What do you do when you really wish to have a pet, but due to some reason or the other, getting a dog or a cat is not an option? The easiest alternative is to get some fish. A dog or a cat requires a certain amount of space, commitment and a lot of time and investment. People might even possibly be allergic to them. Also, more often than not, your guests may not be particularly comfortable with a dog or a cat in the house. Somehow, most guests find the quiet and peace of fish in a fish tank endearing. And in terms of commitment, all that a fish needs is some food, comfortably sized fish tank and a little bit of love and you are good to go. But at the same time, one needs to ensure that their fish tank is cleaned regularly and they are well fed even if the owner is away. To ensure good health, one can also feed them vet-approved medicines.

The most famous, easily available and loved species among fish is the Goldfish. Its small in size and beautiful to look at, hence earning that name. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and most commonly kept aquarium fish. It was first domesticated in China, thousands of years ago with various other species of the carp family. It was originally reared as food fish, but slowly gained favor as a pet. Some of these normally were gray or silver in color, but produced mutations in red, yellow or orange. This mutation was first noticed during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). With time, the breed was then introduced in Japan, Portugal and subsequently to other parts of the world where it quickly became popular. There are many different varieties of domesticated goldfish, but due to their bright colors and long fins, they are likely to perish in the wild. Common and comet goldfish can survive and breed in any climate that can support a pond.

Goldfish are usually small and can survive in small tanks but they can grow fairly large. Goldfish as big as 19 inches have been recorded. A 15 inch goldfish in England was known to weigh 2 pounds. This being a pet fish, it is believed that there are several fish in ornamental lakes that could possibly be much larger in size. A fish was caught in a pond in England 16inches long and weighing 5 pounds. It was assumed that it was probably abandoned as it outgrew its tank. In the wild, goldfish usually feed on crustaceans, insects and plant matter. They can’t willingly stop eating, which can cause damage their intestines. Overfeeding can be diagnosed by excessive waste and faeces produced. Compared to typical fish food, goldfish-specific food has less protein and more carbohydrates. Shelled peas, blanched green vegetables, blood-worms and brine shrimp are a favorite, but goldfish preference vary similar to all other animals. Goldfish have the capacity to distinguish between 4 primary colors-red green blue and ultraviolet, thus making their vision the most widely studied amongst all fish visions.

There are over 300 breeds of goldfish available in China currently, almost all of which have originated there. These breeds have differences in their color, body shapes, and fin and eye configurations. Some extreme versions can thrive only in aquariums and are far removed from their wild counterparts. Goldfish exist in colors like, orange, yellow, silver, black and several combinations of these. The Chinese classify goldfish based on their features. Ce goldfish lack fancy anatomical features. Wen have a fancy tail. Dragon Eye have extended eyes, and Egg have an egg shaped body with no dorsal fin. Goldfish reproduce only when there is enough water, right nutrition and the right temperature. Goldfish are egg layers that typically hatch within 48 to 72 hours. The newborns can take almost a year to develop a mature goldfish color. Some highly bred goldfish can no longer breed due to their altered shape, and hence require artificial breeding, that, if done incorrectly can harm the fish.

Goldfish are some of the most intelligent fish. They have strong associative abilities and social learning skills. Due to their visual acuity they can distinguish between individual humans. They are joyful when they spot their owners, or a known face, but hide and shy away from others. Goldfish rarely harm each other, although they can be extremely competitive when it comes to food. They have a memory span of 3 months. By using positive reinforcement, they can be trained to react to visual stimuli or to perform tricks. They are just as friendly and make a good companion as most pets. Goldfish have a tendency to generate a lot of waste, in the form of faeces and also from their gills. This creates a toxic environment in the fish tank, if it is not cleaned frequently. Certain laws are in place that restrict having goldfish in a fish bowl. This is considering the constricted space available for movement and the dangers of a toxic environment. Ideally a cleaning mechanism should be employed in the fish tank to ensure optimum measures.

Another reason why people prefer having goldfish as pets is its value in terms of feng shui. Feng shui is an ancient art of good living. Goldfish are said to bring good luck in the house. In fact according to certain customs a husband gifted his wife a goldfish on successful completion of one year of marriage.  In fact, placing just a model or image of a goldfish in the house is said to bring good luck in the house.  More often than not, it has been noticed that fish don’t last very long. In spite of their short lifetime, they bring us joy the whole time. No wonder, they are loved by all.

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One of the most common breeds of dogs in the world is the Pomeranian. And why not? Its small in size easy going and does not require a lot of fussing unlike some other breeds. The Pomeranian also called a Pom pom or even simply Pom is a breed of the Spitz type. It is said to have originated in Central Europe, in the Pomerania region, which now comes as a part of northern Poland and east of Germany, hence giving it the name. Its size is so small, that it is classified as a toy dog, although its ancestors, i.e. the Spitz were much larger, specifically the German Spitz. In fact, it often goes by the name of ‘dwarf Spitz’, in some countries.

The very size makes it absolutely adorable to have and to hold. Its popularity can be credited to the large number of royal owners this breed has had for the past few centuries, as early as the 18^th century. Also the fact that since celebrities these days have made owning a small dog so fashionable, everyone wants to be in trend, and a Pomeranian fits the bill perfectly. In fact the size of the breed reduced by about 50% during Queen Victoria’s lifetime alone. What is interesting is the breed seems to have a fairly good lifespan for its size, about 12 to 16 years.  The breed is considered among the top 15 most popular breeds in the USA and simultaneously its popularity is growing worldwide.

