Owner: Urban Critters URL:http://urbancritters.spaces.live.com/ Join Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:46:46 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Urban Critters is a blog about animals - generally urban pets, but sometimes not. It's sometimes commentary, sometimes activism, sometimes educational. People with pets or people who love animals should find something here to entertain or inform them Site statistics:Click here
Happy Birthday Toto!! 2008-03-07 12:28:23 It's Toto's birthday today - well, near as I can figure seeing as he was a stray and about 6 weeks old when I found him... but today works as well as any, and he deserves a day of being spoiled and pampered as much as any wonderful friend.
Toto turns 14 today and, while officially a geriatric cat (or is that just the vet's way of talking me into a round of extra tests he may or may not need?), he still thinks he's a youngster. He plays with scrunched up pieces of paper and bits of string, and he has this most adorable way of "going moggy" - where he gets all riled up and races around the house like a crazy cat, leaping on every piece of furniture in his way and skidding comically on the floorboards.. he'll race somewhere and STOP! all puffed up and wild-eyed, then take off l Read more:Happy
, Birthday
, Happy Birthday
lemme in! 2008-03-06 12:31:53 oh, I needed this today...
Busy blogger 2008-03-04 18:57:40 Check out my Companions For Life posts so far - let me know your thoughts, are these interesting little topics? Useful?
Pet Accessories - NOT pets as accessories!
How Spaying or Neutering helps prevent "disposable pets"
Pedigree Dog Adoption Drive
February is Pet Dental Care month
I'd show you the "If I didn't have animals" post too but all I did there was source a fun pic and pop up some content provided to me, so it hardly counts...
Big Business: Wildlife Trafficking | Newsweek Animals and Pets | Newsweek.com 2008-03-03 17:54:09 This makes me SO MAD! What's wrong with these people?! Not only is this cruel and unnecessary but it's short sighted and so far short of strategic it's tragic. These people are stealing the future right out of the hands of their children! I can't even WRITE about this, I get so mad. The saddest part of this is that international governments are so much less likely to care about the decimation of priceless animal species than they are about a couple of dollars a barrel for crude. If governments can sit by and watch civil wars and genocide, what hope is there for the animals?! Big Business
: Wildlife Trafficking | NewsweekAnimals
and Pets | Newsweek.com Read more:Big Business
Objection!! 2008-03-03 14:40:35 So I'm surfing the web looking for a free image to include with my next Companions For Life blog post and I came across this (US-specific) Dog Law website (with the cutest damn pug as its persona). I guess it's an invaluable resource for those of us living in Litigation Land here... Nolo (great DIY law guides for people who can't always afford an attorney) has even published "Every Dog's Legal Guide - a Must-Have Book for Your Owner".
I searched the Nolo site in vain for something similar related to Cats, although this website (law and technology resources for legal professionals) had this helpful article and my trusty friends at the Humane Society of the US have a downloadable PDF booklet on Cat Law (although it is for Legislators and Humane Advocates, it may be useful fo Read more:Objection
New blog post on Companions For Life blog 2008-02-28 14:37:56 I just published a new post on the Companions for Life blog, featuring the Pedigree Dog Adoption drive - check it out!
SEATTLE - Adorable-looking dog (ELMO) available for adoption 2008-02-27 20:45:14 I got the following mail the other day (forwarded from the humane society through a couple of people) and thought I'd post it in case anyone from Seattle reads my blog and is interested in adopting a dog. From the video, he looks absolutely adorable and it made me wish I had room for a dog! Friends, Here's a video of Elmo, a one-year old Mastiff-bully mix. In the video, you'll see him playing with SkyMaster. Elmo is a SWEET, friendly dog. He's gorgeous and has a silly lookin' gait. If you see him in person, you would totally fall in love with him--I'm one of his biggest fans. Let me know if you (or your friend) have any questions or would like to schedule a play date. I know his foster mom and would be happy to coordinate something for you (or your friend). Please pass his Read more:Adorable
, available
Custom List: Links 2008-02-24 21:05:13 LinksUnited Animal NationsUAN is committed to bringing animals out of crisis and into care.Humane Society of the United StatesEvery IM I send using Windows Live Messenger helps raise money for the Humane Society. Certified Humane Raised and HandledLivestock are the least protected class of animal as far as cruelty and humane practices go. Animals that are Certified Humane Raised and Handled at least had a better life before they ended up as food. Humane Society InternationalAs the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States, HSI works with national and jurisdictional governments, humane organizations, and individuals to find practical, culturally sensitive, and long-term solutions to common animal problems.International Elephant Conservation FoundationFormed to promote con Read more:Custom List
Virtual Volunteering 2008-02-24 20:55:53 In one of my previous posts I mentioned Companions for Life, an organization committed to eliminating the "disposable pets" mindset through shelter outreach and humane education. Well I think that's a laudable goal; in my opinion introducing a pet into your family is a long term - dare I say, 'lifetime' - commitment. Too many people disgard their animals without a second thought the minute things are less than convenient for them - and don't even get me started on the heinous practices of de-barking or de-clawing companion animals! See - this is me, practicing restraint when in my mind I'm off on a rant about the fact that anyone who would consider surgically modifying their pet to conform to their lifestyle doesn't deserve an animal companion in the first place!
