Blogs > Pets Unleashed

Those who love their pets tend to enjoy all animals. Our animal owners are no different. Check in on News-Herald staffers Robin Palmer and Cheryl Sadler as they share their own animal tales and announce upcoming events in Lake and Geauga counties.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Mentor man needs home for his dogs

Chaucer
Jacob Carlin is in a bit of a bind.

He has to leave his Mentor house sometime in late October but cannot take his two dogs with him to his new residence.

So, Carlin is looking for a good home for his pets.

Separating the dogs is an option, but not preferred.

Here's a look and description of the dogs:

Chaucer, top, right, is a dachshund-beagle mix who is a little timid.

He was a rescue and Carlin is not sure of the dog's age.

T.H. is a basset hound who likes all kinds of people and does well with other dogs.

T.H.
T.H. was also a rescue and Carlin said the dog is at least 6 years old.

If you can adopt the dogs and give them a good home, give Carlin at call at 216-212-8030.

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com


Friday, September 28, 2012

Ponderings by Picasso

You know you're a Cleveland sports fan when:

The Browns fall a Hail Mary short of their first victory.

The Indians fire their manager before the season is officially over.

And best of all,  none of this surprises you.

Glad I'm a hockey fan.

Cleveland doesn't have an NHL team.

Later, P.


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Geauga Humane to hold low-cost spay, neuter clinic

Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village and PetFix Northeast Ohio have teamed up to help stop pet overpopulation.

A low-cost pet spay and neuter clinic will be Oct. 24 at Rescue Village, 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township.

This program provides low-cost spay/neuter for cats and dogs.

It is available to low-income families and individuals.

You do not have to live in Geauga County to qualify.

Fees vary by animal and weight, and range from  $30 to $70.

There are still limited openings
.
To register, call Erin at 440-338-4819, ext.14, or email at programs@geaugahumane.org.



-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Rabies Clinic at Lake Humane Society

In recognition of World Rabies Day, Lake Humane Society is holding a Rabies Clinic from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at its facility at 7564 Tyler Blvd., (Building E) in Mentor.
 
Lake Humane Society welcomes members of the community to bring their cats and dogs (no other type of animals) to get a rabies vaccination for just $10.
 
Both one-year and three-year vaccinations will be available. This is a walk-in clinic, so there might be a wait.

LHS also will offer microchipping at a discounted price of $20 (regularly $25).
 
Microchipping is the fastest and easiest way to reunite owners with their lost pet. 
Pets must be vaccinated for rabies in order to be microchipped.

If they have already had their rabies vaccination prior to the clinic, LHS requires proof of vaccination.

The following are clinic guidelines:
* Cash or credit card payment only, no checks
* Animals must be secured on a leash or in a carrier
* For safety reasons, LHS will not vaccinate aggressive animals or feral cats
* LHS reserves the right to refuse to vaccinate any animal for any reason
* Animals must be at least 4 months old to get vaccinated.
Since 1937, the Lake Humane Society has been dedicated to the welfare and protection of animals.

Operating as a private, nonprofit organization in Lake County, and the surrounding metropolitan areas, it is focused on the relief of suffering and the prevention of cruelty and abuse to animals.

The shelter strives to inform and educate children and adults in the humane and respectful treatment of all living creatures.

Donations are always welcomed.

If you have any questions, or want more information, call Jennifer Sperry, Lake Shelter operations manager and humane agent,at 440-951-6122, ext. 106, or email jmoats@lakehumane.org.

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

Friday, September 21, 2012

Ponderings by Picasso

I just love this time of year: Sunny days, cool nights.

Great sleeping weather.

Oh wait, it's always great sleeping weather for indoor cats like me.

What I really enjoy is sitting on the comfy couch and looking out the window.

Nothing is more amusing than watching a squirrel gathering acorns in our front yard.


Back and forth he goes. He digs a little hole, drops in his treasure and then repeats the process.

I get tired just watching him.

Oh, if only he had someone who opened up a can of food for him twice a day, and served him treats on the side.

Oh wait, that's my life.

Fend for yourself, rodent.

Later, P.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Ponderings by Picasso

The human Mom in my household is addicted to HGTV.

She loves watching "House Hunters" and seeing all those great-looking homes.

Now, she seems to be on a mission to re-do our home.

I keep hearing how she wants hardwood floors in the kitchen, along with new cabinets and countertops.

Boy, I hope she doesn't watch Animal Planet any time soon.

She might want a dog.