These compact dogs weigh about 1.9 to 3.5 kgs and tend to have an abundant textured coat, set high and flat, yet as fluffy as ever. They have a unique ruff on the neck and a fringe of fur on their hindquarters. The earliest known Pomeranians were mostly if not exclusively white, brown or black. But after Queen Victoria adopted a small red Pomeranian, this color too gained prominence. With time, a large variety of colors were seen in the breed. Some solid, others were a blend or a combination of various colors. The most common colors are white, orange, cream and black. Other colors include tan, spotted, brindle, blue and sable. Merle is a distinct color recently developed, which gives a mottled effect. Although there are certain colors considered unacceptable according to some breeding standards. The eyes, nose and paw pads also can be uniquely colored as a consequence of breeding. Pomeranians have the largest variety of colors compared to any other breed.

Because of their thick double coat, breeders recommend daily grooming in order to maintain its quality and since it is fairly easy. Special care needs to be taken during the shedding season of their undercoats, which happens about twice a year, when the coat tends to knot and tangle easily. The undercoat is usually softer, while the outer is long, straight and just a tad harsh. To maintain the gloss and softness, its better if the fur is trimmed every 1-2 months. What makes Pomeranians particularly loved by kids is that they are a very friendly breed. They love to play. They are inherently lively, and this energy more than makes up for their relatively small size.

They also make decent guard dogs, considering they are highly prone to barking at any new stimuli. This alertness makes them susceptible to any change in their environment. They are aware about everything around them, often excessively defensive about their territory. Their intelligence ensures a good response to training, which is aided by their extrovert nature. But at the same time they are well known for their ability to get what they want from their owners. They love to be the centre of everyone’s attention, which comes off as aggression and dominance. If not trained well, they tend to bark excessively, which makes them unadvisable for the elderly. Toys come in handy when you need them to be alone.

One advantage of their lightweight build is that this breed is not known to have hip dysplasia as commonly as other breeds do. With good nutrition and sufficient exercise this dog lives a sturdy, healthy life. Most of the ailments are a result of insufficient care and grooming, such as regular cleaning of their ears, teeth and eyes. It’s advisable to feed them dry food, as early tooth loss is a common problem. On an average a pom breed is about 1-3 puppies per litter, among the smallest compared to other breeds. Some other common ailments are related to bones and muscles, such as patella and slip disc. This is painful in the initial stages, but it later subsides. Respiratory problems such as tracheal collapse are another commonly found ailment amongst Pomeranians. Most common symptom of which is coughing that worsens by hot weather, excitement or exercise. Testicular disease, ie, cryporchidism is treatable by surgery. But the most common disease involves complete or partial hair loss and hyperpigmentation.

A Pomeranian is well-suited as a companion for everyone. Its loving nature makes it an ideal lap dog. Pomeranians are often used as therapy dogs. In fact their adorable appearance alone can make them extremely popular, as recently witnessed in case of Boo, that became an internet sensation, based solely on its cuteness.

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Since childhood, my younger brother has always wanted a pet. But his demand is not of an average pet like a dog, cat, horse, bird, turtle, fish or any other everyday creature of nature that we think of keeping in our house. He wants to pet a tiger and /or a lion and /or an elephant! Ridiculous, is it not? Since he does not have the means to fulfill his needs (currently), he keeps dreaming of becoming rich and keeping a real ‘Sheru’ at home. Rich people who can afford exotic animals and have a fixation for the same, often fulfill their desires. But is it a wise thing to do? What if your beloved pet turns on you one day thinking that you are its prey? Let me give you an insight into this kind of a lifestyle. These are two cases of what happened when you pet a wild animal.

Folly: Sandra L. Piovesan (50) had nine dogs. Except that they were not regular dogs- they were hybrids between dogs and wolves. Ms. Piovesan also had two Rottweilers that were neither kept nor bred with wolf-dogs. Aside from her animals she’d lived alone in the same house for about two decades and had separated from her husband and her daughter had grown up.Sandra thought that she had a spiritual connection with wolves but since she could not keep real wolves in her house, she decided to get half breeds as pets. She had raised all of them since childhood. She once told a neighbor they “give me unqualified love.”  Ms. Piovesan treated her wolves like children, and said as much when neighbors asked about them. The fenced area in her backyard was about the width of a three-lane road, running the length of her house. The area was divided into sections: one for the wolf-dogs, one for her pair of Rottweilers, another for wolf puppies, with whom she’d play and romp. Ms. Piovesan provided the wolf-dogs with toys — a replica igloo, balls, a plastic playhouse.

Wolves have the tendency to claim leadership of their area once they mature– they want to become the Alpha. The owners of other breeds do not have to think about returning home from work and be scared to confront their Lab, Rottie or Poodle and fight for the Alpha status. Ms. Piovesan was last seen alive on a Sunday evening at around 8pm. Her body was found on Monday morning in a caged rectangular enclosure in her backyard, home for nine hybrids. The autopsy reported that she had suffered multiple soft tissue injuries and had been mauled to death by her very pets. These 9 hybrids were later euthanized while her 2 Rottweillers were sent to foster homes.

