We are advised by the Bible not to cast our pearls before the swine.

However, one enterprising company believes it is perfectly legitimate to impress your pooch, Fifi, with her own genuine pearl necklace. I mean, collar. No, necklace. Well, maybe a collar.

In any event, Oriental Pearls - a web-based jewelry business - offers a wide assortment of pearl baubles and bangles. Including a string of 7mm to 8mm pearls suspended on a stretchable plastic thread that is finished with a sterling silver clasp.

And if Gigi's neck is a little too large and causes the necklace/collar to be too snug than the buyer can custom order another length with more pearls.

Oh, yes, you can order either white pearls or pink pearls.

Best of all, the necklace/collar enjoys a post-holiday bargain price of $19.97; down from the original asking price of $69.99.

For more information, visit www.OrientalPearls.com.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com.

Make your day a little more bearable with a weekly feature on Pets Unleashed: Animal Crackers. Think of it as a mid-week snack that just might crack you up. This month, I hope to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

This week, I bring you resolutions for 2009 from the cats at I Can Has Cheezburger?:



Happy holidays!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

BOSTON — The late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s dog, Splash, who was the star of a children’s book about Capitol Hill, has died.

Kennedy’s widow, Vicki, announced his death in an e-mail Thursday. She calls the 13-year-old Portuguese water dog “a world-class fetcher of tennis balls and a meeter and greeter of presidents, senators, congressmen and even foreign dignitaries.”

Splash may be best known for the 2006 children’s book Kennedy wrote from Splash’s point of view, called “My Senator and Me: A Dog’s Eye View Of Washington, D.C.”

Splash also made news after President Barack Obama took office.

Kennedy gave the Obamas their dog, Bo, also a Portuguese water dog.

The president had promised his daughters during his campaign to get them a puppy if he won.

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

In the spirit of the season, I present this festive list for all you cat lovers on Christmas.

My personal favorite from the "50 cats in Santa hats" list:

 --Danielle Capriato
DCapriato@News-Herald.com

Make your day a little more bearable with a weekly feature on Pets Unleashed: Animal Crackers. Think of it as a mid-week snack that just might crack you up. This month, I hope to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

This week, I bring you Animals of YouTube singing "Deck the Halls":


Happy holidays!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

SEEKERS Cafe, at 9443 Mentor Ave., Mentor, is hosting an art show fundraiser, "Christmas Cats," through Dec. 30.

Art and pet enthusiasts are invited to stop by.

The paintings will be sold and the proceeds will go to Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue, which has a cat sanctuary in Concord Township.

A variety of artists from the area, including Mardi Snyder and Luke Gifford, are participating.

Call SEEKERS for details at 440-255-Java.

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

Make your day a little more bearable with a weekly feature on Pets Unleashed: Animal Crackers. Think of it as a mid-week snack that just might crack you up. This month, I hope to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

This week, I bring you dogs singing "Jingle Bells":



Happy holidays!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

I was asked to pass this on. Hope you can help Noel this holiday season.

The City of Cleveland Kennel takes in strays found the city of Cleveland picked up by animal control. With today’s economic crisis and the number of people losing their homes on the rise, countless animals are being neglected. 
These include pregnant dogs, injured dogs and abandoned dogs.
Depending on the time of year, the kennel takes in an average more than 75 dogs a week. It is the most overlooked animal control facility in the area. Only a small percentage of the dogs that end up at the kennel are claimed by their owners, the rest are left to fate. Some are transferred to other shelters, some go to rescue organizations and a few of the lucky ones are adopted from the kennel.
Recently, a 4-month-old puppy was dumped at the kennel. Hardly recognizable as a dog, this sweet puppy is almost completely bald and her skin is raw and swollen, according to kennel officials. 
She is one of the worst cases of mange, usually caused by neglect and poor diet, Becca Britton, director of Friends of the Cleveland Kennel has ever seen. Volunteers named the puppy Noel.
Dogs like Noel are easily passed up because of all the other “healthy” dogs needing a place to go.  Through no fault of her own, Noel’s fate would, in most cases, be certain death.
Despite her poor health and painful skin condition, Noel is a happy, affectionate puppy who wants nothing but love.  Friends of the Cleveland Kennel are in urgent need of funds as well as a foster home for her.
If you can help out, call 216-534-0624 or email becca@friendsofclevelandkennel.com

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

I'm here to tell you that miracles do happen and prayers are answered.

About this time Thursday night, I was walking the streets around my Eastlake home, calling out for Tracy, the 7-year-old female boxer/bulldog/terrier mix who had wandered away from our home thanks to my inexcusable absent-mindedness. She was nowhere to be found in bone-chilling chilling cold. My mind raced and my heart sank as I finally gave up the search in the wee hours.

Move forward 24 hours, and Tracy is on the couch in the TV room, curled up into my wife as is her custom.

