Arnold's Free Ride

Being a single mom, one of my "Great Ideas" (at the time) was to raise piglets and sell halves. Not only would we make money but we would have yummy bacon and ham in the freezer. Soon we had three adorable pink and white piglets rooting around in a pen. Their names...Hammy Faye Baker, Arnold Snorztenegger, and Pinky-Jo Curly Tail.

At first all went well, they didn't eat much and were very friendly, standing up on their little hind legs to greet us every morning. My "Great Idea" included going to various fruit and vegetable stands to gather older produce and feed them for free. We picked "pig weed" along the sides of the road and went to the Hostess store to buy all the past due cakes and bread to supplement their diet. They chowed down on pigweed and veggies like there was no tomorrow, but they would only sniff suspiciously at the Hostess goodies and fruit. Pigs are extremely smart and have an incredible ability to change food into fat at an extremely rapid rate, and soon they were three obese, waddling, 250 pound porkers.

About this time, Hammy, Arnold, and Pinky-Jo decided that there was more of the world to see than their little pen. After all, that yummy stuff they get every day had to come from somewhere... they did their level best... daily... to get out and find more. I tried hot wire. Hammy Faye would short it out shoveling dirt against it with her snout. We tried wooden boards. Arnold would run at it and throw himself, trotters scrambling wildly, up and over the boards. We tried hog wire. All three would stand up on their hind legs and put their front feet up on the wire, walking slowly forwards until the wire bent enough that they could just clamber over the top. They were three little piggy geniuses.

One day I received a phone call from my neighbor down the road. "Your pigs are out."

The boys and I hitched up the horse trailer and high-tailed it down the road where we found the pigs corralled in a rather large pasture/pen. I was able to back the trailer into a corner. With the door open against the fence on one side, it made a fairly good trap. We attempted to get the pigs into the corner so they could have nowhere to go but into the horse trailer. They ambled unconcernedly up to the trailer when herded, but at the door they stopped and eyed the dark interior suspiciously. Suddenly, Hammy let out a grunting snort and all three scattered like startled deer.

I tried to jump in front of Arnold, but he plowed through my legs at a gallop with me spread face down across his back.

You would think a grown woman riding a half-grown pig would be tiring, but I swear he enjoyed it. All three pigs hurtled around the pasture like little pink racehorses, with me hanging on for dear life. About the third lap around the pasture I lost my grip and fell hard, bouncing like a super-ball across the mucky pasture.

As I lay gasping for breath, Keegan and Garry (my two boys) quietly walked Hammy Faye and Pinky-Jo up to the trailer where they loaded quietly. Arnold refused to get into the trailer. I drove the other two pigs home, and got a bucket of pig feed and a lasso.

Back to the neighbor's I went, Keegan and Garry happily anticipating the fact that Mom was about to do something entertainingly stupid once again. I lassoed Arnold around the neck and found that a combination of pouring little piles of food in front of him and pulling him from pile to pile would get him to follow me. Unfortunately, I lived about a half a mile up the road. At this rate it would take at least a day.

I looked around and spied the neighbor's tractor. It had a large bucket on the front and a blade in the back. Keegan started up the tractor and pulled up next to Arnold. Garry poured the last of the pig feed into the tractor bucket while I pushed and pulled, finally shoving Arnold into it. Keegan lifted the bucket about 2 feet off of the ground while I clambered in along side of Arnold to "steady" him. At first, Arnold wasn't sure he liked this, but as we headed up the driveway and onto the road headed home, he quickly relaxed, even standing with his front feet on the rim of the bucket, ears flapping in the wind like some bizarre Cocker Spaniel.

I can only imagine the picture we made: two young boys driving a tractor with their mother, both legs dangling over the edge of the bucket, hanging onto a lasso tied to a large pig that was showing every indication of enjoying the ride immensely. I won't go on about the looks we received from passing motorists, but Keegan and Garry waved happily at their slack jawed faces as they slowly passed us.

Soon after that, I sold the pigs. I could not butcher them. I have not raised pigs since then... I can't. They have too much personality. Some days when life gets me down, I look back on that period in our lives with Arnold peering happily over the rim of the bucket... and I can't help but laugh.

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The Best Rabbit Food for Health and Nutrition

ByFaryal Arshad

When you purchase a pet rabbit, you will most definitely want to find the best rabbit food for his overall health. Many people are under the impression that pellets were made specifically for pet rabbits, but actually pellets were made for maximum growth in commercial rabbits.

