It feels good to be back in the saddle again here at Talk2theAnimals! We’ve been down for a major renovation and facelift and now we are up and running. I hope you enjoy the new look and take time to explore the blog.  I invite you to leave any comments you may have in the comment section.

Meanwhile, many things have been occurring for myself and Talk2theAnimals.

In the early part of October, it was time to put my almost 17 year old perpetual puppy, Teddy, down. Teddy lived a long and happy life, and my dog Emmie and I have since been learning to integrate his absence into our lives.

And Max has been helping us.

Meet Max – a 4 year old part Black Lab/Staffordshire cross.  Max was found wandering the streets in one of the suburbs north of the Twin Cities.  When he was returned to his person, the person decided not to keep Max.  So Max went to one of the humane societies.

The humane society cared for Max to the best they were able. But he needs LOTS of exercise and they simply did not have the means to give him what he needed.  The result was Max became depressed and people passed him by. Nobody wanted to adopt a depressed dog.

So Max was in the shelter for approximately six weeks.  Somehow Midwest Animal Rescue Services (MARS) found out about Max, pulled him out of the shelter and put him under their care.  With MARS, Max got to go into foster care.

I found out about Max through an email one of my friends sent, who knew I was beginning the search for a new dog. I called MARS, filled out the adoption form and had the home inspection.  Then Emmie and I went to meet Max, Emmie approved of him and the rest is history.

I imagine you would not be surprised to hear that Max is a very laid back, talkative dog.  So much so that he has his own FaceBook Fan Page: IamMaxRoper.  Coming from a shelter, Max wants to help other dogs who are looking for homes, and he’s passionate about spreading the truth about how great black dogs are! Apparently in the shelter Max heard of ‘black dog syndrome‘ and he now has taken it upon himself to single pawedly put a stop to that. You can help him by becoming a fan on his IamMaxRoper fan page!

It is good to be back.  I’m looking forward to reconnecting with you.  Until tomorrow,

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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The No Kill 2009 Conference will be held on May 2-3, 2009 in Washington, DC.  From their site:

The No Kill Advocacy Center is teaming up with the Animal Law program at George Washington University Law School to bring together the nation’s most successful shelter directors and the nation’s top animal lawyers. They will help you create a No Kill community and teach you how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from animal control/shelter directors who are now saving over 90% of all animals using the building blocks to No Kill success—programs and services that have had results in both urban and rural communities—to increase adoptions, reduce length of stay, increase redemption rates, rehabilitate animals, and much, much more.

Learn from animal law experts who have challenged our legal system to help animals: Whether it’s drafting model laws, fighting breed specific legislation, eliminating the gas chamber, filing impact legislation, or protecting condemned dogs, learn how to use the legal system to save the lives of animals.

Learn from activists fighting entrenched and regressive shelters in their own community as they show you how to launch successful campaigns for reform.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Here we are in March, and it is officially Adopt-a-Rescued-Guinea-Pig Month.  While you are looking to adopt (not buy) your cuddly guinea pig, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• As with all pets, an adult should be the primary caretaker.
• Guinea pigs need ample room; their living quarters should be at least 18 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 14 inches high.  The larger their living space, the more active they will be.
• Aquariums do not provide adequate ventilation for guinea pigs.
• Guinea pigs chew to wear down their growing teeth so everything in the cage must be non-toxic.
• Use plenty of lining for the cage.
• Plenty of high quality hay provides nesting and snacking opportunities for your guinea pig.
• Your guinea pig will also need a gnawing log, platforms for climbing and tunnels for crawling, a food bowl and a water bottle with a sipper tube.
• Handle your guinea pig carefully as they are disposed towards stress.
• Introduce deep leafy green vegetables one day at a time, such as romaine lettuce, kale and collards.  Watch for any stomach upset.
• Guinea pigs like fruit such as melon slices and apples. Be sure to remove the toxic apple seeds.
• Because their cages double as bedding and litter box, the cages need daily cleaning.
• Guinea pigs are social animals, so you will want at least two.  However, make sure they are compatible as well as being of the same sex.