Anyway,
Book List: Book List 2008-02-24 17:39:48 Peter Singer: Animal LiberationSince its original publication in 1975, this groundbreaking work has awakened millions of concerned men and women to the shocking abuse of animals everywhere.Peter Singer: The Ethics of What We Eat: Why Our Food Choices MatterHow much do we really know about the food we eat? We routinely pick up neatly packaged cuts of meat, cartons of milk, eggs, and other goods at the grocery store, giving little thoughts to their origins. Read more:Book List
Avalanche! 2008-02-22 12:38:46 My friend Rani pointed me to this COOL local story about a pet labrador who was carried away by an avalanche and who survived out in the snowy wilds of Montana for a week. Not bad for a pampered pet pooch, eh? You have to see the adorable photo of Lizxie (the dog), she's too cute!
Basically Lizxie was out with her humans and got caught in an avalance - I can only imagine how awful the dad felt, watching his terrified dog pulled away in a swirl of fast-moving snow. He looked for her but eventually gave her up as dead, so he wasn't too hopeful when someone called to say she'd been found. Turns out she'd survived the avalanche and made her way down the mountain and was eventually found about 5 miles away, a bit skinnier and with a few cuts and bruises, but otherwise fine.
Thank goodness Read more:Avalanche
Do cats watch TV? 2008-02-13 17:42:23 Of course the answer is YES - I frequently catch Toto appearing to be absorbed in the lates "Law and Order" episode, or even more engrossed in some of the Animal Planet or Discovery programs about wildlife. I've wondered if he's really just daydreaming but this weekend I had proof positive that he's actually watch
ing.
I drove up to Vancouver, BC to have lunch with some friends on Saturday and, thanks to a non-existent line at the border, arrived almost 45 mins early. With time to kill, I decided to explore the local shops and ended up in a very cool pet-products store where I bought a huge selection of awesome organic (hippy) catfood and... a video for the cats!
Couldn't wait to get home and try it on them - the reaction was instantaneous!! Both of them immediately becam
Pet Food Indictments for 3 Firms - New York Times 2008-02-08 15:35:30 All I can say is, "thank goodness for Paul Newman's organic catfood!" Toto loves it and I love feeding it to him. It's a win-win situation (except that I can only get it at Whole Foods which has so much other delectable human stuff that my quick $10 cat food run generally turns into $150 of not-really-necessary stuff). Here's the story on the New YorkTimes
yesterday - by LOUISE STORY Two Chinese companies and an American importer were indicted Wednesday on charges of intentionally defrauding and misleading American manufacturers about poisonous ingredients used in pet food last year. Tainted wheat gluten, used as an ingredient in moist pet food, killed at least 16 dogs and cats, sickened thousands of others and led to one of the biggest pet food recalls in American history, Read more:New York Times
Kids need pets, but only if parents get what that means 2008-02-07 21:15:16 The other day, my Mom and I were having a conversation about some friends of hers and she commented that her friend's young kids were scared of Lulu, Mom's german shepherd cross. That struck me as odd, because Lulu is the biggest sook out there, and wouldn't hurt a fly. I figured there must have been a traumatic incident involving a dog in the family's past but no - it turns out that they're scared of Lulu because they simply haven't been exposed to enough animals to know what to expect.
WHAT??!! There are kids in reasonably affluent suburban families growing up without pets?!! Having always had pets of some sort (dogs, cats, rabbits - 21 of them in the end - a pony, birds, you name it), I find it hard to imagine growing up in a world devoid of animal companions.
This got me think
Groundhog day: 6 more weeks of winter according to Punxsutawney Phill 2008-02-03 15:34:35 Evidently Punxsutawney Pa needed a point of differentiation. As a marketing idea, it's brilliant - it's unique, it involves legend and myth, and - the clincher: a cute critter is the protagonist!