Slightly more than 300 people were killed by 403 dogs in the period from 1979-96, a report says. Fifteen wolf dog hybrids were involved in fatal attacks. Number one at 118 deaths was “pit bull types”, purebred and cross-bred; second was Rottweilers with 67 killings, third was mixed breed and fourth was German shepherds. Wolf dog hybrids came in ninth.There are not too many certified incidences of wolfdogs causing human fatalities. On August 1999, 4 year old Cody Tyler Fairfield was killed by his family’s German shepard/wolf mix when the animal crushed his throat and trachea. Another incident involved 8 wolf dogs killing a 73 year old woman whose son owned the animals.

Not a mistake yet: They are one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Yet, one family does not show any fear when it comes to their 7 pet tigers! Despite having no experience with tigers, Ary Borges rescued two tigers from a circus eight years ago, and has since multiplied the endangered species in his home in Brazil. Now he has a total of 7 tigers. His wife, 3 daughters and granddaughter also love the tigers and play with them. The daughters swim with the tigers and the granddaughter rides them around the backyard. The girls feed meat directly into the mouths of the fully-grown cats as they join their human friends in the kitchen for dinner- and they even lounge around the house in the evenings. The girls even walk the tigers on leads. “Every day since they were born we have taken care of them and fed them so their instincts become dormant”, they say. The eldest daughter’s husband is afraid of these big cats and wishes his wife and daughter were not so close to the tigers as they can be lethal. He fears that something will go wrong even after all the safety precautions are being taken, due to his innate fear of tigers, like most people. Ary was forced to abandon a breeding program after being told by officials that he needed a permit. But he now hopes to build a park so his beloved pets can roam free and he can educate others of the plight of endangered tigers. The Borges family is happy and safe so far.

Big cats (lions, tigers, mountain lions, jaguars, leopards etc) probably provide the most exciting news stories when they attack or fatally maul their caretaker, and the news media never misses a beat reporting on it. So if you can recall the last time you heard of a big cat attack, you will probably realize that they aren’t very common either, occurring on average about twice a year. The victim is almost always the owner or caretaker. Many fear that big cats will be a significant public safety threat should they escape into the wild, however it should be noted that no big cat escapes off the property of the animal’s enclosure have resulted in a fatality thus far.

The post WILD ANIMALS AS PETS: LOVE OR FOLLY? appeared first on Pet Attack.

We the humans know how bad it feels to face neglection. It hurts when one throws a straight no at your face. The miseries seem endless, troubles unending and we feel as if nobody is standing beside us as a support. We are shattered, lonely and sad. All the bright, wordly colours of life look bleak and dull.
Animal emotion is a complicated arena, but it seems the scales are slowly tipping toward the opinion that animals do have emotions, although some skeptics remain. The debate surrounding the scope of emotions animals possess derives from two main complications: the potential for anthropomorphism (humans projecting their own traits onto animals) and the inherent difficulties of studying emotions in nonhuman species.
Such emotions must have evolved out of a social necessity. Animals, once involved with others learn such social necessities. Hence a slight mistreatment from your side can upset your beloved friend. The relationships with pet animals are very mutual, we find a source of happiness, playing with them gives us a scope for physical exercising and the attention we give to them is returned manifold times through constant company they give us. Not only we talk to our pets without even thinking if they understand our language or are interested in them; animals when not in direct contact with us make up for a pleasant watching through their playing, jumping around and other surprising activities. Animals at home are a complete element of surprise because everyday we get to discover a new aspect of our pet. When you let down this very source of joy, you break its trust. Dogs empathize and sympathize with humans and in turn expect just a little encouragement from us, their masters. If we fail to provide so they become depressed since thy too need plenty of attention, care, love and time. If they are left alone and hardly taken outside for strolls, he is likely to feel and remain aloof. We, as the proud, responsible owners, also have some commitment towards them which we ought to fulfill other it will feel useless and unncessary to you. If someday you return home tired from work and your pet dog suddenly starts jumping on you, demanding to be taken outside for a long walk, we usually put it away. He does understands well that you will not take him out and will, instead move away with a bowed down head and a dejected heart.

Usually animals, especially dogs show attention seeking behaviour from their very puppyhood age. They communicate to us by showing actions or even barking, pawing at your hands, whinning etc which is perfectly normal. We try to stop their behaviour by yelling at them because we get annoyed. This discourages them. Like any other living creature, animals are also a basket full of emotions. When we, the all powerful humans stop them from channelizing their energy in the correct direction, they get depressed which at times may lead to an aggressive behaviour. This can later on become uncontrollable. Simply buying an animal and keeping it at home is not enough. Just bathing and feeding it daily and giving this the name of love and care is not enough. We become selfish and mean with the bonds we share with them. Do we take them for granted? Surprising to hear that we ourselves do not know this answer because we are so overloaded and preoccupied with our own worlds. Since we are their closest companion, we need to understand their psychology better. They have different needs, their own way or method of approaching things and their own workings of the brain. It may want to spend quality time with you to be happy and satisfied. It doesn’t like being left alone. When they do not get it, normally, they will react resultantly. Then, we cannot merely judge it as BAD or GOOD behaviour.