When we purchase a rabbit for a pet, we consider them as part of our family, and we want to be sure they get the best diet and nutrition possible. That is why you should take the time studying about your pet's individual needs and feed him accordingly.

Rabbits have a very delicate and unique digestive tract, and this should be in the forefront of your mind when choosing their food. If you have your pet spayed or neutered and take good care of his teeth and his diet, he could be part of the family for maybe 12 years or more.

Rabbit's unique digestion
Rabbit's digestion first begins in his mouth. He chops up the food with his strong teeth and then it begins to combine with the rabbit's saliva. The mashed up food from rabbit's mouth then breaks down into a protein due to the amount of it in the animal's saliva.

This mixture then enters into the stomach were it is mixed with stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Then it travels its way down to the small and large intestine. The large intestine then sorts the food by size.

The larger particles drive the smaller fragments of digestible food back in to the cecum. This is a large blind-ended sack that is located near the small intestine. This is when the indigestible products are expelled as poop, and the undigested fragments make it to the anus area and begin a fermentation process, and the other fragments make it down to a process called night feces. Rabbits do eat this type of feces directly from their anus.

The rabbit's cecum has a whole host of good and nutritious things in it to help aid in your pet's overall good health. If anything comes along to upset this unique balance, your rabbit's health may become compromised if it does.

Fiber is Very Essential
Without a fairly substantial amount of fiber or if your rabbit eats way too many carbohydrates his GI tract will not be able to function properly. This in turn can cause GI stasis which can lead to your pet's death.

The Most Important source
The most important ingredient in your rabbit's good health is hay. Not only does it provide excellent fiber, it is also fun for your bunny to rummage around in. It is also a superb chewing material which keeps your rabbit's teeth sparkling white and clean. You should also add in a few extra grasses to tempt bunny's taste buds such as alfalfa, timothy grass and oats. If you do these things for your rabbit, you will be offering him a delicious array of palatable delights, and ensuring that he has many healthy years of life to come.

Do you want to choose best rabbit food for your rabbit. Please visit us to choose a pet rabbit and learn more on this topics..

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Heartworm Prevention - How 5 Simple Changes Can Keep Your Pets Heartworm Free Without Pills

The one big question that comes up over and over again for pet owners is heartworm prevention. I do not use conventional heartworm prevention with my own pets. That is to say, a pill that I get from a vet. They are however, free of heartworms. It is possible for you to do the same with some simple changes that will enhance the life of your pet.

First, I will point out a few things that you might not have thought of. Wolves, coyotes, bob cats and other wild canine and feline breeds do not get regular monthly heartworm pills. And there are very few documented cases of any dying of heartworms. Think about that for a minute. Let your brain absorb that. Why then do our domestic animals get heartworms? These wild animals do not go to the vet annually for vaccinations, they eat what they can hunt, but don't have many of the diseases that plague our domestic animals. Are they getting infected with heartworms even though they are not taking a pill? No, of course not. It has never happened nor will it ever Why? It is solely because they have immune systems that are functioning as intended, "seeing" this parasite for what it is: foreign. The job of the immune system is to react to foreigners, be they bacteria, viruses, parasites, or cancer cells. "React" means to send in special blood cells, like natural killer cells to make antibodies and create inflammation; and in various ways, to attack those foreigners and eliminate them from the body. That's what the immune system was designed to do, and, if we don't interfere with it, that is what it does with great efficiency.

Here is a quote from Dr. Will Falconer, DVM "Is there evidence that the wild canids are really not dying of heartworm? Yes, in fact. Several years ago, preparing for a seminar on natural health care, I searched the literature for evidence of heartworm deaths in wolves and coyotes. Some very interesting data emerged 1. In this study, coyotes were autopsied after being trapped. Only 7% had evidence of heartworm present in the heart. And none of those who had the heartworm died of this parasite. The worms were incidental findings, i.e. not causing disease. And that's how it works in the real world. It would only be the very weakest members of a pack, those suffering from malnutrition or disease or weak genetic constitutions, who would succumb to parasites and die from them."

So what's the answer. According to Dr. Falconer there are 5 main things to consider.

NutritionVaccinationToxin exposureChronic DiseasesLifestyle

Nutrition

Feed your animals the very best natural ingredients. That means food that has not been processed to death devoid of all nutrients and full of fillers and toxic preservatives. Making your own food can be very cost effective and allow you to control what your pets are eating. Many dogs have allergies to common ingredients in processed dog food causing rashes, hot spots, behavioral problems etc.

