Archived Message of "Natural Pet News"
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NATURAL PET NEWS
February 6th, 2003 Edition

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This newsletter is sponsored by TheHerbsPlace.com
Shop for natural supplements and healthy pet foods.
Natural *HEARTWORM* program and prevention too!

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A NOTE FROM RANDAL
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Hi Everyone,

Hope you are enjoying our new site and all the changes that have been made.

I don't normally include a joke in this ezine like I do in our ezine for
herbs and vitamins. However, I want to include one today. Hope you enjoy
it!

****

As I drove into a parking lot, I noticed that a pickup truck with a dog
sitting behind the wheel was rolling toward a female pedestrian.

She seemed oblivious, so I hit my horn to get her attention.

She looked up just in time to jump out of the way of the truck's path, and
the vehicle bumped harmlessly into the curb and stopped.

I rushed to the woman's side to see if she was all right.

"I'm fine," she assured me,

"but I hate to think what could have happened to me if that dog hadn't
honked."

From Pastor Tim's CleanLaugh List - http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh href="http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh"> Click Here


Have a tail-wagging day!

Randal


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PETS IN THE NEWS
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PET OWNERS SAY THEY DERIVE HEALTH BENEFITS - by Benjamin Gershgorn

Ninety-two percent of respondents to a survey recently conducted by the
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) indicated that they have derived
health benefits from their pets.

"Pets are becoming more than just a member of the family," said AAHA
president-elect Link Wellborn. "They are central to a healthy lifestyle."

Other results of the poll, which was taken by 1,242 individuals at
AAHA-accredited veterinary facilities in the United States and Canada, bear
that out. Of the respondents:

* 76 percent believe their stress levels are reduced by their companion
animals

* 65 percent think their mental health is improved by their pets

* 31 percent feel their physical fitness has been improved by providing
exercise for their companion animals

The survey showed that pet owners are concerned about their companion
animals‚ health. Ninety-three percent of the respondents indicated that they
take their pets in for regular checkups, and 48 percent indicated they‚d
taken up to two days off from work to be with a sick companion animal.

"Pet owners are going to greater lengths to keep their pets happy and
healthy," said Wellborn.

© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc.


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PET HEALTH NEWS
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ISRAELI PETS GET CHEMICAL SAFETY KITS

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israelis bracing for possible Iraqi chemical or
biological attacks can take comfort in the knowledge that their pets will be
safe.

Supergum, a private manufacturer of nuclear, biological and chemical
protective gear, has developed a kit for animals, which the company says is
the first of its kind.

"People have been calling us for months asking what solution we could offer
for their pets and now we have one," Roni Srour, vice president of the Tel
Aviv-based firm, told reporters on Thursday.

Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War (news - web
sites), killing one person and causing considerable damage.

With a possible U.S.-led attack on Baghdad looming, Israelis are preparing
for more Iraqi missile strikes, this time possibly with chemical or
biological warheads.

Supergum's kits come in three sizes and cost between 890 and 1,700 shekels.
They include plastic bubbles, which will seal animals inside cages, and air
filters and blowers to supply purified air.

Israelis preparing sealed rooms will have to use gas masks to filter out
chemical agents but animals will not tolerate a mask for more than a few
minutes.

The kits contain four batteries that last six hours and can be changed, said
Zeev Scheiner, the veterinarian who tested the equipment on dogs, cats and
birds.

"They do not have any effect on the animal's health but (for) animals who
are claustrophobic or nervous, we can give them animal Valium," Scheiner
said.

Srour said the company was preparing to sell the kits to Israel's police and
army for their dogs.


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DOG TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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KINDLY STAY OFF ME!

Attempting to get rid of dog behavior problems such as jumping up seems to
bring out a dark, albeit imaginative, side of human nature. But training can
be accomplished much more humanely and effectively using positive
reinforcement. Here are some ideas for getting your dog to stop leaping
gleefully for your chest as an expression of his affection.

To get all the details go here


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CAT TRAINING/BEHAVIORAL HELP
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HOW TO GET SOME SLEEP

Cats are nocturnal. It is normal for them to be active at night. If you find
this annoying, rather than punish your cat for following her natural
activity schedule, train her to shift her active phase to earlier in the
evening or later in the morning. You might find it easier to provide kitty
with quieter nighttime activities that are less intrusive on your sleep; and
don't let kitty use your bed and bedroom as the playing field. Read more
about rambunctious and hyperactive behavior.

Who's Training Who? The first rule of treating this behavior problem is not
to make matters worse. One reason your cat is acting this way is because you
are allowing him to. Some owners actually get up and play with their cat,
thinking he is lonely. Others feed the cat and then wonder why kitty wakes
them up in the middle of the night. Basically they have been training and
rewarding him to do so. Certainly you should be sensitive to your cat's
needs and feelings, but if he is lonely or hungry, then play with him or
feed him earlier in the evening.

Day or Night Shift Nighttime activities are the norm for nocturnal animals
such as cats. Given the choice, a cat would sleep all day long and then
about eight or nine in the evening, she would get up, stretch, scratch,
eliminate and go about the business of being a cat. Cats are most active
from middle/late evening to the early hours of the morning. The only thing
wrong is that the cat's activity schedule is 180 degrees out of phase with
yours. All that needs to be done is to change your cat's working schedule
from night-shift to day-shift. This is much easier than it sounds.