We vow to love whatever pet animal we bring home and when that vow is broken, the animal’s heart is broken. Animals love humans. Why can’t we love them back? Pet owning is a wonderful experience but if we are busy and as a result neglect them, we can never call ourselves ‘the responsible owners’. Maintaining a social bond with your pet companion is a lifelong process. So do not think that simply buying a pet dog and having a walk or two with it completes your task of showing generosity towards it. Training them, caring about them is also a good way to hook up with your pets. If you treat your dig like a showpiece meant only for decorating your household and not to treat it humanly, you simply don’t deserve to have them. Your pet will love nothing more than being commited to you for a lifetime. It will never doubt your love, your intentions nor be jealous or possessive. It will never get bored of you. It will not mind if you shout at him for minutes. Such a generous creature your pet proves to be. Such noble manners is he gifted with. The love from animals cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that animals constitute a small part of our lives but for them we are their whole lives. It will never demand materialistic things and fussing that you otherwise have to provide in case of others. All it needs is you to play with him often and give him some love. So, when, though you do not have to put in any effort to woo it, please do not neglect it by sheer means. Make your beloved animal feel loved.

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If your own dog has ever gone missing, you know what a relief it is to get the phone call from someone who’s dialed the number on your dog’s collar or see your missing pet run to you at the local animal shelter. Critical in many of these owner-pet reunions a good samaritan found, held or chaperoned your dog to a safe place. Knowing how grateful we were or would be to them, we naturally feel like doing our part if we ever see a lost dog or a stray wandering on the streets.
Dogs have always been the best human counterparts. A symbiotic relationship developed between dogs and humans way back in the days of the cave men. Wolves and their puppies hung out at the camp fires of cave people looking for scrapes to eat and in turn they provided a benefit to the humans by keeping vermin at bay. Once you understand the nature of canines, it’s clear why the stray dogs adopt people and never leave. Wolves are pack animals that mean they are gregarious and social and need to stay together. An ostracized wolf, a lone wolf, couldn’t survive on its own. Since domestic dogs have descended from the wolves, they still have those wild instincts. Dogs always seek for company. They believe that a human will always help it thrive. Dogs who follow people home and adopt them will never leave their side because once they have had the experience of being hungry and suffering in extreme temperatures, they will choose family life over stray life.
Dog homelessness is a problem affecting millions of dogs even today. Though the cartoons and movies have glamorized the lifestyle of independent dogs, we all know that the daily life of a lonely street dog is much bleaker than is depicted on the screen. The following steps will help you safely rescue a dog from the streets.
1. Checking the urgency of the situation.
When you see an unattended dog on the streets your instincts will, on one hand, urge you to help but on the other hand you cannot take any decision. You will fear to make the situation worse. You don’t want to scare the dog unnecessarily and try to help only if its in need. There might not be a relevant situation for you to move on the path of animal heroism.
2. Determined Ownership.
You should make sure the first thing that the dog is actually alone and cannot be momentarily seperated from the owner. You can save yourself loads of time and hassle along with potential criminal charges while making sure that your dog is alone.
3. Analyzing the condition of the dog

Strays are two types- a dog seperated from its owner and a dog inherently without any home or family. Though both types are worthy of love and are in need of rescuing, there are additional concerns that need to be taken into consideration.
4. Protect yourself all the time.
Before finding a home for the stray, one must first capture and restrain the animal. It is a little dangerous as dogs can sometimes be defensive or even hostile due to prior abuse, neglect, sickness or its general temperament. If the dog turns violent, you should protect yourself with a dog barrier like a skateboard or a tennis racket but it should not appear as a weapon to the dog. Do not swing it at the dog in an attempt to impale them. It’s for your own safety and not meant to hurt the dig instead.
5. Building a rapport.
This is the most important thing you should do. Gaining trust through peace offering is good. A simple gesture like feeding with your own hand can build trust and open the lines of communication. You should never rush too fast. Go slow while making your approach towards the dog. Pause if it becomes frightened. Pay attention to what triggers an emotional response from the dog and be sensitive towards it. Move slowly and comfortably.
6. Bring rescue to your dog
Even if the dog behaves wildly, search for a proper shelter for him. Return them to a good home. Nowadays parents are getting microchips placed beneath the skin of their dog as a means of tracking their four-legged loved ones. It’s helpful if you want to ensure your dog’s safety.
7. Foster your rescue
If a proper home is yet to be located for your nee friend, you might want to consider adopting it temporarily or perhaps permanently. If you take the dog to the Human Society, a lot of times they do not take proper care of them. But if you are able to hold on to the dog for a quarrantine period of up to two weeks, they will then take the dog and provide it with all necessary vaccinations and tests.
8. Consult your family
The main concern is taking permission from your family, without which, bringing a stray dog home will prove to be your worst decision ever.
Still today, hundreds or more live in swamplands, sick and starving, diseased and injured, living under dangerous conditions. Starvation, dehydration are their regular companions and some are even dumped by human families who had once adopted them. So if you adopt such a dog, be generous and kind. Taking it to a vet, giving regular medical attention for the first few days against heatworm, parasitic diseases or acute injuries, seeking professional advice, complete check-up and sterilization, if needed should be done.
The SOCHI DOG KILLING CAMPAIGN has raised international interest in adopting street dogs from Sochi. Adopting a street dog will give you extreme happiness. Sit back and enjoy your new pet, see that all your difficulties and tensions vanish in a single go. Secure in the knowledge that you are a bonafide hero for saving the life of a poor fellow. 

