Sunday, December 25, 2011
Happy holidays
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza. May the holiday season and its blessings fill you with love, peace and joy to last into the new year and beyond.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Register now for Read to a Dog at Oshkosh Public Library, reading to dogs improves literacy skills
Sept. 21, 2011 – Man’s best friend may be a child’s best bet for learning to read better, thanks to a popular and successful program at the Oshkosh Public Library.
Read to a Dog pairs children with trained reading/therapy dogs to improve literacy skills. Sessions are available by appointment at 236-5208. Registration is required. The program runs Sept. 26-Nov. 28 and is open to children of all ages.
According to Sandy Joseph, Oshkosh Public Library children’s librarian, reading to a dog is an appealing and effective way for children who struggle with reading to improve skills and feel more confident. “A child who doesn’t want to sit down and read aloud at home will settle in here with one of the dogs and before you know it, the child is reading,” she explains. “There is a comfort level that really benefits a child who typically is nervous and self-conscious about reading out loud.”
The dogs in the program are trained through the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program, a division of Intermountain Therapy Animals.
Read to a Dog is held in 20-minute blocks on Monday nights in the library’s lower level meeting room. Register at the Children’s Desk or call 236-5208.
Don’t miss these additional programs for children at the Oshkosh Public Library:
Fall Storytime: Stories, songs and activities for children ages 9 months and up, including the Tuesday night family session, Pajama Rama. Sessions available through Oct. 13. Sign up at the Children’s Desk, call 236-5208 or register at www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.
Tweens Create: After-school art programs for grades 4-7, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. Programs run through Oct. 6. Scraplings (papercrafts and book making) on Tuesdays and Storigami (origami based on a story) on Thursdays.
For more information about library programs for children and families, visit www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9-11: We will never forget
As we reflect on the horrific images and memories of the terrorist attacks 10 years ago today, I hope we each take a moment to say a prayer for those who lost loved ones in the cowardly attacks on our nation, and to say thank you – either physically or silently – to those who protect us and our country, and to the families of those who have lost their lives doing so. We should also remember and give thanks to all the heroes of that day, and in the days and weeks that followed: Those who searched for victims; those who trained and brought in search and rescue/recovery animals; those who donated time and equipment used in those efforts; and to those who helped design and rebuild Ground Zero into the striking memorial that it is today. We should also thank our nation’s leaders for doing what they believed was necessary to protect our beautiful country and for making difficult decisions that most of us couldn’t possibly fathom making. September 11, 2001: A day that lives, families and our nation were forever changed, but not beaten; not ever. God bless America, her people, our resources, and all that we as a strong, persevering nation can do and have to offer.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wisconsin state lawmaker wants to relax puppy mill law
According to this story from LaCrosse, http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_89042dfe-b8ce-11e0-8d83-001cc4c03286.html, a state lawmaker from Hartford wants to "relax" Wisconsin's puppy mill law that only was signed into law in 2009. This is a bad idea and only will cause harm to more animals. If you care about animals and the harm his proposal would bring to them, please write, call, or email him as soon as possible and tell him to leave the law alone and NOT put helpless animals back in harm's way or subject them to cruel and inhumane conditions.
Madison Office:
Room 318 North
State Capitol
PO Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
Voting Address:
2277 Highway K
Hartford, WI 53027
Telephone: (608) 267-2367
Fax: (608) 282-3699
Pets don't mean end to hopes for beautiful yard
I dug this article out of my archived items to share with readers. I've provided the actual link for you, but because it is a couple years old I don't believe the link is active any longer. Therefore, I am reprinting the actual article beause it offers much useful information to dog owners who may be at their wit's end, despite their deep love for their pets.
Pets don't mean end to hopes for beautiful yard
So you went out in search of a sweet, friendly Fido, and it turns out you came home with destructo-dog.
He wore ruts in the grass alongside your garage.
He devoured your prized petunias, and then — after you replaced the petunias with rosebushes, hoping the thorns would serve as self-defense for the beautiful buds — he ate those, too.
In a single afternoon he created so many mud craters in your back yard you felt like you were on the moon.
There are ways to shape and design your yard that will help make it visually appealing and dog-accommodating. Building fences, planting prickly bushes, raised beds and digging pits are all landscaping tricks to try.
But before you get out your shovel and your paving stones, you should first realize that having outdoor pets — particularly large ones — comes with some scenery sacrifice.
“If you have a dog and want a (botanical garden style) yard, the two are not compatible — so you have to decide,” says Cumberland Landesign’s Brian Wray, a landscaper who has two 4-year-old German Shepherds. “At my house the front yard has more curbside appeal for the guests and neighborhood, and the back yard is more utilitarian.”
The best way to keep your yard livable while your dogs live there is to keep them occupied.