Vaccinations

I have written on vaccinations before but it's something that you have to be aware of. Does you pet really need yearly vaccinations? Or does your vet need the income? As harsh as that sounds, in some cases it is the bitter truth. Repeated vaccinations weaken the immune system leading to chronic disease, and sometimes even death.

Toxin Exposure

Q: What's is the main ingredient in products that kill fleas? A: A pesticide. Are pesticides poisons? Of course, that's how they rid the dog of these pests, they poison the fleas.What are some other ways an animal can get exposed to toxins besides flea control? Lawn chemicals that kill weeds or insects, heartworm preventatives themselves (see the labels for warnings), household cleaners, cigarette smoke, etc. We must do something about these exposures.

Chronic Diseases

Common chronic diseases in animals are arthritis, allergies, ear infections, thyroid disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation, like inflammatory bowel disease. What's the treatment for these animals? They commonly get brought to conventional veterinarians and are given drugs for their symptoms. These do not cure the disease, they hopefully control symptoms while the disease continues on, gradually getting worse with time. The outcome for this treatment is one of weaker and weaker animals, whose immunity is weakened by all the drugs, and whose ability to function properly is lessened.

Lifestyle

Animals in the wild get plenty of movement hunting for their food and warding off predators. Regular exercise is important to all animals to keep the body in good physical condition. And did you know that fluoridated water has been linked to increasing risk of hypothyroid. Give your pets fresh filtered water free of fluoride and chlorine.

For more information and resources I recommend go to http://alternativeanimal.com/?p

Why Microchip Your Pet?

Once a cat or dog is adopted, I highly recommend microchipping them before leaving the shelter. A common question people often ask after making this recommendation is, "What is microchipping and what are the benefits?"

Microchipping is the process of inserting a small, inert chip about the size of a large grain of rice beneath your pet's skin with a syringe. It feels like a small shot - your pet may experience slight discomfort for a moment or two, then feel perfectly fine. The chip will contain your contact information, once you've registered it in the microchip database. Microchipping your pet is a quick, easy and typically inexpensive process. When I had my small kitten microchipped, she seemed look at me, wondering what was happening, but barely made even a small sound while the insertion process was going on.

But why is it important to get your pet microchipped? Once a cat or dog is adopted, they don't immediately know what their new home looks like. So, if they happen to get loose somehow (dart out the door, escape their leash, etc.), they will not know which house is their home to return to. I have a friend who wished so badly that he had gotten his new puppy microchipped - he only had him for a week when the dog decided to explore the neighborhood. After hours of calling his name, the neighbor found the pup sitting near the edge of their lawn. As in my friend's instance, keeping your pet secure will help ensure its safety, especially during the first few weeks. But microchipping can offer added peace of mind that your lost pet will be reunited with you no matter what unexpected event might occur.

One fact that many pet owners aren't aware of: when a dog wanders away from home, they are often social and go up to people for help. Cats, however, will be more likely to cower in a corner - probably behind some bushes or under a deck - and can go unseen for days, until it's too late. Keeping your eyes and ears peeled for a scared, whimpering kitty will be helpful in their survival.

If your pet does scurry off and is found far away from home, a local shelter can perform a simple scan to retrieve your contact information. Important: Your contact information is only available once your pet's microchip has been registered in the database. This should be done almost immediately after the chip has been inserted. If your phone number or address changes at any point, it is important to update the information as soon as possible to ensure that if your pet is ever lost, it can be easily reunited with you.

If you're interested in learning more about microchipping and helping lost pets find their way home, visit the lost pet website today!

For more information, registering your pet and more visit our lost pet website.

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Things Prospective Pet Owners Need To Consider

Owning a pet is not something that all people are prepared for. Even though pets are sometimes used as a way of getting children to understand responsibility, it should be noted that there are numerous adults that need a lesson in responsibility as well. The number of abandoned pets is constantly increasing, as people who realise they do not have what it takes to be a pet owner either dump them on the streets, or try to sell them to different pet stores. There are numerous reasons for this. Sometimes the cost of pet accessories, dog supplies and food is just too high for the new owner. Other times, excessive breeding can be an issue, especially in the case of rabbits being held together in the same rabbit hutch.