Check with your local Humane Society to adopt your guinea pigs.  The Guinea Pig Handbook by Sharon L. Vanderlip, D.V.M. is an excellent resource on care of your new guinea pig.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Need some bunny to love?  OK, sorry, that pun is bad, I must admit it.  But, should you need some bunny to love, February is the idea month to find that bunny.  An earlier post talked about what to look for when adopting a rabbit, and gave you some sites to check out.  If you live in Minnesota, you may want to check out the MN Companion Rabbit Society, located in Edina, MN.  Below is a rabbit lovers video, showing a mother bunny and her two babies, a fun video to watch.  Hop right to it and watch the video!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Hey Ho, Teddy here!  Me and Mom had a tug of war on who would write this post and I won!  HA!  That’s because I have strong teeth and I know how to hang on to things, and dog pals, there’s just some things I want to tell you, so I was determined to hang on until Mom let me write this post.  HA!

But she said I have to remind all you dog pals to tell your humans to keep you safe over this Valentine’s Day thing coming up.  So dog pals, just tell your humans to read this.

There, that’s done.  Now for the important stuff of what I’ve got to say!  HA!

So me and my sister Emmie and the cats were listening to Mom talk on the phone to one of her people pals about Valentine’s Day.  Apparently people give treats to each other, can’t be a bad day then, can it dog pals?  Well, we all thought it would be very nice if people would give their pets treats that day.  Mom must have heard us talking cuz she said something about giving us special treats that day.

But then Emmie, you know what she said dog pals?  She asked about those animals who are in the shelters who don’t have their own humans to give them treats!  Dog pals, I gotta tell ya, that made all of us think for awhile, cuz we were all adopted and we KNOW what it’s like to be in those shelters!

So we came up with a list that you dog pals can tell your humans to take to the shelters to give to the animals there who haven’t found their humans yet.  Me and Emmie and the cats think it would be a very good thing to do.

• Call your local shelter or humane society to find out how to donate and if they have any specific needs.
• Food is good!  Tell your humans to think of donating food and treats!  Also items like chew toys, kitty litter, bedding, blankets, rugs, pet carriers, crates, bowls, feeding trays, grooming items.
• Cleaning supplies so the humans can keep it clean for our dog pals!  Paper towels, bath towels, bleach, trash bags and cans, pooper scoopers, litter pans and kitty litter.
• I guess there’s a place called an office for the humans there.  Office equipment and supplies, computers, printers, phones, copiers and fax machines.
• Donate money, in case they need it for some exact stuff they need, or to help the sick dog pals; some dog pals might even need surgery!
• Tell your human to consider becoming a volunteer and donating their time.

You know, dog pals, some shelters may even need CARS! to take us dog pals in for rides.  HA!  So that’s why you gotta tell your humans to call first, and see what that specific shelter needs.

Oh, the cats said not to forget about the cats and kittens that are there at the shelters.  And Emmie said when she was in the shelter, she saw birds and rabbits and rats and gerbils and hamsters and guinea pigs; she said they need special treats and stuff too.

So dog pals, I think if all us dog pals pull together and tell our humans, the animals in the shelters will have a good Valentine’s Day too!

Over & out,

Teddy

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Looking to adopt a family pet?  Have you thought of adopting a rabbit?  February is Adopt a Rabbit Month.  Here’s some information to help you decide if adopting a rabbit is right for your family.

• Life expectancy of a rabbit is 5-15 years.
• Rabbits need daily care and interaction with their humans.
• Rabbits are indoor creatures, and require a safe home environment.
• Rabbits are heat sensitive and require the temperature to be monitored.
• Rabbits are fragile and need to be handled carefully.

For more bunny information, check out these sites:

Best Friends

MN Compaion Rabbit

Humane Society of the United States

As with any other pet, adopt, don’t buy.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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There are many details and issues to be looked at and considered before taking on the responsibility of a new pet. Here’s a list to consider before adopting:

• Does everyone in the family want a pet?
• Is your lifestyle compatible with having a pet?
• Who will take responsibility for the care of the pet?
• What care is involved with the pet?
• Is the pet prone to any hereditary diseases, for instance hip dysplasia?
• Does the pet need to be groomed? If so, how often?
• What type of food does the pet require?
• What type of exercise does the pet require?
• Where will the pet be sleeping?
• What vet will you use?
• What age of pet do you want to adopt?
• What’s involved if you adopt an older pet?
• What’s involved if you adopt a youngster?
• What do you need to prepare your house for your new pet?
• What type of personality will fit best with your family?
• How is the potential pet with children, cats or dogs?