“Dogs require two stimuli to achieve balance: physical and mental,” says dog trainer Jon Stolzer, owner of Nashville’s Canine Inc. “The best way to achieve that is through proper walking, pack and leadership exercises.”
If a dog is properly stimulated, Stolzer says, many damaging behaviors like patrolling fences and digging will cease. Of course this isn’t a solution for all issues — like eating plants and running through gardens — so Stolzer says some sort of training is needed to deter unwanted behaviors.
Because a dog’s recall between cause and effect is 1.3 to 1.5 seconds, Stolzer says, it is very important to discipline bad behaviors while the dog is in the act. The toughest part, he says, is consistency, but your foliage will thank you.
“What I would say to folks is to control the environment,” Stolzer says. “Set your dog up for success in the beginning. When you do that you get to design your relationship and behavior. When you see a behavior, if you don’t like it, get it taken care of now because it will only graduate to something worse.”
Problem: Burn marks, caused by pet urine that messes with the soil’s pH and kills the grass.
Solution: If you hose off the area shortly after your pet relieves itself, it will dilute the urine’s effect. Raking a small layer of compost over the mark also will help balance the soil biology. If you are looking to revive already dead areas, you may want to reseed, although new growth may occur on its own with certain types of grass.
To avoid a scattered array of dead spots, teach your pet to potty in just one area, which you can easily maintain. Perhaps even a spot covered in mulch rather than grass.
Pet stores also offer several products that will neutralize the offending the enzyme, but Nashville’s Canine Inc. dog trainer Jon Stolzer isn’t sold on the solution.
“I have heard mixed reviews,” he says. “I am always concerned about giving dogs something they have to consume and metabolize, because I don’t know if it will harm the kidney and liver.”
Problem: Garden melee, caused by playful dogs who like to get into everything.
Solution: To keep the dogs out of the bed consider a buried electric dog wire and electrical collar. For a few hundred dollars you can send a small electrical shock to the dog. These are humane and often very practical. A physical fence also will keep most dogs out of vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. One style is wire mesh fastened to steel posts. You should aim for it to stand about four feet tall and bury the mesh up to a foot beneath the ground to keep it in place if dogs come charging.
Problem: Worn ruts caused by pets who take the same path around the yard again and again.
Solution: A dog’s prey drive — desire to see or get to what’s on the other side — may cause him to patrol borders such as along driveways, fences and garage walls, Stolzer says. Putting a decorative pathway along their favorite routes and landscaping around it is a good way to beautify these areas. Cover pathways with soft materials like pine needles or leaves, because uncomfortable paving might send your pet on a new route.
Problem: Yard becomes dirt pit due to heavy paw traffic, particularly from multiple pets left out in the yard to romp, which can wear away grass in much-used areas.
Solution: Certain types of grass, like Bermuda, are sturdier than others. However, unless you have your entire yard re-sodded, which can be quite expensive, you are still going to have to wait for the new stuff to grow. That may mean putting a temporary (but pet-proof) barrier around the seeded area for some time, or limiting and monitoring your pets’ outdoor time until the area is ready.
Problem: Holes everywhere created by a curious or bored dog that digs for stimulation.
Solution: Chicken wire often will deter the most determined dog. Bury a bit, making sure to keep the edges deep so the dog doesn’t pull the whole thing up, and cover it up. If it’s in a garden, a layer of dirt or mulch will do the trick. Some choose to forgo grass altogether and cover chicken wire with gravel or wood chips.
You also can use bricks along with dirt to fill the holes. Most dogs will get discouraged after scraping their nails on the bricks. Sharp gravel has a similar effect. Stolzer also suggests the use of a “digging box,” which is an area specifically designated for digging. The trainer adds, however, that this is a “specialty recommendation.” Eight out of every 10 dogs, he says, will not dig if given the proper mental stimulation like walks and play time.
Problem: Scratched-up fencing, a sign of true boredom.
Solution: First, dog-proof the barrier door. Replace an easy-to-open gate latch with something sturdier. Slide bolts and chains are good locking solutions. If your dog is digging under the fence, lay down chicken wire from the bottom of the fence to a few feet underground as an extra provision. If you don’t want to dig yourself, you also can line the bottom of the fence with concrete blocks or paving stones that would be difficult to displace.
Problem: Bushes and plants become snacks for canines who like to chew.
Solution: It’s tough to train a dog not to do this, Stolzer says, because “those are normal and natural behaviors.” As such, the best means of defense may be a fence. A decorative trellis could deter a dog from approaching the plants. Buried electrical barriers also work without having to hide the landscaping. Many pet owners are concerned about putting plants in their gardens that will be harmful if eaten. The Animal Poison Control Center offers a complete list of potential dangers at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants, but Marden says you shouldn’t fret too much.