For those of you who think Groundhog
Day is just a Bill Murray movie, I refer you to an obscurely named Pennsylvanian town where they have been celebrating the remarkably accurate forecasting abilities of a marmot-like rodent (well, that's what he looks like to me) called Punxsutawney Phil since 1886. According to the lore, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter
weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
This year, Phil confirmed our suspicions and forecast another six weeks of winter. Of course, for those of us in Seattle t
Former fighting dogs get a second chance - Pet health- msnbc.com 2008-01-28 13:56:38 Former fighting dogs get a second chance
- Pet health- msnbc.com I saw this today on msnbc.com - it made me cry, partly because I'm happy that some of these dogs got a second chance at a happy life, and partly because the whole damn thing is so sad. We need to push for tougher anti cruelty laws and do whatever we can to eradicate the heinous practice of dog and cock fighting. I have very strong opinions on this, but for today let's focus on the good news here - these dogs CAN learn to be pets, and people are prepared to take them in. There is some good in the world! Saved from Michael Vick’s property, pit bulls now in loving homes By Cheryl Wittenauer, Associated Press Writer, The Associated Press - updated 10:58 a.m. PT, Sun., Jan. 27, 2008 His back resting comfortably against her ch Read more:Former
Caturday 2008-01-27 17:37:55 Caturday is an awesome concept - a wonderful blend of cat and Saturday, it conveys a sense of the wonderful indolence of a day without the need to do anything but laze about, napping in a glorious shard of sunlight or snoozing with someone you love. I love Caturdays! Here are some photos of Toto enjoying his...
Photo Album: UrbanCritters 2008-01-27 17:27:25 UrbanCrittersNanner being Box CatNanner+Toto Looking UpToto surveying his domainErnest- I can has tap water?He is pretty stinking cute!Ernest ingratiating himself after flooding the apartmentIMG_1508TotoIMG_1530IMG_1541More Photo
s... Read more:Album
, Photo Album
Wizdog Doggie Litter Box 2008-01-20 14:13:21 I was just talking to my mom about how her dog doesn't like the new place they moved into, because so much of the outside area is paved and Lulu prefers to pee on the grass - she really doesn't like doing her business on the paving (understandably) - so as usual I started browsing the web for solutions because I know there are solutions designed for totally indoor dogs that might work - while browsing, I saw this fun little post about a new doggie litter system called the WIZDOG. Not sure how Lulu will like it - I mean, how happy does the little model dog look?! But it was worth taking a deeper look... According to the Wizdog website, the Wizdog is quite simple: "Wizdog is a new revolutionary house training system for dogs. Consisting of a durable plastic pan and fitted grate, liquid Read more:Doggie
, Litter
And they called it puppy love | NEWS.com.au 2008-01-20 00:00:00 A heartwarming story with a happy ending... Here's the story behind the link - And they called it puppy love
| NEWS.com.au. A tiny Staffordshire cross dog has been saved from a compactor by Sydney garbo [that's garbage man to non-Aussies] Max Byrne after being dumped in a bin. Mr Byrne spotted the dog wriggling under garbage in the back of his Leichhardt Council truck and retrieved the female pup before she was crushed. A large proportion of online readers have said she should be called Greta - after screen legend Greta Garbo. Others suggestions have included Maxine (after Max the garbo), Lucky and simply Garbo. Mr Byrne visited the puppy at an Annandale vet yesterday and emotionally recounted how he found her in a park in Lilyfield Rd, Rozelle, just after 6.30am on Monday morning. &q
Take action to protect pets in Final Farm Bill! (US specific post) 2008-01-19 22:59:42 I received the following call to action recently from the Humane Society of the US and would like to encourage all of my American friends and readers to support this bill with calls to your representatives. The update I receive is specific to Washington State because it's where I live, but I'm sure you could simply contact your own congress person directly. Please make a call, send a letter or email and help support the protection of pets through inclusion in this Farm Bill! Help Protect Pets in Final
Farm Bill -- Next Chance May Not Be For Another Five Years! Today, we have a rare chance to protect pets in Congress –- an opportunity that may not come again for another 5 years! Please take action right away. Several measures to protect pets are being considered for inclusion in t
Newest, cutest polar bear cross-eyed | NEWS.com.au 2008-01-16 16:06:07 Knut, that adorable little polar bear cub who's being raised by hand at the Berlin Zoo, is getting a run for his money in the "cute hand-reared wild animals" stakes. Flocke, at the Nuremberg Zoo, is also being hand raised (after her Mom decided she was possibly a good chew toy) and has just opened her eyes. Her crossed-eyes, that is, which apparently makes her even cuter. The zoo is having daily press meetings to keep the public updated on her progress. Now if only people's interest in these adorable cubs would translate into a bit of mature action either on behalf of the species or at least with regard to how to behave in a zoo. Newest, cutest
polar bear cross-eyed | NEWS.com.au
Do you know what will happen to your pet when you die? 2008-01-14 15:01:35 One of the reasons I chose Nikole at Little Wet Noses to care for my cats when I travel is that she asked the question "what do I do if you don't come home?" - great question! It's one thing to instruct your pet sitter about what to do if something happens to your pets while you're away, but who thinks about what to do for your pet if something happens to YOU while you're away?