The post STRAY BUT HUMAN- PART 2 appeared first on Pet Attack.

Beloved Humans, Remember Us? We are the dogs- poor, hungry, fighting to survive and fighting over everything else – You see us everyday on the streets yet act as if we are invisible. We live terribly, our babies are in despair. Please help us. We never had the fortune of being called a Pet, leave aside a sophisticated treatment. We are nameless, sad. We also wish for a life filled with bright lights. Please help us. We are neglected creatures, full of hardships. Give us a chance. Adopt us. Please help us. When We love you so much, why can’t You? Yours faithfully- Stray Dogs in danger.

Could strays write such letters, their lives would have been wonderful. These dogs try to voice their thoughts but never once do we make an attempt to listen to them. Everyone says that a dog is a man’s best friend. The fact is undeniable. But still some can never fulfill it. Ardent dog lovers have failed to understand why. Why can’t they be helpful to dog’s. Why can’t they bring a street dog home and raise it? Are all the claims of being so passionate about dogs just a fake promise or Do humans willingly fail at every step to become a loyal friend to his loyal dog?
Street dogs are innocent animals. They often look thin, malnourished, dirty and rough but they have a soft heart inside that beats only for you. You can always see a street pup foraging in the garbage heaps or playing with a bunch of dirty plastics with waste accumulated on the corner of the road. Street puppies always look at you with watery eyes as if asking you to take it home. They hardly bark when you bend forward to touch it. It is because they love your company and will continue loving you if you adopt it without leaving it on the road to die.

They are initially understanding in nature. There is a general belief that they will be difficult to train because of their aggressiveness and rowdiness. But this dog can be trained just like any other. Yes, you may hesitate to take them to a pet show or a dog exhibition but you always can. Once you treat your dog well, it will never leave any opportunity to impress you. We all buy dogs to display them to the world. Adopt one from the street and see that it will give you much more pleasure and contentment. Unlike the dogs which are bought, Street dogs can turn out to be more dignified and talented.
The ambiguity regarding the adoption of a stray is basically because we are so concerned about our health and temperament that we do not have that basic instinct to help others in distress. How ludicrous do we feel when we are down with fever or somehow bruise our hands. Then imagine the kind of pain they undergo when they are sick or hurt and trembling with fear, all alone with no roof to provide them shelter. These dogs, born and brought up on the streets wildly and ruggedly, are never given lessons on humanity nor any lectures on how to be helpful. Yet they are more humane than us, more noble and pure-hearted.
Love is unconditional, no matter where the love comes from. Any avid dog lover cannot un-notice a dog only because it belongs to the street. The love for dog exist everywhere, from store to the road. Have you ever looked at a puppy with hurt paws, cut by the sharp stones hurled at him by those wicked people? Have you ever looked at a dog with an injured and diseased body, writhing in pain, lying under the cool shade of a tree only to get some respite from the heat? Don’t you feel sad for them? Doesn’t these brutal images of plight haunt you like a nightmare? Why do we never think of taking them home? We don’t and this thought does not even cross our minds and we don’t ask ourselves the reason be that we are only bothered about showing how costly a dog we can afford than thinking at all about their well-being? Have we ever asked ourselves why we don’t feel for these little poor puppies quivering outside in the cold?
Wouldn’t it feel delightful to bring a street dog home and give it a shelter. Besides, the person will be blessed with unlimited love as long as the dog lives. Also there is no more happiness than having a furry dog companion at home for free. They are no less costly than a known breed. They will be of so much help to the household as well as the master. They are very social and highly alert dogs. They are extremely defensive about their human family and will make excellent watch dogs. They will require low maintenance than other breeds. They do not need grooming, pedigree food or a regular visit to a parlour. They are already habituated to facing harsh and extreme hostilities and their needs are simple and minimum without any refinement. All these years, there have been enough proof of their genorosity, loyalty, this never ending love and unassuming joy keeps on multiplying and radiating from your dog and when you come in contact with it, all your stress melts away like forever, you can feel it lasting for a lifetime. The mere passing of a street dog becomes the very reason for a big smile. You feel as if it winks back at you. That’s your love for a dog. You cannot merely discriminate between your pet dog and a street one. This kind of the so claimed dog persons I always hate. Street dogs can be far better than what you think them to be. Yes, they might not trust you on the first go, considering the history of humans, how we behave with them disgracefully, but a little love can go a long way. And when it comes to unquestionable faith on them, ask a security guard about it. Such dogs devotedly come forward to volunteer them in their job.
Just throwing a biscuit towards a stray might assure you for the moment but the dog will certainly look forward to more affection and acceptance. It is sad that they are devoid of that one chance to feel loved.
They are not ‘proper or perfect as pets’ is the very silly reason we give to defend ourselves. But what does our conditions of being ‘very perfect’ require? Fair? Clean? Handsome? Beautiful, with a soothing voice? But have you ever realized that shared love can be the stepping stone for a good friendship. And when it comes to the matters of the heart, physical traits are never counted. There is no justifiable reason for not loving them, be it rough or wild or inexpressive. We never shed drops of tear when we see a street dog dying in front of us. Bringing home one and see how it cries when you are in pain. What you don’t do a dog will do for its entire life. All your misjudgement and hatred will vanish and prove how wrong you were to undermine that poor fellow. No. Your house doesn’t need any fancy dog but a dog which will teach you the fundamentals of life.
If you cannot bring it home, set up shelters for them. Feed them daily. Take care of them whenever you are free from work. Know that you are saving a dozen lives which will eventually transform into goodwill and come back to you in many folds in time of need. Strays will always find a way of showing gratitude towards you for saving his life with unassuming joy, love and care. It’s high time we become aware that abandoning the strays does no good to the society. Stray dogs will love to live in your society if you provide good facilities for medical care, feeding, shelter and clothing. We are a brighter and intellectual species. So why leave them to the hands of abuse?