What happened?

Stripped to the essentials, Tracy was returned to her loving humans at 2 p.m. Friday by Tim Frimel, a Willowick resident who had collaborated with his friend, Mark Gehrisch, to rescue Tracy. Mark found her wandering on Roberts Road, about 1/4 mile from our home, just before 7 p.m. Thursday. He called her over and got her into the car. I wasn't there, but knowing Tracy and how much she loves people and going places in vehicles, I'm guessing it was a snap.

Mark couldn't keep Tracy overnight, so he called Tim and asked him to take care of Tracy until morning. Tim did that and quickly learned what Marcia and I have known for years, that Tracy is gentle, affectionate and a lot of fun.

By noon Friday, Tim had done a web search for "Lost dog, Eastlake, Ohio'' and quickly come upon the Petfinder.com "Lost Dog'' ad for Tracy that I'd submitted at about 3 a.m. Friday. The confirminng e-mail from Petfinder warned that the ad might not be posted for 24 to 48 hours, but the turnaround was much quicker than that.

Tim read the written part of the ad, got the phone numbers and called our house. I was on the line with Lake  Humane Society, supplying information for another "Lost dog'' report when a telephone number I didn't recognize flashed on call waiting. I switched over to the new call, said "Hello'' and heard these words: "I'm Tim, I live in Willowick and I have your dog.''

 I must start this mass "thank you'' with words of high praise for Mark and Tim. They are dog owners and great guys. From where my wife and I sit, they are heroes.

During the hours Tracy was missing, so many people went out of their way to take information, write up reports, make suggestions and offer encouragement. They worked at Eastlake City Hall, Eastlake Police Dept., Eastlake Service Dept. the Lake County Dog Warden's office, a half-dozen or so police departments, Eastlake-area businesses and at The News-Herald, where the kindnesses included the printing of fliers and a "Lost Dog'' profile of Tracy received, edited and placed on our website's "Pets Unleashed'' blog on night deadline.

Thanks to my brothers Don and Dan and niece Abby for the Friday morning search and flier-posting.

Thanks to all of you who called on the phone or sent sympathetic e-mails after hearing about Tracy's disappearance or reading about it in the "Pets Unleashed'' piece or the subsequent Facebook and Twitter posts.

Many of you said would pray for Tracy's safe return.

Your prayers were heard and answered.

-- David S. Glasier

The Geauga County Dog Warden wants you to know that a county dog tag is your dog’s ticket home.
 
The fee is only $10 and the money goes for the care of the 700-plus dogs that come to the shelter each year.

To buy a tag, visit the office at 12513 Merritt Road, Claridon Township, or call 440-286-8135.



-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

This is a plea from a Eastlake resident David S. Glasier:
Have you seen this dog, my beautiful dog?
Her name is Tracy. She is a 7-year-old bulldog/boxer/terrier mix who wandered away from our home, on Beachpark Ave., shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Tracy weighs 45 pounds and is an extremely friendly animal who loves humans. other dogs and cats. She is golden brown with a white chest, white markings and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
She is not wearing a collar with license and ID because, as I’ve done so many times before, I left it off while she went into the back yard to do her business. She always does so quickly and immediately answers my command to return to the house.
On Thursday night, I let Tracy down because I was so distracted that I forgot she was outside and drove away to fulfill an obligation that kept me away from home until 9:30 p.m. It was shortly after that, when my wife asked me to take her outside, that we realized Tracy was not in the house.
Tracy is a strong, energetic,inquisitive dog who rarerly barks. When I didn’t quickly return to call her inside, I’m assuming she got confused and started moving to keep warm. I pray with every fiber of my being that she be found safe, warm refuge in someone’s home or business in the north Eastlake area.
If you have Tracy, or you’ve seen her, please contact me at 440-951-7274, 440-749-4687 or 440-749-7980 or e-mail nhtvguy@aol.com.
A reward is offered for her safe return.

Boots wasn't given the boot, but her owners left her in an abandoned house when they moved away.

Boots is available for adoption through Animal Rescue Center.

According to ARC officials, Boots is a very sweet and affectionate black and white cat, only about a year old.

She is vet-checked, Felv negative, up to date on shots, dewormed, flea treated and is spayed.

Her adoption fee is $20.

For more information on Boots, contact the Animal Rescue Center, 36370 Vine St., Eastlake, e-mail animalrescuecenter@yahoo.com or call 440-942-1753.

The website is arc-ohio.org

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

Make your day a little more bearable with a weekly feature on Pets Unleashed: Animal Crackers. Think of it as a mid-week snack that just might crack you up. This month, I hope to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

This week, I bring you horses singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas":



Happy holidays!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village will host a special holiday pet adoption event from noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 17. A 20 percent discount will be given for all animal adoptions. The facility is at 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township.

