Ernesto Rodriguez of Stokes County North Carolina, who owns a tattoo parlor in Pilot Mountain, created quite an uproar on Facebook recently when he posted a picture of a new tattoo. The uproar wasn’t so much of the tattoo, but of who had it: his puppy.

Since the backlash began Rodriguez has said that he tattooed Duchess, a 4-month-old American bully, and his other dog, Duke, for identification reasons. But that’s not the full story, if you listen to what else Rodriguez has to say:

“It’s just art. I’m an artist. I wanted to put art on my dog,” he told the Fox 8 news channel. On his Facebook wall, at the time he gave his dog a tattoo, he wrote: “bored and tattooing.” Only recently has he said it’s for identification reasons, an act that the National Dog Registry actually endorses.

The NDR has a specific page dedicated to answering the question: Why Should You Tattoo Your Pet. The page discusses how dogs can run away, or be stolen (they state one out of every five dogs in the US are stolen). The NDR also talks about the high demand for animals to be used in research, food, and fur.

Obviously there are other ways of identifying your pet, such as tags and a microchip, but the NDR claims that a “simple, painless tattoo” is a permanent way to ensure your dog will always come home.

Back to Mr. Rodriguez. His dogs’ tattoos aren’t what the NDR suggests. They suggest simple numbers, whereas Rodriguez really went to town on the two animals he claims to love as if they were his own children.

But his story is particularly fishy. He tells Fox 8 that he decided to tattoo Duchess after picking her up from the vet, where she had her ears clipped. He said she was asleep when he picked her up from the vet, asleep during the tattooing procedure, and continued to sleep afterwards.

“Really, that’s kind of suspicious in my mind,” said N.C. Voters for Animal Welfare President Caleb Scott. “Usually when you pick up a dog or cat from the vet, they’re already awake after a procedure. They don’t usually hand you over a dog that’s asleep.”

According to North Carolina’s animal welfare statutes, a person cannot inflict unjustifiable pain and suffering, which is exactly what Scott believes Duke and Duchess must have endured. Rodriguez disagrees. When asked if he regretted his actions, he replied, “No, not at all. I’ll do it again to my next dogs.”

Is dog tattooing animal cruelty? Or does it depend on one’s intent? If the tattooing is for ID purposes, does that make it better than if you decide to turn your dog into the next Miami Ink spokesperson?

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You may suffer from allergies. Heck, you may suffer from allergies because of your pet. But have you ever stopped to wonder if your pet suffers like you? Unless your pet has severe allergies (and at that point it’s impossible not to notice the suffering and discomfort), you might not have ever considered the potential. But yes, your pet can suffer from allergies. And yes, you can do something about it.

Allergy symptoms in animals are a lot like in humans: itchy skin, runny eyes, and sneezing. But pets might also exude symptoms such as itchy ears, swollen paws, and constant licking. So, what can you do to help your pet through this discomfort?

First you should know that most dog and cat allergies are caused by the environment, so unless you want a Bubble Beagle, you’ll have a hard time completely eliminating potential allergens. However, you can reduce your pet’s exposure to common allergens by practicing these tips:

• Be a flea flicker. Many animals are allergic to fleas. An allergy to fleas goes beyond basic itching. In order to avoid this type of flea allergy, make sure you give your dog and cat flea preventative treatment all year round. Did we mention all year round. Fleas don’t just join your pet’s party in warmer months. They can hang out on your dog’s body for months. Would you want fleas setting up camp on your skin?

• When it rains. If you suffer from allergies, you might have discovered that rain makes it all go away. After a rain, your symptoms subside. The same goes for your pet. Try to time long outdoor activities shortly after the rain, or on cooler days, as that’s when pollen count is at its lowest.

• Pollen is a late sleeper. Are you a morning person? If you are, you’re in luck. Old man Pollen likes to sleep in, meaning that you can take your dog out for longer walks before 10 a.m., without fear of sparking major symptoms. Take your dog for shorter walks during other times of the day.