Later, P.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Search for the Next Great Original Internet Cat Video

What is the Internet good for, if not for cat videos? Now your cute cat videos can net you some cash and help out some cat shelters:

Friskies® Presents “The Friskies:” The Search for the Next Great Original Internet Cat Video

Cat Food Brand Launches Major Award for Best New Internet Cat Videos of 2012

ST. LOUIS – September 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Many great art forms have awards for the best new work created each year. Films have the Oscars®. TV shows have the Emmys®. And now, finally, Internet cat videos have “The Friskies.”
The Friskies® cat food brand is proud to announce “The Friskies,” a national contest to find and honor the best in original Internet cat videos with significant prizes and charity donations, including a $15,000 Grand Prize.
For years, people have been creating, posting and sharing Internet cat videos – just for fun. Now, cat owners and their cats have the opportunity to earn much more than giggles and skyrocketing video view totals. They have an opportunity to be recognized for their achievements.
“We love cat videos because they showcase the imagination of both cats and their owners,” said Shaun Belongie, Friskies brand manager. “Some may say that there are too many cat videos on the Internet already. We don’t think so. We’re launching ‘The Friskies’ because we think the next great cat video is just waiting to be discovered.”
“The Friskies” formally celebrates the genre of Internet cat videos by awarding cash prizes and trophies in specific categories. The contest also rewards the online community’s participation efforts with donations of Friskies cat food to cat charity organization partners. Friskies has committed to donate 125,000 cans of cat food to cat charity organization partners. Each time someone enters the contest, votes, or likes or shares a video; five additional cans of Friskies cat food will be added to the total number of cans to be donated, up to a total of 250,000 cans.
Contest Overview
The call for entries is open now through October 12 at www.TheFriskies.com. Up to Twelve finalists will be chosen for the judging and public voting phase in October, and winners will be announced in November. Each finalist will receive a one-year supply of Friskies cat food, and an original Friskies cat statue, the “Cat-uette.” The grand prize winner receives $15,000 and the honor of “Best Video,” and four category prize winners receive $2,500. The Cat-egories include:
  • Catness: The essence of cat behavior – moments of pure cat awesomeness
  • Catcom: Your cat in a humorous situation
  • Catventure: An indoor cat adventure
  • Catch All: For entries that don’t fit into one of the other categories
Entries must be original videos no longer than three minutes. Videos will be judged on originality, overall artistic impression, cinematography, technical production, audience appeal and entertainment quality, cat playfulness or quirks, sense of a story being told, and portraying cat’s perspective.
Contest Judges
For a contest of this magnitude, Friskies recruited a highly-qualified panel to judge the finalists’ videos. The judges hail from acclaimed professional backgrounds in art design, various aspects of the film industry, and cat lifestyle media:
  • Wayne White: Iconic folk artist, original set designer for Pee Wee’s Playhouse and star of this fall’s acclaimed documentary Beauty is Embarrassing.
  • Michael Showalter: Actor, comedian, cat humorist, and professor at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts known for co-writing the cult hit Wet Hot American Summer and as a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella.
  • Tim League: Film industry trendsetter known for founding Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, Rolling Roadshow and Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the nation.
  • Karen Nichols: Managing editor of award-winning online cat lifestyle magazine Mousebreath, and Internet cat video creator and aficionado.
Cat Shelters Nationwide To Benefit
The best Internet cat video stars and their directors aren’t the only winners of “The Friskies.” The contest is possible in part because many rescue cats have found happy homes…with owners who love sharing videos of their cats’ awesomeness on the Internet.
Based on numbers of entries, views and votes, Friskies will donate up to 250,000 cans of cat food to shelters and rescue organizations across the country. Twenty-five cat charity organizations each may receive 10,000 cans of Friskies cat food by the end of this year. Visit www.TheFriskies.com for more information about the charities, and the many ways to become part of “The Friskies.”
Contest Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age or older at the time of entry (19 years of age or older if a resident of AL or NE.) Entry period ends at 12:00:01 p.m. ET on 10/12/12. See Official Rules at www.TheFriskies.com. Sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO.
About Friskies
The Friskies® brand offers a complete line of great-tasting cat foods, including more than 60 wet, dry and treat varieties. Friskies is manufactured by Nestlé Purina PetCare, a global leader in the pet care industry. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis; Mo. Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company.
OSCARS® is a trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and EMMYS® is a trademark of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  All other trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. or used with permission.




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Friday, September 7, 2012

Ponderings by Picasso

My sister cat, Lil Girl (a.k.a. Wounded Paw) likes to aggravate me.

She enjoys sitting at the bottom of the steps and then taking a swipe at me when I try to get past her.

But the last few days I have caught a much-needed break from my tormentor.

It seems some creature (probably a field mouse or mole) has gotten inside the family room wall and is trying to scratch its way to freedom.

Lil Girl sits and stares at that wall for hours on end.

Sure, I wouldn't mind having a crack at the critter. Nothing tops off a can of Fancy Fest better than a mouse.