The family tabby is Wildlife Enemy Number One, standing accused by scientists of killing at least 480 million birds annually in the United States.

A peer-reviewed report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says that bird predation by feral cats also results in an economic loss of $17 billion each year.

The school’s “Feral Cats and Their Management” report further explores the issue, noting that in the U.S. the feral cat population is pegged at more than 60 million felines. And the population is growing rapidly, also notes the American Bird Conservancy.

Some of the reports other findings were:

n Most feral cats (up to 80 percent) carry a parasite responsible for what is called toxoplasmosis, which is a condition of special concern to pregnant women.

n Cats are directly responsible over the years for the extinction of no fewer than 33 bird species worldwide.

n Take into account the birds killed by household cats allowed to prowl outdoors during the day or night, and the total annual bird kill in the U.S. could be one billion individuals.

n Feeding feral cats encourages congregation of the animals which can encourage the spread of disease.

n The life expectancy of a feral cat is 3 to 5 years while it is 15 years for an owned cat.

Ohio wildlife officials agree that cats are a major source of wildlife predation, particularly as it applies to song birds and small game birds. And the problem is not just with wild cats, either, state wildlife officials say.

“Cats are very efficient predators and can have a very big impact on wildlife,” said Dan Kramer, wildlife administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s District Three (Northeast Ohio) office in Akron

As for which bird species is at greatest risk, Kramer says “take your pick.”

“Everything from robins to house wrens to mourning doves are in jeopardy,” Kramer says. “And just about any newly fledged bird is susceptible, too. These birds are often not well concealed and not experienced at evading predators. This report does drive home the point.”

Other vulnerable critters to feral cat predation are baby cottontail rabbits, which Kramer says “are easy prey.”

“Chipmunks are another wildlife species that are heavily preyed upon by feral cats,” Kramer said. “Feral cats will kill wildlife no matter how well fed they are, too. Certainly, responsible cat owners should keep their pets indoors.”

The Bird Conservancy agrees, likewise noting that the practice of “trap, neuter and release” has done little to stem the rising tide of a growing feral cat problem.

“Communities seeking a solution to their feral cat problems need to consider the science on the issue and the well-being of animals impacted by feral cats as well as the cats themselves,” says Darin Schroeder, Vice-president for Conservation Advocacy for the American Bird Conservancy.

“These other animals - birds especially - don’t deserve to die at the hands of a predator introduced into their environment by irresponsible pet owners.”


- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com.

He was a six-month old Yorkie/Terrier mix – injured, abandoned and found wandering the streets of Lake County on November 4.


But a good samaritan was kind enough to bring this little guy, named Toby, to the Mentor Veterinary Clinic.

The owner, Dr. William Fraser – who also owns Brightwood Animal Hospital in Mentor – donated his services to perform surgery on Toby and implant a pin to repair his right femur, according to the Lake Humane Society.

Also, some stubborn puppy teeth were removed and he was neutered.

“Thanks to the loving care provided by a temporary foster home, Toby is recovering quickly and will soon be ready for placement in his new forever home,” the Humane Society said.

However, despite Toby’s happy ending, there are still so many sick and injured animals that have been cared for through the Lake Humane Society Foster Care Program.

With the holiday season in our midst, I think we tend to focus mainly on families and people in need. Of course, this is a beautiful concept as so many families are and should be helped every year by community efforts.

But when I read about Toby, it reminded me that there are other pockets of society in need of a helping hand as well. They just don’t necessarily have the voice to say so.

The Humane Society said foster families “provide a loving temporary home for animals that are in transition to a permanent home.” The length of stay varies with some foster pets needing a home for several days, while others may need several months of care.

“Our Foster Care Program is in desperate need of volunteers to provide temporary homes for sick and injured cats, dogs, puppies and kittens,” said Foster Care Coordinator Ulyssa Spring. “Foster families also help us prepare our animals for adoption into permanent homes as well as prevent overcrowding in our shelter.”

While Toby’s medical care was donated by Fraser, the care and treatment of many other animals has been made possible by the Lake Humane Society’s Angel Fund.

Hopefully more animals, like Toby, will get a second chance this holiday season.

If you are interested in providing foster care, donating to the Angel Fund or learning more about the Foster Program, please visit the Lake Humane Society Shelter at 7564 Tyler Boulevard, Bldg E in Mentor or call Ulyssa Spring, Foster Care Coordinator at 449-951-6122, ext.106.

For more information on the Lake Humane Society, visit www.lakehumane.org.

-- Cassandra Shofar
CShofar@News-Herald.com

Make your day a little more bearable with a weekly feature on Pets Unleashed: Animal Crackers. Think of it as a mid-week snack that just might crack you up. This month, I hope to get everyone in the holiday spirit.

This week, I bring you videos about cats and Hanukkah.

Cat Plays With Dreidel:


Cat Extinguishes Menorah:



Happy holidays!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com