• Wipe your feet! That exclamation point was mostly targeted at your pet (but goes for you, too). Pollen and other allergens can be found all over the ground. When your dog or cat walks around outside, they can track those allergens inside, and embed them into the carpet and furniture. So, wipe your feet! Okay, since your cat or dog likely won’t wipe their feet, do it for them, by investing in hypo-allergenic moist wipes. (This also keeps your pet from ingesting these allergens as he cleans his paws).

• Cover your butt by covering. Your pet might be allergic to dust mites. Even museums have them, so you likely won’t get rid of them anytime soon, no matter how clean you claim to be. What you can do is invest in allergen covers for your bedding, your dog’s bedding, pillows and any other plush items. Note: you might see these items advertised for humans, but they still work for your pets.

And there’s always the vet

If you know, for sure, that your pet suffers from environmental allergies, then the advice listed above should help to lower his symptoms.  The key phrase here, of course, is “for sure.” You can’t be sure of anything without getting sound advice from your vet. Your vet can determine what, if any, allergies your pet has. You’d be surprised to learn that your pet could be allergic to his food, or to a type of clothing, or a number of other random things (no, probably not your in-laws, sorry). While chances are the allergy comes from the environment, you never can be too sure. Go to your vet so you can find out for sure.

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Forget snake and alligator, some Americans are embracing a new exotic meat – Guinea Pig. The animal meat is popular in South American countries, such as Columbia and Peru, where it’s known as cuy. Recent interest in TV shows and blogs of exotic foods are fueling US foodies to try something new. Guinea Pig is not a locally produced meat. They are imported frozen, whole, and hairless from Peru.  NPR reports, that Peru guinea pig imports for a Connecticut company have almost doubled in the past four years – from 600 guinea pigs per year to more than 1,000 today. The imports are not tracked by the USDA or any federal regulatory agencies.

When served, guinea pig is eaten from head to toe. The two pound meal is prepared either roasted or fried. South American restaurants in the US are serving up this meat as the interest in exotic delicacies arise from middle-class foodies. The dark gamey meat is described as tasting rich, oily, and not unlike rabbit. In addition to finding adventure on a plate, there are environmental factors are at play for some pro-guinea pig meat supporters.

There is a push from overseas conservation groups, encouraging farmers in other countries, like Columbia, to find new protein sources with a small carbon footprint. The small two pound animal has high sources of protein with very low environmental impact, unlike Americans main choices of beef and chicken. Matt Miller, a US science writer for the Nature Conservatory, claims where it takes eight pounds of hay to make one pound of beef, it only takes four pounds of hay to make a pound of guinea pig.

Roasted or fried guinea pig is a traditional meal in South America, it was only a matter of time before the exotic meal hit other parts of the world like the US and England. BBC food blogger, Paula Dear, recently put her own stomach to the test. She encountered not only a new meat but also an internal struggle when faced with a plate of guinea pig. A guinea pig once graced the home of Paula Dear as a child and  fond memories of her fluffy pet surfaced as she chose her meal. Her partner in adventure loved each  bite, which included the head, and proclaimed the guinea pig as tasty.

The question remains, with environmental factors aside – could you eat an animal that resembles a pet from your childhood?

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Devon, England’s Mare and Foal Sanctuary has a new resident. Found a few hours after his birth trying to nurse from other mares, Breeze seemed to be orphaned foal. Unable to locate his mother, a farmer called in the sanctuary and they came for the foal that was already beginning to show signs of shock and dehydration.

All animals receive a substance called colostrums from their mother’s within the first twenty-four hours after birth. It imparts antibodies that help protect the baby from infection until its own immune system begins to function properly. Animals that do not receive colostrums from their mother need to be given an artificial substitute or they become prone to life-threatening infections. Breeze had not had the benefit of colostrums or much in the way of nutrition and was in poor shape.

He was immediately put on intravenous drips to make sure he received colostrums drips, medication, and milk to help his recovery along. Although he received round-the-clock care, his first few days were touch-and-go. Now, the Dartmoor pony foal is much improved and in need of company. So, the sanctuary put out a public request for some giant sized stuffed animals to help provide him with something to cuddle up to since he has no mother.