Regardless of the reason though, the outcome is the same. The pet is left abandoned on the street or in a pet store. If the pet is young, most pet stores will accept it, but if the pet is over 6 months old, most stores will reject it and the owner will usually either dump it on the street, or take it to a local shelter. Shelters deal with abandoned dogs and cats daily, and taking a pet that is no longer wanted, to a shelter, is much better than simply dumping it on the street, hoping it survives.

There are other pets however that are not even taken to a shelter. Dogs may be left to fend for themselves in the streets, gold fish may be flushed directly down the toilet, and rabbits may simply be thrown outside. It all depends on the owner and how much he or she still cares for the pet.

Those who have only had their pet for a couple of days before realising they are not suitable for the role tend to dispose of their pet at the first chance they get. This either means the local dogs home, or leaving the pet somewhere on the side of the road. Sometimes the pet is lucky enough to be spotted by a pet lover, and either adopted directly or taken to a local shelter where it is cared for. Most of the time, however, the pet is unlucky, and simply does not manage to survive without help.

To prevent such cases, new pet owners need to be extremely well informed when purchasing any pet. Purchasing one simply based on its looks is not advisable, as this is what leads to the problem in the first place. People purchase a small, cute little bird or rabbit thinking that it is extremely cute and that it does not take up a lot of space, but they only realise the mistake they made when the animal starts growing and requiring regular exercise and many feedings. It requires more and more money for food, toys and trips to the vet, and the new owner realises the mistake he has made and resorts to one of the options mentioned above.

Since all pets tend to get extremely attached to their original owner, abandoning them in a shelter after a moderate amount of time is something extremely painful. It is not uncommon for pets who just arrive in a shelter to not eat or drink anything for several days due to depression and feeling abandoned. In numerous cases, giving the pet an item with the smell of the original owner solves this problem, although it is just a temporary solution.

The research that needs to be done before purchasing a pet is not strictly related to what type of pet to choose. It also needs to contain the monthly cost of the pet, as that can get extremely high for some high maintenance pets. Some pets, like rabbits, only require a small rabbit hutch and some food, but most of the time, the number of accessories, and their cost, is intimidating. Pet accessories can quickly add up, and their cost may be enough to get the new owner to abandon the pet. This is especially common for dogs, as their owners discover how much food and dog supplies cost each month, and they realise they cannot afford to pay that much. By having an estimate of how much the food and supplies of their new pet will cost each month, owners can decide in advance if this is something they want to proceed with, or not.

Leah Williams writes articles for Supapet, an online provider of pet accessories in the UK, suitable for a wide range of different animals. From rabbit hutch furniture to dog supplies, Supapet have got it covered. They also offer a next day delivery service for urgent orders.

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Understanding Your Pets Better

ByDavid D. Warren

Understanding means getting the message across and comprehending it. Not all people understand the needs and wants of everyone around him/her that is why there are misunderstandings and conflicts. We don't want to be misunderstood right? Then we should send our message clearly and effectively. Animals need to be heard and understood too! There are people that tend to disregard the feelings of animals because they believe that animals can't feel or understand a thing. This is not true because they can feel pain, happiness and discomfort. They also want and need things. What is worse is that they cannot say a word. That alone should collect enough sympathy to many people and pet owners. Animals only make noises and hope that you get the message.

If you are a pet owner, it is important that you appreciate your pet and you recognize their needs and wants. It is like parenting because it takes a lot of effort, time, love, dedication, patience and more importantly responsibility to be successful in raising a pet. There are many admirable pets out there that you can choose but if in this case you choose to have rabbits, you are free to do so. Understanding your rabbit means getting to know their way of life. You should know that rabbits are popular because of its rapid reproductive rate; they will turn into a multitude in time. They are herbivores which mean they are happy with just grasses. They live in meadows, forests, woods, grasslands, wetlands and the like. There are 47 breeds that you can choose. It is helpful if you distinguish a male rabbit from a female rabbit. By the way, male rabbit is called buck while female rabbit is called doe; their young is called kit or kitten.

Now that you learned how they live, it is important that you provide your pet rabbit with the following things to make them happy, delighted and satisfied:

1. Make sure they have a comfortable hutch or cages. Whether you choose to place them outside your house or inside the house, their cages should be liveable and comfortable. If you cannot give them that, it is better if you return them to the wilds. There are many hutch or cage designs in store for you so don't worry. Choose one that is spacious so that your rabbits can play.