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It’s soft and cuddly. It’s absolutely adorable. It comes in so many colors. It is always there. These are just some of the common qualities between a cocker spaniel and a cloud, primarily the appearance. Its mainly because of their curled up thick coat. These cute little darlings are become extremely common everywhere. They are incredibly friendly and lovable. Their size makes them a viable choice in with the reducing home sizes in the growing cities. They are beautiful in their own right, and so poised, no wonder they are a regular feature at dog shows and the like.

Originally bred as hunting dogs, their name was derived from their use as a preferred choice for hunting the Eurasian Woodcock. It was first bred in the United Kingdom, where they were known as the English Cocker Spaniel. Eventually they were brought in to the USA and there a new breed originated, called the American Cocker Spaniel, where they were trained to hunt the American Woodcock.  Both the breeds have similar coat colors and health issues with a few exceptions. Their existence can be dated to as far back as the 14^th century. From here they were exported to various other countries in time and their popularity began its ascent. Spaniels may be considered related to hounds and originating from Spain, lending it the name. They were often bred as gun dogs. With their strong sense of smell they could not only find prey and instigate them into flight, only to be shot down by the gunmen, but the cocker spaniels sight smell were so sound, that they could also find and retrieve the bird with a soft mouth.

Cocker spaniels were first classified as such, if the Spaniels weighed less than 25kgs. This was until the year 1901, after which the weight range changed and accommodated larger or heavier dogs too. According to the current standards, a typical male grows to a height of 37-41 centimeters, whereas a female could grow as tall as 34 to 39 centimeters, based on their breed. The English Cocker Spaniel tends to be taller than its American counterpart. The English variety has a narrower head and chest, whereas the American has a shorter back and muzzle and a domed head.  An English cocker spaniel weighs from 13 to 15 kilograms and the American breed weighs between 11-14kgs. There have been several instances when a cocker spaniel was awarded the best in show at some of the most prestigious dog shows of the world.

Cocker spaniels come in a variety of colors to satisfy and indulge all preferences. Black, liver, white, red and golden are some of the most common solids. But at the same time, cocker spaniels are available as a blend of these colors as well, such as roans, tans and sometimes even tricolors. All- white cocker spaniels are extremely rare, and are often specially bred, but sometimes a darker parent could also give birth to an all-white cocker spaniel. Cocker spaniels are ranked amongst the most popular breeds, both in the US and the UK, and it only seems to be increasing. Cocker spaniels are also categorized as those with show strains and working strains. Show strains as the name suggests, are bred almost exclusively for the purpose to conform to standards as part of dog shows. The working strain on the other hand is meant only for their working ability. They tend to be larger with flatter heads, shorter ears, and less feathering compared to their show strain counterparts.

Cocker spaniels with their long floppy ears are prone to several defects of the ear canal along with the regular ailments common amongst dogs. The fold of the ear prevents air from entering the ear, making the atmosphere warm and susceptible to growth of unwanted organisms. Ear inflammation, swelling, can cause the ear to get shut. This can be caused due to parasites, microorganisms, foreign bodies, tumors, ear mites, ticks or even fleas that live and fester in a dog’s ear canal. Yeast infections are extremely common, hence adequate care needs to be taken, if you notice inflammation or pus-discharge. A foul odor, unusual shaking or scratching of the head by the dog is also a sure sign of something being wrong. Other common ailments include hip displasia, cancer, and even eye disorders. PRA or progressive retinal atrophy has been documented in many dogs, and affect’s a dog’s eyesight. In severe cases, it could even cause blindness, which could also be caused by glaucoma. Cataracts are also fairly common.

Cocker spaniels with their joyful, friendly demeanor, love the company of humans. They are playful and energetic and are loved by kids especially because of that soft, shiny, huggable coat. Their size and adaptability makes them a favorite choice as pets in most households, as that signifies that they are low maintenance. This does not reduce the rewards that one reaps as a sign of their love, loyalty and gratitude towards you. They can be amazing companions for individuals, and are amazing family dogs. They love to play outdoors and are amazing partners to health fans. one really doesn’t need any other reason to fall irrevocably in love with this breed.

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ZEBRA AND THEIR STRIPES:

If you were a curious child like I was, you would have come across this question at least 10 times during the course of your childhood WHENEVER IT CAME TO THINKING ABOUT ANIMALS, and surprisingly the question remains unanswered till date: ARE ZEBRAS BLACK OR WHITE?