This is a technique the sanctuary has used in the past but their most recent donations were already in use with another orphaned foal that had arrived in April. Luckily, they received many stuffed toys and Breeze has become particularly attached to Buttons, a giant bear. There were enough donated that there are some extras for future orphans as well.

The sanctuary takes in unwanted, abandoned, and orphaned horses including many Dartmoor ponies. Most are rehabilitated and eventually placed in new homes. Others become permanent residents of the sanctuary. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary is a registered charity and they fundraise through a variety of events and stores.

For Breeze, the arrival of sanctuary staff came not a moment too soon. Now, he spends his days in the company of his caregivers, Buttons, and two stuffed dogs which has also taken a liking too. He is now strong enough to venture outdoors for short periods of time. Dartmoor ponies are an ancient, hardy breed meant to survive the tough conditions found at Dartmoor National Park. He’s become a hit on YouTube, gathering almost 400,000 hits in just over a week. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a new life for this young foal.

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Animal abuse happens quietly. Dogs, cats, horses, and more are tortured,neglected and physically harmed by their owners each day. The commercials of the ASPCA are heart wrenching and visually hard to watch. Learn the signs of animal abuse and take action to report it.

According to the ASPCA, the following are signs of animal abuse:

• Acts of defense, cowering, or aggression when their owners approach them
• Animals who are left outside in extreme weather
• Patches of missing fur
• Animals who are tick and flea infested
• Wounds on the face and/or body
• Animals who are left alone without food or water and chained
• Large amounts of animals, known as animal hoarding
• Starving or extremely thin animals
• Limping
• Animals who have been harmed or shown any of the above signs and not taken to a veterinarian
• Animals around abandoned apartments and houses – they may have been left by previous owners

The United States does not have jurisdiction to try and convict animal abusers. Each state has their own laws regarding the penalties for causing harm to animals. Most states and counties have their own animal control units that can be contacted. A call to the local police department can also be made when abuse is seen. If traveling and local department numbers are not available, dial 911 to be connected to an agent quickly.

When contacting the correct officials, make sure you are taken seriously and offer to help in any way to help resolve the issue. Animal control units only remove animals from homes when it is necessary, they will not remove them if they find the report was false or unjustified. When giving a statement provide as much information to the law enforcement as possible. Include dates, times, sounds, and descriptions of the people involved. Pictures of the location and any acts that you might have captured are also helpful. If others in your area are also willing, give their contact information as well. The more proof and back up the agencies have, the easier it is to save the animals from further suffering.

Follow up with your contact at the agency. If nothing has been done and the abuse continues, keep trying – an animal’s life depends on you.

In New York, the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement department, finds most of their abuse cases through concerned neighbors and phone calls from the public. Animals have no way to protect themselves and speak up, without our help they remain mute and helpless. If an animals or owners’ behavior is odd, be vigilant to watch for the animals well being and contact the authorities.

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Flying can be very stressful. The airport itself is often crowded. There are lineups and then there is the reason you are flying. It isn’t always a vacation. It can be a funeral or to visit a sick relative. There may be stress at home or work to deal with as well. Since 9/11 there has also been the added stress of the risk of terrorism. Airports recognize this airport stress and are trying out new ways to make it easier for travellers.

In the days immediately after 9/11, a volunteer chaplain at the Mineta San Jose airport requested permission to bring his dog, Orion, in to help soothe agitated passengers. The dog was such a hit that they decided to make the program a permanent feature of the airport and they now have 9 dogs in the program.

More recently, Los Angeles international (LAX) and Miami International airport have added canines to their staff as well. Called Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs), the dogs used are certified through Wyoming-based Therapy Dogs Inc. They must be well-behaved, calm, social with strangers, healthy, comfortable in the airport environment, and able to be kept on a four foot loose leash. The handlers and dogs go through a training process that includes teaching them ways to identify people who may be frightened of dogs, have allergies or for other reasons not wish to be near the animal.

The dogs wander through the airport with their handlers, wearing vests that say “Pet me”. As with all airport staff, they must pass through security. LAX has thirty dogs on staff. Although Miami only has one dog, named Casey, she is already a part of the reality series “Airport 24/7: Miami”.