He wore ruts in the grass alongside your garage.
He devoured your prized petunias, and then — after you replaced the petunias with rosebushes, hoping the thorns would serve as self-defense for the beautiful buds — he ate those, too.
In a single afternoon he created so many mud craters in your back yard you felt like you were on the moon.
There are ways to shape and design your yard that will help make it visually appealing and dog-accommodating. Building fences, planting prickly bushes, raised beds and digging pits are all landscaping tricks to try.
But before you get out your shovel and your paving stones, you should first realize that having outdoor pets — particularly large ones — comes with some scenery sacrifice.
“If you have a dog and want a (botanical garden style) yard, the two are not compatible — so you have to decide,” says Cumberland Landesign’s Brian Wray, a landscaper who has two 4-year-old German Shepherds. “At my house the front yard has more curbside appeal for the guests and neighborhood, and the back yard is more utilitarian.”
The best way to keep your yard livable while your dogs live there is to keep them occupied.
“Dogs require two stimuli to achieve balance: physical and mental,” says dog trainer Jon Stolzer, owner of Nashville’s Canine Inc. “The best way to achieve that is through proper walking, pack and leadership exercises.”
If a dog is properly stimulated, Stolzer says, many damaging behaviors like patrolling fences and digging will cease. Of course this isn’t a solution for all issues — like eating plants and running through gardens — so Stolzer says some sort of training is needed to deter unwanted behaviors.
Because a dog’s recall between cause and effect is 1.3 to 1.5 seconds, Stolzer says, it is very important to discipline bad behaviors while the dog is in the act. The toughest part, he says, is consistency, but your foliage will thank you.
“What I would say to folks is to control the environment,” Stolzer says. “Set your dog up for success in the beginning. When you do that you get to design your relationship and behavior. When you see a behavior, if you don’t like it, get it taken care of now because it will only graduate to something worse.”
7 solutions to Fido's landscape destruction
Want to make your yard space usable in spite of destructo doggie? Check out these tips.Problem: Burn marks, caused by pet urine that messes with the soil’s pH and kills the grass.
Solution: If you hose off the area shortly after your pet relieves itself, it will dilute the urine’s effect. Raking a small layer of compost over the mark also will help balance the soil biology. If you are looking to revive already dead areas, you may want to reseed, although new growth may occur on its own with certain types of grass.
To avoid a scattered array of dead spots, teach your pet to potty in just one area, which you can easily maintain. Perhaps even a spot covered in mulch rather than grass.
Pet stores also offer several products that will neutralize the offending the enzyme, but Nashville’s Canine Inc. dog trainer Jon Stolzer isn’t sold on the solution.
“I have heard mixed reviews,” he says. “I am always concerned about giving dogs something they have to consume and metabolize, because I don’t know if it will harm the kidney and liver.”
Problem: Garden melee, caused by playful dogs who like to get into everything.
Solution: To keep the dogs out of the bed consider a buried electric dog wire and electrical collar. For a few hundred dollars you can send a small electrical shock to the dog. These are humane and often very practical. A physical fence also will keep most dogs out of vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. One style is wire mesh fastened to steel posts. You should aim for it to stand about four feet tall and bury the mesh up to a foot beneath the ground to keep it in place if dogs come charging.
Problem: Worn ruts caused by pets who take the same path around the yard again and again.
Solution: A dog’s prey drive — desire to see or get to what’s on the other side — may cause him to patrol borders such as along driveways, fences and garage walls, Stolzer says. Putting a decorative pathway along their favorite routes and landscaping around it is a good way to beautify these areas. Cover pathways with soft materials like pine needles or leaves, because uncomfortable paving might send your pet on a new route.
Problem: Yard becomes dirt pit due to heavy paw traffic, particularly from multiple pets left out in the yard to romp, which can wear away grass in much-used areas.
Solution: Certain types of grass, like Bermuda, are sturdier than others. However, unless you have your entire yard re-sodded, which can be quite expensive, you are still going to have to wait for the new stuff to grow. That may mean putting a temporary (but pet-proof) barrier around the seeded area for some time, or limiting and monitoring your pets’ outdoor time until the area is ready.
Problem: Holes everywhere created by a curious or bored dog that digs for stimulation.
Solution: Chicken wire often will deter the most determined dog. Bury a bit, making sure to keep the edges deep so the dog doesn’t pull the whole thing up, and cover it up. If it’s in a garden, a layer of dirt or mulch will do the trick. Some choose to forgo grass altogether and cover chicken wire with gravel or wood chips.