The enigmatic fur on these zebras making us elude ourselves into an abstract transitional phase all along could lead anyone to come up with this question and make us over think and over analyse about the very same as well. Not only regular humans, but scientists till date have been mulling over the same question themselves.

ZEBRA’S ORIGINS:

There is no doubt when it comes to the question of zebra’s having their origins inbuilt with that of the horse family. Their body structure and the elongated face which is like any other normal horse is the answer to the same. The only difference that could be pointed out in relation to when it comes down to comparing the family of zebras with that of the horses and donkeys is that:

“ZEBRAS HAVE NEVER TRULY BEEN DOMESTICATED”

Zebras have been with the human civilization since the last 4 million years and have been known to be “in the wild” ever since. This breed of old horses tends to stand out the most and relatively are the only ones which look the most accurately similar to the breed of earliest EQUINE ancestors of the horses. Which allows for them to enjoy the status of being the most exotic animals belonging to the regions of Africa (mostly Kenya) the “biological mystery” behind their stripes have made them one of the most infamous tourist attractions.

There are 3 types of Zebras classified into the following:

• The Plain Zebras
• The Grevys Zebras
• The Mountain Zebras

The difference between them is that the first two are classified as being horses whereas the last one is known to belong to the donkey family. Though all of them belong to the family; EQUUS that comes under the broader umbrella family tree of EQUID.

STRIPED UP:

All the above mentioned Zebras are believed to have bold stripes in comparison to other African grazers like the buffalo and the antelope.

Like said earlier scientists have been greatly puzzled with the same theory of stripes as well- scientists like Darwin and other great scientists have come to a divine conclusive theory stating that there are 5 major reasons for the stripe formation in the Zebras as we know today. These 5 main hypothesis are of the following:

1. STRIPES HELP IN REDUCING BODY TEMPERATURE:

It is believed that the black and white stripes help the Zebras to contain their body heat and provides for resistance against heat and helps absorbs the heat, turning it into a cool drizzle for the zebras inside, helping them in crossing and covering large distance and areas with a lesser amount of time.

2. STRIPES HELP ZEBRAS TO INTERACT SOCIALLY:

ALL ZEBRAS FLOCK TOGETHER

One of the theories deduces that because the stripes are so similar in nature to each other, it helps the herds that move along together when covering large distances off the shore in order to identify each other easily and allows for social interactions to happen within these tribes in a more unified manner.

3. STRIPES HELP ZEBRAS REPEL INSECTS:

Like discussed earlier, Zebras are generally found in Africa which is prone to many reptiles and insects that end up sucking out the blood out of these poor Zebras. The theory has been deduced in the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDY wherein the paper NATURE CALLS published by a Zebra expert and a Princeton-graduate Daniel Rubenstein who attained masters in the field of Zoology deduced this theory of blood sucking flies that get repelled by the stripes present on their bodies.

4. STRIPES HELP ZEBRAS IN CONFUSING PREDATORS:

IT IS RARE THAT LION GETS AN INDIVIDUAL ZEBRA ROAMING ABOUT

It is believed that the “motion dazzle” provided for by these stripes on zebras allows for them to easily hide themselves from their obvious predators; “the lions” which gives them the opportunity to hide from the lion as and when they flock together, making it hard for the lion to choose a specific target. Zebras generally have a lot of stamina and have a night vision ability that is complimented with great eye sight – allowing for them to swish past through the lions in no time!

Lions are colour-blind which allows the zebras to take full advantage of their black and white colour combination, making it hard for their predators to be able to catch them. This confusion that is caused to create perplexities in the minds of a lion allows for the zebra herd to distinguish one herd from another, making it an advantage for them.

5. STRIPES HELP ZEBRAS IN PROVIDING FOR CAMOUFLAGE:

A simple army type camouflage pattern allows the zebra to protect itself from unwanted enemies. An open savannah that is triggered because of Zebras allows for them to protect themselves from the Lions- this particular pattern was even used by ships during the First World War.

The stripes allowing for zebras to find themselves mates easily and more effectively too. Vegetation is also provided for by the same.

BLACK/WHITE?

These and many theories have been deduced, not a single one being triggered down as THE one reason for the stripes being there or not.

The debate has been moved past many stages and has deduced many conclusive theories within these theories and because zebras cannot be really domesticated- they are too wild and have peculiar demands that may only be provided by the nature itself.

Thus the question remains unanswered and a cryptic mystery to all!!

Sorry to disappoint yourself any my childhood curiosities!

The post STRIPES HELP ZEBRAS!-UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY BEHIND STRIPES appeared first on Pet Attack.

RED PANDAS- A rare yet a very remarkable animal, is believed to be one of the pandas which are hardly ever found around us and when found are known to be attractive enough to lure you in their antics. Unlike the conventional black and white wolf that we address pandas as, red pandas look nothing like them, and are thus intermittent to an extent that no one even knows about their complete habits and personality!

They are even known as one of the fastest climbers in this world of animals!

