Shifting House

Hi Everyone,

Just a Lucy update and cat report on the Shifting . It has been a meowing and stressful week but I have been inspecting the boxes for packing and testing out my crate for my trip on the plane. My human says I have been a good girl and I have to say my crate is homely . My human has put my purple blankie and Yes it is comfortable. I was a good cat and slept nearly all night in my crate. Well thats all for now. Lots of love and paw waves . Lucy cat (Love and Peace )

Funny Television commercials

No.4 Most Viewed Story This Week On Dog Files: Subaru Dog Commercials: Funny Videos! http://ow.ly/3Mwj9


A really good laugh thanks to my Friend at Dogfiles on Twitter xox Angela

Animal shelter Volunteer Work

Working at the Animal shelter is an amazing part of of my Saturdays every fortnight. The dedication of the staff and other volunteers is overwhelming . It starts early at 8am and we all start our duties of cleaning and ensuring our furry friends are cared for .A handful of dogs are often put in the run pens and given a bit of freedom. It allow us to clean the pens more thoroughly and easily . Scrubbing them down with special cleaner and lifting the bedding , remove any dirty bedding and pick up toys. Very often some dogs are a handfull but you can tie them on lead and work around them . We help each other to clean and have them all ready by 10.30am. Meanwhile it is all action stations in the Kitchen area preparing the food for the day . The dogs in isolation are a bit  harder to work round as the pens are individual and smaller but they must be cleaned .
Once the dogs are cleaned it is ready for feed time . Each dog is locked up to prevent fighting .All becomes quiet . It is amazing suddenly no barking or noise . The dogs know food is coming their way. With a gobble and happy grins they tuck into a mix of dogfood/dryfood/and often mince too . Once they are fed it is time to ensure dirty towels and washing is started and the cats bowls are started to be washed. We restock and clean up the kitchen area and arrange any food to be dethawed for the next day. We then start to check if any dogs are still hungry and re feed them . Any dogs that arenot eating (maynot like the food) we take a different food to them. Once we are happy all dogs are fed and full we then pick up the bowls put down the beds and let the dogs rest for at least half an hour. The morning walks can then proceed.Every dog at the shelter is walked. The dirty bowls are washed dried and put away and Kitchen floor area cleaned.Often there are donated goods that need to be bagged and stored .Newspapers to be stacked for the cat area . Litter to be put away. The small tasks mean alot .Other volunteers often do the walking and help hang out the washing . I like to help hands on. Its our choice.What about the cats you say. Well the cats have a more open plan to the dogs and I really like the lay out . The day is very different as the medicating and cleaning requirements are different. Feed times are different due to the heat.Cats are more fussy and are fed in the cooler part of the day . No food is given until night time. All the litter trays and areas are hosed down and cages re papered etc. There is routine and these tasks are completed in the mornings as well . It gives time for grooming and other duties in the afternoon . The Hydro bath area is also in full swing until 12noon and believe me there are pampered pooches.
The generosity of people donating food and other pet supplies is amazing.  I hope this gives an insight into volunteer work at the shelter .

xox Angela

Gecko!!!

Gecko !!


Yep sprung bad !! this time and the evidence says it all . Mum said “ Right cat this time I have photo evidence you would drive anyone nuts !!’’ I don’t know about the nuts bit . I tried to get inside the house but Mum was pushing me back. “ No Way not this time cat . We found a dried out Gecko in the shoe. “ I realised that’s right there was a gecko I dropped the other week when I came through the cat door . Oh well .. This one I dropped it and it ran Damn !! It got away . Until next time Gecko your fate is sealed ..

Xox LucyCat

You can see the legs !!!

Cleaning dogs teeth

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dog+brush+teeth&mid=283311428B4F302CD306283311428B4F302CD306&FORM=LKVR1#

Brushing a dogs teeth can prolong their life ? .

Water

Water.


After driving near the flood waters in NSW I thought how important is water in a pets and Humans diet.