2. Feeding your rabbits is important. You should implement strict feeding time so that your rabbits will not be left hungry. You can choose to give your rabbit grasses, hay or anything as long as your vet agrees to it.

3. Grooming is essential. Generally, rabbits are hygienic. They don't need to take a bath because it will only stress them. If you see dirt, it is good if you do spot cleaning. If you see their hairs are long, you should trim it. If their nails are long, you should cut it to avoid hurting other rabbits.

Rabbits are inexpensive to raise. They are easy to take care of. Understanding is difficult but if you put your heart to it, in time you will learn and understand everything they do. Love your rabbits and for sure you will be loved in return.

David D. Warren enjoys writing for The Rabbit Hutch Shop which sells rabbit hutch and rabbit hutches as well as a host of additional products.

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What Is the Secret to Finding the Perfect Pet Sitter?

So many times when we go out on initial consultations we find that the client has already interviewed or used another dog walker or pet sitter. There can be many reasons things just didn't work out from, being undependable to the sitter went out of business. I have heard a lot of reasons and very few of them had to do with price. So how can a concerned owner be sure they are finding the right Professional Pet-care Provider?

Well let us get through some of the very basics when you are hiring anyone to come into your home. You want to know if they are insured and their staff is bonded. Proof of insurance should be offered to you at the consultation. They should able to explain the basic coverage for you as well. Another basic is they should provide you with at least 3 references at the consultation. If you have a special need, inquire if they have ever dealt with it before. You should also be signing a contract of some sort that spells out the details of what is covered and what is not. Some sitters will charge you for this initial consult if you don't book with them at that time and others offer consultation for free. Keep in mind though that you need to block out about 60 minutes to discuss your pet care needs. A really good sitter won't rush through the consultation. Ok, so that's the basics: insurance and/or bonding, references, experience, contracts.

But what else might you be looking for? I often say if you are picking up the phone to call a pet sitter you are looking for someone who will do more than just let the dog out and scoop the litter box. Even hiring a midday dog-walker is more than just someone walking your dog. Most really good sitters will customize your pet's visits for you. Customize, that sounds like really expensive, but it is not. It should be all part of the standard visit.

During your initial consultation your sitter will be listening to you, your concerns, and asking questions for clarification. All this is done to determine how the visits to your home and your pet will be "structured." Does your dog bolt out the door? A good pet sitter and dog walker will not only try to keep your dog from bolting out the door, they will discuss with you how to structure the visit to work on teaching your dog good doggie manners at the door. Basic leash manners and leash training as well will be part of the structured visit. This type of basic training will discussed and shared with you. The other thing they should be asking about is your routines with your pet. You can let them know what are some of the routine things your dog likes to do and the sitter can use your techniques to keep your pet happy while you are away.

You want to watch how your pet behaves around the potential sitter, does the sitter ignore the pet or do they work to build an initial bond of trust? Sometimes a sitter just does not hit it off with your pet. Even a really good sitter will occasionally run into a pet that just does not respond well. We have all seen it. The friend that your cat just hates, but loves everybody else. A good sitter will recognize this issue and may turn you down. If that is the case they should have another sitter they can recommend for you. If your pet shows aggression towards the sitter, your pet may not be a good candidate for home visits and the sitter will likely recommend a kennel.

Lastly, does the sitter inquire about cleaning supplies. Things like mops, brooms, and vacuums are often needed during a pet sitting visit. I know we go so far as to locate the dish soap and on long pet sits ask if it is OK to use your washer or dryer to keep pet towels and bedding clean while you are away. A little inquiry like that can tell you a lot about the sitter and the pet sitting company. While it is taking care of your pet, it is also part of taking care of you and your home. Who wants to come home to muddy paw printed up floors, dirty doggie towels, and kitty litter tracked all through the home during a 10 day vacation? I know I would not and neither would my clients.

There is so much more to finding the right pet sitter or dog walker for you and your pet, than just someone showing up to let the dog out. A true in home pet care provider will hit on all the relevant points and those not so relevant ones...like finding the dish soap to help keep the water bowl clean without being told. So watch for those clues in the questions and time spent at the initial consultation and both you and your new sitter will be off to great start!

Beth Pasek is the founder and owner of The Finicky Feline and Fido, LLC a premier pet sitting provider in the Cleveland, Ohio market. She specializes in providing customized pet sitting and dog walking packages that feature the structured visit.

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