuries or inability to hunt.
These animals certainly earn their keep; many are used in popular educational programs for the public. What better way to learn proper care of our environment and the animals that populate our parks? I think this animal lover deserves 5 stars!
Cat Disguised as a Meatloaf
July 28, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Cat Pictures
In our family a cat in this pose is known as being “a meatloaf” as in, “Don’t look now but there’s a meatloaf over there on the couch” or “Molly spent half the afternoon just being a meatloaf”. You get the idea. This handsome black and white cat is demonstrating this feline phenomenon perfectly.
Have you created any new vocabulary to describe your cats? I’d love to hear about these new words.
Animal Welfare Means Less Meat
July 26, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Animal Lovers
Animal Welfare may directly link to eating less meat. That’s what a lot of people are realizing today, and it makes a lot of sense to me.
For instance, it’s been said that if all of us ate one fewer meat dish a week, 25 million starving people could be fed with the grain saved. Think of it! And all those poor farm animals not being cruelly butchered to provide food. Veganism may not be the complete answer, but eliminating some animal products from our diet certainly wouldn’t hurt us.
I’ve always found it odd that the person who lovingly cares for his pet bird may gnaw on a turkey wing for dinner. We humans are masters of deceit, especially where convenience is concerned. If animal welfare is something you feel passionate about, perhaps the entire animal spectrum should be confronted, not separated by ideas of pet animals versus food animals.