After reading a few article water accounts for 70% of earths mass. It is a vital part of our survival.

Human and animals are 55 to 78% water. That’s means we need to rehydrate. So amazing !! . Reading further it is often debated cats should drink milk as well as water. Yes milk provides vitamin A “ but the bulk of rehydration should be through a drinking fountain with a water supply.

Summer time is especially nasty due to heat evaporation and exhaustion. There are many dog/Cat drinking fountains available that supply constant water.

We need to also ensure the bowl or filter are cleaned and serviced and checked for water level and leakage.

Clean and constant supply of water is essential to stop any kidney and heart problems. Water carries so many essential chemical compounds throughout the body .

A few tips

1. When exercising ensure you have a doggie water bottle with you

2. Don’t allow drinking from the Toilet bowl.. Yuck. It is also a germ hazard.

3. If you are leaving a bucket for your dog it can be weighted of tied down to stop it being knocked over

4. Don’t leave a sink full of water ( perhaps you may have just put detergent and cat will drink it and be sick .

5. A child wading pool is essential in summer for your dog to lie in and cool down( place under a tree or shady spot.

6. Don’t forget our Bird and Reptile and Mice /ferret friends. A drip water bottle can be fantastic for them. Ensure clean and that ne excretment etc in the water tray



A well hydrated pet is a happy pet and good for us humans too xox Angela

Funny Quote from Turner and Hooch

Scott Turner: These are the simple rules. No barking, now growling, you will not lift your leg to anything in this house. This is not your room. No slobbering, no chewing, you will wear a flea collar. This is not your room. No begging for food, no sniffing of crotches, and you will not drink from my toilet. This is not your room.

Water as far as you could see on both sides of the road . Cow being grazed on higher ground. Murrumbidgee and Goulburn rivers very ""High"

Pet Hoarding

After watching a UK animal rescue show and began to think how Hoarding Starts. Does it innocently start as 1 pet and then manifest from a sense of duty. How rife is pet hoarding?

Animal hoarding is a mental health issue rather than a deliberate animal abuse. The person cannot understand that they are doing more harm than enough to the animal and feel unable to understand or part with the pet. They are classes as having

Delusional/ Compulsive obsessive disorder.

The most problematic thing is the Health issues for the animals involved which include

• Malnourishment

• Disease

• Mental health aggression in the animals



The owners generally neglect veterinary care and basic feeding and watering . Houses are often filled with up to a Hundred animals. These animals need to be assessed and re housed with suitable owners.

The most interesting thing I read was the effect of ZOONOTIC Disease which is defined as disease spread from Animals to Humans . They are

• Cat scratch fever

• Rabies

• Salmonella

• Hookworm /Ringworm

• Plague

• Respiratory Diseases

If a person is infected many tests will need to be done and house cleared sprayed and sanitised. The saddest part is this disorder can also raise concern for other family members. Fire and hazard safety and health issues all wrapped into one.

If you feel someone needs help call your local Authorities.

Snail Bait and Pesticides

Snail Bait and Pesticides


After watching Tuesday nights Television and having to spray for Termites it made me aware to ask the Question . How Safe is the product I am using ? Look online or see if your vet has a List to help you.

Pet poisoned by snail bait … (Television show episode)

I could not believe and the poor owner could not believe how quick the poor little Labrador pup began having convulsions and salivating at the mouth. The Vet was onto the case straight away. He checked the dogs Temperature first and knew straight away the stomach had to be pumped. The dog did sick up the grass and snail bait pallets but was given anaesthetic to ensure stomach could be pumped completely. The next step was charcoal mix to soak up the poison. Doggie recovered but what a scare. Pets will get into anything .

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0050/UNP-0050.pdf has very informative information on pesticide use

Some tips I have thought of

• Do inventory of the most dangerous products in your house . Put them into a store away safe container with sealable lid . Put this container up high or out in the shed.

• Walk around your property and check if there are any lose bit of garbage or packets/ bottles floating around blown by the wind etc

• Make sure your rubbish bin is not in any easy accessible spot. An idea is to lock it in the garage or shed and wheel it out on the day of collection.