You cannot expect your cat to sleep 24 hours a day. He needs to play
sometime. If you find his nightly play sessions bothersome, then make sure
your cat plays earlier. If you do not provide him with some kind of daytime
activity, he will spend the day asleep. Rather than letting your cat snooze
all evening while you are watching Oprah or Jeopardy, turn off the tube, get
down on the floor and play with your cat. Tie a feather or piece of crumpled
paper to a length of string and run around the house dragging it behind.
Train your cat to climb his scratching post; train him to fetch and run back
and forth between you and a friend. Visit your local pet store and look for
new and interesting toys for your cat. Make toys of your own. Most cats have
a wonderful time rolling around inside a large, open paper bag or box
sprinkled with catnip. The "Cat Dancer" toy is also extremely appealing to
most cats. Try to tire out your cat early in the evening. This will greatly
increase the likelihood that he will sleep at night.

The more regular you make the cat's new routine, the quicker he will adjust.
Schedule feedings and playtime at regular intervals that are appropriate for
the schedule you wish your cat to keep.

Patience Anytime during the day or evening when you see your cat sleeping -
wake him up! Gently be a pest just like he is towards you at 3 in the
morning. Don't let him sleep. Insist that he play with you now. In 10 days
to 2 weeks your cat will sleep all night long because he has been sleep
deprived during the day and because he is content that his needs are being
filled. It may take 10 days to 2 weeks to reset kitty's internal clock so
don't be discouraged that during this time, even though you are doing every
thing right, he will still automatically wake up or think he wants to play
in the wee hours of the morning. Just wait it out. If you give up too soon,
you will have to start all over again.

Sneak Attacks After you have provided an enjoyable and acceptable outlet for
your cat's stir crazy periods, it is time to teach him that bothering you by
jumping on your face or meowing outside the bedroom door is one big mistake.
Each time your cat bothers you, give him a quick squirt with a water sprayer
that is kept on the bedside table. Use only plain water in the squirter.
After only a couple of squirts, your cat will get the idea. If he is meowing
outside the bedroom door, first reach for the water sprayer, quietly get out
of bed and creep towards the door, then suddenly fling the door open, squirt
the cat and then immediately shut the door. Try to stay alert for five
minutes, waiting by the door with the water sprayer ready in case of a
second attack.

Some cats actually enjoy being squirted in the face with water. If this is
your cat, then obviously it's silly to use a squirt bottle. Try to think of
something the cat doesn't like, such as a loud noise or a blast from a
cannister of compressed air used to dust of camera lenses. Often just the
sound of the hissing air sends the cat fleeing. Read how cats learn

Warning - No Cheating If you think you can use the sneak attack portion of
training without providing your cat with an alternative outlet for his
activity needs, you're in for a big, unpleasant surprise. Your cat will
become frustrated and maybe even angry. You will create a problem far worse
than the one that exists. Frustrated, angry cats often urinate all over the
house and indulge in destructive behavior. So . . no cheating!

Article was found here:


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GOOD NEWS PET STORY
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Since we live in Virginia and only an hour from Richmond, I found this story
very exciting. Maybe it will give somebody else on our subscriber list a
vision of inspiration for their own local shelters. Here's the website with
photos:

STATE-OF-THE-ART ANIMAL SHELTER TO OPEN by Sherry Morse

The Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in
Virginia is going to open what is being called the most innovative pet
adoption facility in the world on October 19th.

The Robins-Starr Humane Center will consist of canine "living rooms," feline
"condos," individual adoption rooms, a humane library, an auditorium, a
jogging track, an obedience training room and a hospital and spay/neuter
clinic.

"We want the community to use the Humane Center not only as a place to adopt
animals, but as a place to have fun, get exercise, take classes and spend
time with animals," said Richmond SPCA Executive Director and Chief
Executive Officer Robin Robertson Starr.

The facility took approximately three years to complete. The design was
based on information collected by Richmond SPCA officials during tours of
animal shelters in San Francisco, Kansas City, Omaha and other cities in the
United States.

"The Richmond SPCA set out to create a world-class facility and they've done
just that," San Francisco SPCA President Ed Sayres stated. "The leaders of
the humane industry will be visiting Richmond to see the new standard in
humane care and education."

"The opening of the Center is a major step towards the SPCA's ultimate goal
- ending the use of killing as a means of population control for companion
animals in the Richmond area," said Starr. "By focusing on community
awareness and prevention, we intend to achieve that goal by the year 2008 at
the latest. I urge other communities across the country to join us in our
efforts."

© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc.


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If you enjoyed what you read please forward
this newsletter to your pet-loving friends.

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DISCLAIMER:
The stories, suggestions, and information in this newsletter are not meant
to diagnose or prescribe. If your pet has a medical problem, you may want
the advice and recommendations of a veterinarian. All stories and
information content that is passed along in this newsletter is for
informational purposes only and is not necessarily endorsed by its sponsor,
"The Herbs Place,com." This is a personal publication by Randal Watkins.
The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or
authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall
Randal Watkins or the above-mentioned website be liable for any damages
whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of
this information or its publication, including any action for infringement
of copyright or defamation.

http://www.healthypetcorner.com
Healthy Pet Corner.com

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