Apart from pet sitting, this is a subject all pet owners should think about - particularly the elderly or people who live a long way from family. According to a charity called 2nd chance 4 pets, every year about half a million companion animals "are euthanized in U.S. animal shelters simply because their human companions died and made no arrangements for their continuous care." That's just in
Friendly dolphin saves whales | The Daily Telegraph 2008-03-12 19:01:00 I love whales
but sometimes I don't think they're very smart - I keep reading stories about them beaching themselves and stranding themselves. Anyway, this is a stranding story with a happy (and really quite remarkable) ending.
Two pygmy sperm whales had beached themselves on Mahia Beach on New Zealand's north island. Conservationists had managed to get them into the water, but they didn't appear able to take themselves back out to deeper water because of a sand bar in their path that seemed to be confusing them. The whales were tiring and it looked as though the efforts to save them were failing. They were facing a death sentence if things didn't change.
But then along came Flipper Moko, a friendly local dolphin who frequents the shores of that particular estuary. Proving that she is mo Read more:Friendly
, Daily
Join the HSUS and Nigel Barker to Save the Seals 2008-03-10 18:44:59 Take Nigel Barker
's Pledge Challenge to help save seals! OK yes, I signed the pledge, and I hope you do too. This is a savage and inhumane practice for a frivolous and unnecessary reason, and it should be stopped at all costs in my opinion. And frankly, it can't really hurt the environment for a nation's fishing industry to be pared back either. Sign the pledge, learn more about Nigel's experience, buy the t-shirt(s), download the desktop wallpaper.... AND ENTER THE LOLSEALS COMPETITION!!! (who said animal welfare activism can't be fun?!) But let me play devil's advocate here for a minute. I am ALL FOR stopping the heinous practice of seal hunting for fur but I'm not sure the logic of this appeal is necessarily well argued. Nigel reckons that boycotting Canadian seafood will help t
Environment » Blog Archive » Animal welfare vs conservation: the case of China’s tigers | Blogs | Reuters.com 2008-03-13 16:58:15 An interesting case: A project in South Africa run by an animal conservation charity is trying to save the South China
Tiger by creating an environment where they can learn to hunt, and other survival skills. A laudable cause, but where it gets controversial is that in order for the tigers to learn hunting and other predatory skills, they are provided with live animals to hunt and kill, from chickens for the tiger cubs to blesbok, a kind of antelope, for the adults. The SPCA (society for the prevention of cruelty to animals) is appalled at such a practice and is howling their righteous indignation. “It is a spurious argument that carnivores need to be fed animals, live. Not in captivity they don’t!,” the SPCA, which regards the practice as cruel, says. And you thought all roads Read more:Blogs
, Environment
, Archive
, Animal
, Reuters
Alpha Male 2008-03-19 15:30:29 Toto has a habit of usurping people's spots - when I get out of the bed, he loves to roll over and take my spot. Even though he generally likes to sleep on my side of the bed, as long as I'm the only one in the bed he always takes Mr. Man's spot. Now that Mr. Man is travelling more often, Toto has decided this means he can lay claim to the Gaming Chair. Sometimes he doesn't even wait for people to leave their spot before he moves in and makes himself comfortable! It's starting to make me laugh!
Read more:Alpha
Another reason to boycott the Chinese Olympics - like we need it 2008-03-18 22:48:43 The world's tiger population is declining precipitously, with the World Wildlife Fund estimating only 3,500 tigers left in the world - down from 1982 estimates of over 5,000. Habitat deforestation and traditional Chinese
medicine are two contributing factors. So is China doing anything to encourage research into alternative remedies? No, in fact quite the opposite - China has a legal market for farmed tiger parts, and is considering legislation to legalize trade of all tiger parts.
hmmm. Read more:Olympics
Recommend Site To A Friend