Casey is a golden retriever and she knows how to make passengers feel welcome. Her presence was recently requested for the arrival of a flight from Brazil. Carina’s parents knew that the autistic child would be tired and stressed after the flight and felt she could use a break before they resumed their journey by car. Casey and her handler met Carina at her flight and brought her a gift basket. It made Carina’s day.

The dogs have also helped soldiers through difficult departures and passengers just having a very bad day. It is well known that patting a dog can bring your blood pressure down and relax you. Recent studies have also shown that dogs can identify a person in distress. Anyone who has ever flown with a dog can attest to how many people come up wanting to interact with the animal as you get him checked in. So, it is not surprising how successful the program has been.

There are already plans in the works to introduce more PUPs. Watch for them at an airport near you!

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It’s never an easy decision to choose to say goodbye to your pet forever. Whether it’s because of an illness, injury, or Father Time, saying the words that give the okay to put our pets to sleep will never roll off our tongues.

Perhaps the decision is somewhat easier if your pet is terminally ill, or gravely injured. Perhaps, but not likely. But euthanizing your pet when he’s simply showing signs of old age has to be one of the hardest things to do.

It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, isn’t it? In some ways, we should feel fortunate that many of us aren’t forced with a sudden and abrupt death of a pet. We get to watch them grow old. On the other hand … we have to watch them grow old, and sick, and lame. They continue to live long after they really are living, and so we’re left with a decision: do we give them more time, living like this, or do we say goodbye, and euthanize them?

It’s not an easy decision, but one most pet owners have to make. But how do you know when it’s the right time to euthanize your pet? Here are some guidelines to help you come to your own decision.

1. Consult your vet. It kind of goes without saying, but your vet will be the best resource you have. Each animal and medical condition is different, so researching information online is not your best bet. One dog with cancer might have a far better chance of survival (and living a healthy life) than another.
2. Get impartial advice. My sister had a bloodhound, whom she acquired with her husband years ago. During the life of this bloodhound, her husband tragically died in a fire, and this dog was a comforting reminder for my sister. When this bloodhound was nearing the end of his life, my sister grappled with the idea of putting him to sleep. She’d already lost her husband. How could she lose this dog? She did something really smart: she sought advice from people not so emotionally invested. It’s easy to look past the facts (the pain, suffering and quality of life of your pet) when emotions are running the show. By seeking advice (and support) from others, my sister came to the right decision. To send her dog away, peacefully. (Note: your vet is a great source for impartial, and educated, advice).
3. Create your top 5 list. This one will really put things in perspective. Make a list of the top 5 things your pet loves to do (hiking, walking, chasing the cat, chewing a bone, going for car rides). When your dog can’t do three of those things any longer, his quality of life has greatly diminished. This might be a sign that you need to consider euthanasia.
4. Track the good and the bad. Your pet will have good days and bad days, all mixed in with one another. In order to get a clearer picture of the progression of his condition over time, track his days in a calendar. Make it simple: X = bad days, and a smiley face = good days. Over the course of a month you might realize that his bad days greatly outnumber his good days.
5. Dr. Alice Villalobos’s HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale. Vet oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos suggests assessing your pet’s:

• Hurt (his lack of pain)
• Hunger
• Hydration
• Happiness
• Hygiene (keeping the pet clean from its own waste)
• Mobility
• More good days vs. bad days (see #4)

Track these categories on a scale of 1 – 10 (one being poor, 10 being great). If you can score more than 5 on at least half of these categories, then continuing with supportive care (rather than euthanasia) is acceptable.

Think of them, not of you

I have a friend whose cat had a stroke. For weeks the cat did little more than crawl across the floor. She had no balance and literally fell into her food bowl at feeding time. It was horrific. My friend’s family couldn’t bear to euthanize that cat (Fosse), until their vet nearly pleaded with them.

Fosse’s quality of life was zero, actually zero. The family wasn’t thinking of her, they were thinking of themselves. That’s not to sound harsh, of course. We’re all guilty of it. How can we say goodbye to our loved ones? But if we continue to think of them, before ourselves, we might come to this decision with a better understanding, and less guilt.