Taking time for thoughtful consideration and planning will help the transition for all involved when bringing a new pet into the household. You are choosing a new family member who can be with you 10 years or more. Select the right pet and you and your new pet partner can enjoy those years to the fullest!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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The humane society where I volunteer my communication skills regularly takes some of the animals off site for adoption days. On these days, people are scurrying around, making sure everything and everyone is taken care of and accounted for. The scene looks as if the humans are in the middle of the hub-bub, and the animals have nothing to do but sit in their cages and look cute. According to the animals, they play a much bigger role than humans give them credit. One said this about how she perceives her job:

“I am the ambassador for our kind when I travel off site. That is my job, and I love doing it. You humans don’t realize how much we animals do and take on in helping you find good homes for us. We appreciate what you do for us, and you couldn’t do it without us. We hope that you acknowledge our part a little bit more. Just like you want to find good homes for us, we want to go to good homes. Remember, you are not doing this by yourself, but you have our help. Each one of us helps in different ways, the way our training and personality allows us to help. Remember, you’re not doing this by yourself. That’s it. Thanks for listening to this little added extra I had to say.”

Her honesty, wisdom and willingness to help made me wonder how often we deny an animal’s help because we think it’s our job to help them. How often do we allow our ego to interfere in developing a true relationship with animals, a relationship that is ‘power with’ instead of ‘power over’?

In an earlier posting, my horse Shiloh, never too shy about speaking up, said “Just because you’re human and it’s your idea, that doesn’t always constitute a good idea.” He’s not necessarily discounting my idea, he simply wants to be able to add his opinion to the discussion, to be an equal partner in our relationship, instead of one of us having power over the other. In our world that translates to the person having power over the animal.

How many times have you heard or said: ‘you’ve got to show then who’s the boss’, or ‘you can’t let them get away with that’. This evening I was reading a posting on the blog camera-obscura about a situation where the horse wasn’t doing what was asked of him (or her). She ends the post by saying “…I no longer see my encounters with my horses as a series of battles I must make sure to win. Rather, I see my encounters with my horses as opportunities to have a conversation, to make a connection, and to find places where both I and the horse can be calm and happy.”

Don’t you wonder what the world would be like if people saw their encounters with animals as opportunities for conversation, opportunities for connection? Too many times in our relationships with the animals, our egos interfere with what they have to say. At times we also deny their help, thinking it’s our job to help them.

Help is never a one way street, from us to the animals only. It’s a two way street, with the animals helping us in the ways their training and personalities allow.

We all do better when all creatures do better. In order to create a world where this is genuinely true, it’s time for us humans to relax the reins of control, and accept the help the animals are willing to give.

Janet Roper

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Aren’t they cute? How can you say no to those good looking faces? Even animals as good looking as these guinea pigs find themselves abandoned and looking for a home.

If you’re looking for a guinea pig, March is the official time to adopt one. Of course, there are eleven other unofficial months in which you can adopt a guinea pig. As they say at cavyspirit.com, a guinea pig education, rescue and adoption site, ‘Adopt…don’t shop, please!’

Did you know:

A guinea pig’s life span is 4-8 years

The average male weighs 2-2.5 pounds, and th average female weighs 1.5-2 pounds

Guinea pigs are social animals doing better in groups. When you adopt, think pairs

Nails need to be trimmed every 4-6 weeks

Guinea pigs like a variety of fresh veggies and some fruit in their diet

Most guinea pigs like to play hide and seek

Guinea pigs are not related to pigs

Guinea pigs are members of the rodent family

Different breeds have different fur lengths. Long-coated guinea pigs need regular grooming

Guinea pigs need to have Vitamin C supplemented in their diet, as their bodies don’t manufacture it

Janet Roper

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