Yet, I am much more amused at watching Lil Girl watch the wall.

With apologies to Pink Floyd: All in all it's just another mouse in the wall.


Later, P.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

National Alpaca Farm Days are coming up!

Good news for those who love alpacas: National Alpaca Farm Days are less than a month away!

To learn more about National Alpaca Farm Days, check out the news release I recently received via email:

ALPACA FARMS NATIONWIDE CELEBRATE
NATIONAL ALPACA FARM DAYS

Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) invites you to visit their member farms and ranches on National Alpaca Farm Days on September 29th and 30th.  This is a unique opportunity for the public to explore the many aspects of the alpaca livestock industry in the United States and Canada.

From meeting these beautiful, inquisitive animals in person to experiencing luxurious alpaca products at individual farm stores, there will truly be something for everyone.

Visitors can also learn how alpacas are a green business opportunity, as they are animals that are sensitive to their environment in every respect!

While most alpaca farms welcome visitors throughout the year, National Alpaca Farm Days are sure to include special activities and educational opportunities.

For a complete list of participating farms and ranches, visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com.

About Alpacas
Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are beautiful, intelligent animals native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.  The United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984.  There are now more than 180,000 ARI (Alpaca Registry, Inc.) registered alpacas in North America.

There are two types of alpacas in the United States today.  Although almost physically identical, what distinguishes the two types of alpacas is their fiber.  The Huacaya (wa-Ki’-ah) is the more common of the two and has a fluffy, extremely fine coat.  The Suri (SUR-ee) is the rarer of the two and has fiber that is silky and resembles pencil-locks.

Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds.  They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors.  Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious and predictable.  Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming.

About Alpaca Fiber
Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every 12 to 18 months.  They produced five to 10 pounds of luxurious fiber.  Long ago, alpaca fiber was reserved for royalty.  Today it is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists.  Knitters buy it as yarn.

Because of its soft texture, alpaca fiber is sometimes compared to cashmere.  Making the fiber even more coveted, it has the luster of silk.  Alpaca fiber is just as warm as, yet 1/3 the weight of wool.  It comes in 22 natural colors, yet can be dyed any desired shade.

Containing no lanolin, alpaca fiber is also naturally hypoallergenic.  Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without the itching or irritation they feel from wool because alpaca fiber is smooth.  Additional performance characteristics include: stretch, water repellency and odor reduction.  For travelers, clothing made from alpaca is desirable because it is wrinkle-resistant.

Green Alpacas?
Alpacas come in 22 natural colors, but they are all green!

Sensitive to their environment in every respect, alpacas have soft padded feet instead of hooves and can leave even the most delicate terrain undamaged.  Damage to topsoil decreases long-term soil fertility and in the process, the soil is eroded and weed invasion is encouraged.

Alpacas prefer to eat tender grasses, which they do not pull up by the roots. Lacking upper teeth, alpacas “cut” the grass with their bottom teeth and upper palate.  This vegetation cutting encourages the plants’ growth.  Because they are modified ruminants with a three-compartment stomach, alpacas convert grass and hay to energy very efficiently and stop eating when they are full, further preserving the landscape on which they live.

However, alpacas do not mind eating brush, fallen leaves and other “undesirable” vegetation, leaving the “good stuff” for species that do not have the stomach to digest such roughage.

Alpacas’ pellet-like droppings are PH balanced and are an excellent, natural, slow-release, low-odor fertilizer.  This rich fertilizer is perfect for growing fruits and vegetables.  Because alpacas consolidate their feces in one or two communal spots in the pasture, it is easy to collect and compost, and the spread of parasites is controlled.

While alpacas are environmentally friendly … and even beneficial… to the land, what makes them even more “green” is the fiber they produce.  No chemicals are employed either during feeding or during the industrial production of alpaca fleece into fiber.  If dying is desired, only 20% of a normal dye quantity is required.

All fiber from an alpaca can be used.  Even the fiber from the lower legs, belly, neck, etc is being used for things such as natural weed mats to be placed around trees.  Alpaca fiber is biodegradable.

Alpacas require no insecticides, herbicides or fertilizers that pollute the groundwater.

About AOBA
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA) serves to facilitate the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the growth and development of the national herd and its products.  Since AOBA’s formation in 1988, its membership has grown steadily to more than 3,500 members with over 180,000 registered alpacas in North America.

To learn more about the alpaca industry, visit www.AlpacaInfo.com.  To find out more about National Alpaca Farm Days visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com.

I am hoping to celebrate National Alpaca Farm Days by visiting one or more of the local farms in our area. I did this a couple of years ago and had a great time petting the sweet animals and learning about their lives.



-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

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