The post How to Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Pet appeared first on All Pet News.

When you get a new dog the array of services of dog training options available to you can be a bit overwhelming. There are dog trainers, obedience trainers, animal behaviorists, behavior consultants, aggression trainers, etc. and they offer positive reinforcement training, dominance training, clicker training, trick training, and so many other things. It can be difficult to decide what it is that will work best for you. Here are some basic definitions to help you make decisions.

Dog Trainer: This is someone who teaches you how to train your pet. They may offer private classes and group classes. Some trainers will take your dog and train it for you, rather than teaching you how to train your pet. They may or may not have received certification and training before they set themselves up as a trainer.

Obedience Trainer: This is a dog trainer who specializes specifically in obedience. Most of the time, the two terms are used interchangeably.

Animal Behaviorist: A behaviorist tends to work mainly with dogs that have behavioral issues such as separation anxiety or aggressive behavior. They use science to understand what causes the behavior and help you find ways to overcome or modify it to make it more acceptable or easier to live with. A behavioral consultant does the same thing. Some behaviorists have degrees showing that they have studied the science behind behavior while others become consultants after years of experience. Always ask for references.

Aggression trainer: This is a trainer who specializes in working with dogs that have aggression issues. Because the behaviors can be very difficult to overcome and hard to work with, this tends to be a more specialized field than general training.

Positive Reinforcement Training: This just means that the class focuses on teaching your pet how to behave using rewards such as affection, food, and praise to promote positive behavior. Its opposite is negative reinforcement which uses corrections such as tugs on collars to decrease the frequency of a behavior. Most classes use a combination of the two, with a focus on the positive.

Dominance Training: This is a training method that is based on pack theories and uses forceful methods to establish a person’s dominance over the dog. Most dogs look for leadership from a person but some can be more forceful and domineering. In recent years this type of training has come under a lot of scrutiny with many feeling that it is not helpful in the long term and may even worsen aggressive issues.

Clicker Training: Clicker training is used on a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, horses, dolphins, and many circus animals. It uses a consistent click sound that is produced by a clicker to indicate to the animal that they are doing the desired action. It allows a handler to shape behavior in very small increments that would be difficult to do otherwise. Because it is so instantaneous, it is much more accurate at pinpointing the right action for the dog. Most trick trainers use clicker training.

Have fun with training your dog. If you enjoy it, he will too.

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Just a month ago, it was reported that Taco Fusion, in Florida, put a $35 meat taco on its menu. Thirty-five bucks for a little Mexican dish is a pretty hefty price, but not necessarily newsworthy. That is, of course, until you discover that the meat inside that taco comes from the king of the jungle.

Public outrage surrounding this new addition forced Taco Fusion to pull the mighty taco from its menu, but that doesn’t mean that lion meat doesn’t exist in an American’s diet. Lion meat is just one of many exotic  (and legal) meats that people across the country enjoy.

The U.S. Endangered Species Act does not protect African lions, currently, making them the only big cat species not protected. That means that the trading and selling of lion meat in the U.S. isn’t legal, even if many people find it offensive. In Illinois, Representative Luis Arroyo is trying to push his Lion Meat Act, which would prohibit the slaughtering, possession, breeding, importing, or exporting of lions (and lion meat). This could impact sellers such as Richard Czimer, who owns Czimer’s Game and Sea Foods Inc., in Homer Glen, Illinois. Czimer buys USDA-certified lion meat from time to time and states that Arroyo’s act is trying to dictate what people can and can’t eat.

Czimer points to the data that shows that thousands of cattle are slaughtered daily, versus a much smaller amount of lions (for example, last year, Czimer could only purchase two lions).

Czimer’s cattle observation brings up an interesting point: what is it about eating lion that’s more offensive than eating cow, or deer, or rabbit, or lamb or … you get the idea. When broken down to its most basic form, animal meat is animal meat, regardless of where it came from beforehand. So long as the meat in question does not come from an endangered species, there should be no problem or government interference, right? Furthermore, the lion meat eaten here in the states doesn’t come from the plains of Africa, from a pride of lions roaming free. These lions, for the most part, are born and bred for slaughtering, like cows and chickens. So lion meat shouldn’t be such a big deal, right?