You also can use bricks along with dirt to fill the holes. Most dogs will get discouraged after scraping their nails on the bricks. Sharp gravel has a similar effect. Stolzer also suggests the use of a “digging box,” which is an area specifically designated for digging. The trainer adds, however, that this is a “specialty recommendation.” Eight out of every 10 dogs, he says, will not dig if given the proper mental stimulation like walks and play time.
Problem: Scratched-up fencing, a sign of true boredom.
Solution: First, dog-proof the barrier door. Replace an easy-to-open gate latch with something sturdier. Slide bolts and chains are good locking solutions. If your dog is digging under the fence, lay down chicken wire from the bottom of the fence to a few feet underground as an extra provision. If you don’t want to dig yourself, you also can line the bottom of the fence with concrete blocks or paving stones that would be difficult to displace.
Problem: Bushes and plants become snacks for canines who like to chew.
Solution: It’s tough to train a dog not to do this, Stolzer says, because “those are normal and natural behaviors.” As such, the best means of defense may be a fence. A decorative trellis could deter a dog from approaching the plants. Buried electrical barriers also work without having to hide the landscaping. Many pet owners are concerned about putting plants in their gardens that will be harmful if eaten. The Animal Poison Control Center offers a complete list of potential dangers at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants, but Marden says you shouldn’t fret too much.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
4th of July PET SAFETY TIPS
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:
- Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
- Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
- Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets' reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
- Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
- Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
- Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
- Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
- Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.
Emergency Pet Care Tips that You Should Know
No matter what type of pet you call your own, you want to make sure that it is protected from disease and shielded from accidents and injury as much as possible. Although precautionary measures can greatly minimize the risk of your pet having a veterinary emergency, the fact is that it can happen anytime, and not necessarily at the most convenient time or place. Check out the articles below from About.com for some basic tips on what to do if your pet seems ill or injured. And always remember to seek the help of a reputable veterinarian at the first sign that your pet is in distress. Doing so will help make sure that you both live a long and happy life together!
Dogs: You know your dog better than anyone else does, so you will likely be the first to know if your dog starts displaying subtle signs of illness. Read this article for important information on recognizing signs that your dog needs to go to the vet. It will come in handy in case you ever notice something that seems abnormal about your pet.
Cats: It can be difficult to identify symptoms of illness in cats, so it’s important for cat owners to be familiar with common signs of feline disease and injury. Look here to learn how to recognize a sick cat as well as steps that every cat owner should take in the event of a veterinary emergency.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Six Tips for a Pet-Safe Summer
The last days of May signal the unofficial start of summer for folks, young and old, across the country. But with these carefree months of no homework and summer Fridays comes an increased risk for illness or injury for our furry pals.
From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' top six tips for keeping your family pets safe and secure all summer long.
From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' top six tips for keeping your family pets safe and secure all summer long.
- | Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat. | |
- | Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. | |
- | Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system. | |
- | Be cool near the pool. Don't leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or high waters—not all dogs are expert swimmers! | |
- | Never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car! The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with a window open. | |
- | Be prepared! From tornadoes to floods, we've seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families these past few weeks. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you're forced from your home in an emergency. |
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tell Congress to crack down on abusive puppy mills
Many of these large-scale commercial dog breeders do not even have to meet the bare minimum standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act, because they sell puppies directly to consumers over the Internet. But the U.S. Congress is considering the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, known as the "PUPS Act," to close this massive loophole in federal law and help to crack down on the worst puppy mill abuses.
Will you take a moment today to contact your federal legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the PUPS Act? Click here to take action. It's simple and only takes a minute.
This important federal legislation—introduced by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and David Vitter, R-La., and Representatives Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., Sam Farr, D-Calif., Bill Young, R-Fla., and Lois Capps, D-Calif.—would also require that dogs used for breeding be provided daily exercise. Breeding dogs can be kept at puppy mills for 10 or 12 years before they are "spent," and shouldn’t they at least be able to get out of their cages and stretch their legs?
It’s time to make sure that we have common-sense standards for the protection of dogs. By taking action today and contacting your federal lawmakers, you can make your voice heard and stand up for these animals who so desperately need our help.
Dogs should be treated like family pets, not like a cash crop. Will you do your part to help end the cruelty that thousands of dogs face every day in puppy mills? Thanks for all you do for animals.
Sincerely,
Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund
Mike Markarian
President
Humane Society Legislative Fund
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Pet tips for April 20, 2011
1. Walks are good for your dog…and you, too!
2. Remember that a dog cannot adjust to temperature changes as easily as you can. Instead of putting on or removing a sweater, a dog must regulate temperature changes internally.
3. There is no mistaking a physically and mentally healthy dog, especially one that is stimulated by an active environment.
4. Both praise and discipline must immediately follow a specific behavior: A dog will always associated praise and discipline with its most recent behavior.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)