It is a hard thing to determine what a pet will do if they are inquisitive but be alert for

• Convulsions

• Listlessness

• Overheating

• No eating or drinking

Some harmful products are
rat poisons, antifreeze, gasoline, kerosine, ibuprofen, lime, paint thinner


Tylenol, rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, chocolate, deodorant, and soap.
 
 
The biggest problem for the diagnosis is generally How much has the Dog or cat Digested?. a blood test will be done to see toxidity levels . If possible take the eaten packet or product bottle with you .It is sad and very worrying fact too that some people purposely throw baits and other toxic substances over fences because they feel your dog is noisy etc. If this is occuring contact your local police. It is again a different issue to you looking after your garden but be aware.

Consult your vet immediately **** Safe gardening experience for you and your pet .

Albino Animals

Albino Animals


My earliest image of an albino animal are the mice and rats use in laboratories Many albino animals such as mice and rats are often used as testing Laboratory animals. The first case of rats to be bred and used in Laboratories was in 1828. Many Albino rabbit were used for the Draize test. Sadly wild albino animals survival rate are low because they lack the Camouflage they require.

These animals are white with no colour at all . The eyes are red. They are known as Dondo or White albino.

The sad thing for Albino Cats and Dogs they are seen as inadequate or not genetically right.

The most noticeable thing is that these animals lack colour pigmentation and have other medical problems. It is a defect in the production of the enzyme needed for pigmentation.

These problems are Genetic. These pets will be confined to inside life

• Will be possibly of being blind and deaf

• And prone to cancer

• Its hard for them to be in the sun



It is advisable to

• buy a pair of doggles( doggy sunglasses)

• good doggy sunscreen

• donot breed your dog or cat

The most common breed of cat to have albino offspring are the Siamese cat. It was interesting to note that there are some albino Samoyeds ,albino German Shepherds. Please keep in touch with your vet from when you bring you pet or suspect your pet you want to buy is albino..

Hope this information is helpful xx Angela

Dog Obedience

The most Important things when looking at a Dog training is its behaviour.

The first thing I would ask myself is How much time and effort do I have for Dog training and why do dogs need training.

Having a good mannered dog makes the dog happier and fun for you as the owner. An Untrained dog is no fun if it cannot socialise or be patient around people and other dogs.

I would want my dog to

Come when called

Be housetrained

Not rush through the door

Not pull on the Lead

YOUR DOG DOES NEED A LEADER AND WANTS TO BE TRAINED!!!

Another point to consider is what is involved in training and when to start. The most appropriate time is 7 weeks of age . Remember that like Humans dogs have growing phases like we do. How a dog will relate and be trained is due to

The need to socialise

And the Trust Factor

The most important factor is consistency and determine what drive your dog has .

Is it Prey Pack or Defense drive? . You can do a profile or seek a dog Obedience or doggy school that will help you. Check at your shelter/Vet or your phone directory/Internet for listings.

Remember the dogs breed and Natural instincts can cause problems. As an example my dog many years ago named Lucky was Kelpie. Well to say she wanted to round things up was an understatement. She had Prey Drive. The best thing I found was to distract her with throwing stick balls . Full attention. This generally bought her back to Pack Drive.

Sometimes I thought it was who was training whom. Some things were annoying but were remedied.eg Rushing first toward the door.. No way I hated it !!!

I bought a harness . She knew that unless the harness was put on no going out the door meant no walks or car ride . Worked a charm . Yes talking to her and settling her. It took a bit but she was excellent in the car and on the leash .

Learning sit and stay were critical as she was a big dog . Dinner time was no problem.

But please remember any Animal shelter doggies can have

Shyness

Seperation Anxiety

Overprotectivness



Lucky was in the Shy Category ..but her doggie trips and love from our family she was confident dog..

Well Successful training to all .. and hope this was a general help but always get expert advice on training issues

XOXO Angela