Not according to Luke Hunter of Panthera. Hunter says that eating meat-eating animals is not a good idea, regardless of if that animal is endangered or not. Carnivore populations are dwindling worldwide (save for humans), and while not on the US endangered list, the African lion is actually listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is considered endangered in some West African countries.

Is all meat considered equal?

There is another concern about eating a meat-eating animal. The carcasses of these carnivores gather many more parasites and diseases than plant-eating animals. Hunter cites an instance in 2007 as proof: a biologist in Arizona contracted primary pneumatic plague from a cougar he had dissected. The biologist died shortly afterwards.

Putting aside the potential health risk of handling lion meat, there’s also the question most of you are asking yourselves: how does it taste? It’s interesting to note that those who share their backyards with wild lions (in Africa) don’t consider lion meat to be palatable, thus it’s not a source of food.

Why then would someone shell out $35 for a taco, filled with meat that either tastes like any other meat, or, possibly doesn’t taste that good at all?

It’s the allure, of course, and the fact that someone can say, “I ate a lion.” Cows aren’t fierce. Rabbits aren’t massive. Chickens aren’t feared. But lions, lions are all these things. The idea of being able to take a bite out of one of them, and live to tell the tale is alluring, even if the consumer did nothing more than pick a dish from a menu.

Forget that lions are considered a threatened species elsewhere in the world. Forget that natives of Africa who live nearby lions don’t eat lion (heck, Hindus don’t eat cow, and Muslims don’t eat pigs). Forgetting all that is it really any more troubling to eat lion than any other meat? Do lions deserve more empathy than cows?

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In the wild, animals are in a constant battle to eat and avoid being eaten. It is often referred to as the predator-prey arms race because each time one develops a new adaptation, the other has to work to overcome it. Most people are familiar with poisonous animals such as snakes and poison dart frogs. Obviously the claws and teeth of many animals also provide a formidable defense. In some cases, such as the elephant, sheer size, can work pretty well too; but some species have developed some very unique ways of outsmarting their prey and their predators.

The slow loris is one of the few mammals to use poison. It has glands on its elbows that contain a toxin which often causes anaphylactic shock in those that ingest it or otherwise get it into their bloodstream. They rub the secretions from this gland on their young to deter would be predators. When attacked, they will also rub it in their mouths so that it enters the wounds of anything that it bites.

Spraying nasty fluids at predators is pretty common in nature. Potato bugs coat themselves in their own feces, which happen to be poisonous, to deter unfriendly foes. The Bombardier beetle sprays boiling hot, toxic, anal fluids at their pursuers. Tell me that wouldn’t stop you from thinking about lunch.

Sea cucumbers can squeeze into all kinds of narrow spaces because their body wall is quite soft. If that doesn’t work, they will turn themselves inside out, throwing their digestive acid at the predator at the same time.

When you think of dangerous claws, you likely think of bears, big cats, and other big predators. Have you ever thought of a frog? The hairy frog is an African species that is about 4.3 inches in length. When under duress, he takes the phrase “no pain, no gain” to new extremes by breaking a bone in his foreleg, allowing a cat-like claw to protrude from his skin and be used against the enemy.

The horned lizard has control over the pressure in his sinus cavities. When facing the enemy, he increases the pressure until it causes the blood vessels in his eyes to burst, spraying blood at his foe. Like the frog, that seems extreme; at least until you look at the Malaysian ant. Ants are eusocial animals. This means that different individuals hold different roles in the colony and may even have different body structure.

When the enemy is in pursuit, the Malaysian ant employs what is best described as a suicide bomber. Some of the ants turn around and head in the direction of the predator. As they charge towards their pursuer, they contract their abdomens, increasing the pressure being applied to poison glands that run the length of their bodies until they explode. Yes, I said explode.

Animals employ all kinds of unique defenses to avoid predation and increase their odds of catching a meal. Some of them take it to new extremes that you might not expect.

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