RED PANDAS CLIMBING A BRANCH OF A TREE

Red Pandas are known to be the last living creature belonging to the genus of AILURUS udner the family of Ailuridae. Generally they belong to the Eastern Himalayas and China, and are given various names such as; in Nepal they are known by the name: bhalu biralo. Red pandas are even known as lesser pandas or red- cat bear. There has been a huge controversy regarding their name and their origins but it is believed that they originally came from the superfamily of Musteloida. Another mis-guided principle follows that red pandas come down from the families of the giant pandas, this is false and has been certified the same according to many institutions as well.

ORIGINS & HABITAT OF THE RED PANDAS:

Red pandas are known to originally be native to the Eastern Himalayas and China and thus is endemic to the forests of the former and tends to ranges from the foothills of Himalayas from Western China to Nepal. They end up living in this area as they are best suited to live in the area consisting of Mixed Deciduous trees or Conifer trees that are usually found even in places like Arunachal Pradesh as well as southern part of Tibet. Like any other panda, it loves BAMBOOS and can hog onto them throughout the day, if required.

It is believed that the Red Panda lives in an altitude and temperature of:

• ALTITUDE: 7,200 & 15,700 ft. or between 2,200 & 4,800 metres.

• TEMPERATURE: In between 10-25⁰ C or in between 50 to 77⁰ F.

There are two sub-species to the Red Pandas which are commonly known as the following:

• Western Red Panda: known to be existing in the areas of Nepal, Assam, Sikkim & Bhutan

• Styan’s Red Panda: known to be existing in the areas of China and northern Burma

RED PANDA’S DIET:

Red Panda are known to be one of the most unique animal which is an HERBIVOROUS CARNIVORAN. Red Pandas belong to the member of the order CARNIVORA yet Red Pandas are not really carnivores, they are Herbivores! This is because a Red Pandas diet includes mostly of bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots. It is occasionally that Red Pandas are seen having fruits, vegetables and it is very rare to see them have an egg or a bird.

It is one of those rare facts that Red Pandas are known to have a FAKE SWEET TOOTH!

In accordance to a study, results specified that Red Pandas preferred three types of artificial sugars:

• Neotame
• Splenda
• Sugarfree

Making them one of the only non-primate which is able to taste such sugars; fake sugars.

RED-COAT PANDAS:

The red fur coat on Red Pandas is known to be a unique feature which allows for these Red Pandas to save themselves from marauders like the Snow Leopard. There is a common misconception that their red fur coat doesn’t allow for them to camouflage in the forests, but it is believed that the very same allows for Red Pandas to be able to hide behind branches of fir trees which are usually covered with brown-reddish moss.

RED PANDAS TWEET:

The conception about pandas howling gets removed when one listens to Red Pandas twitter!

Red Pandas are known to carry with themselves the ability to tweet and thus do not sound like one of those Kung-Fu pandas panda like we see up in the movies. Contrary to prior beliefs, they are known to have the ability to actually sound in-tune due to their unique twittering.

RED PANDAS- DOMESTICATED OR NOT?

There has been a lot of confusion regarding domesticating a Red Panda, and the only viable solution that there might be to all of this haphazard discussion could be this- THERE IS NO ANSWER!

There is a common viewpoint that people who are well-off (REALLY WELL-OFF) may have the resources to domesticate Red Panda and create an environment in their respective houses so as to keep them- Indira Gandhi, the famous ex- Prime Minister of India is known to have a Red Panda as a pet during her childhood.

But then comes the other side which speaks about how unruly it becomes for the Red Panda to be able to adjust themselves to such unknown environment- they end up living a shorter life than their designated span- being of 12-18 years. Thus, it is believed that domestication of the Red Panda is not a viable option for all.

RED PANDAS- EXTINCT?

According to the IUCN, the http://www.iucn.org/ shave been termed to be “VULNERABLE”, not extinct. For those who don’t know, vulnerable is a term used for animals who have a ratio of being alive in the range of 0-10000, and not more, which means there are only those few Red Pandas that are existing in our world. Extinction is a bar that has been hanging on their heads for a long time and the situation could get worse if the following are not stopped:

• Poaching
• Habitat Loss
• Fragmentation
• Inbreeding depression

Such threats are not only scary but risky if they actually get carried out- losing any kind of animal is a loss to the society and even the world at large.

We must stop this hindrance from being carried forward and make sure such invasions in the animals life shall be stopped, immediately!

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Are YOU thinking of getting a dog? Are you thinking of getting approval from your parents? Forget it. Throw the idea into your garbage bin- NOW! If you have to think before getting approval from your parents for anything (because these things just can’t be limited to dogs) – in most possibility YOU WILL NOT GET IT! A common dilemma that every household faces is that the offspring’s of a modern-yet backward (ironical?) family comes through when it comes to welcoming a new member in the family- usually which is a four legged canine. So, why does this exactly happen? Why are our beloved parents not in awe of our wishes of getting these adorable furry creatures into our homes?

There are a million of reasons that comes into one’s mind when they begin to answer it themselves; the most common and unanimous to all being:

#1 DIRTY, FILTHY CREATURES:

This is the first thought that occurs into every parent’s mind when their children put forth the idea of bringing in a dog into their homes. They end up making faces to show their concern and react in an overwhelming manner in front of their children that ends up making the child in concern regret being the progeny of the dramatic figures (their parents). It is like when the idea has been brought to light – all parents think about first and foremost is the amount of poop and urine they will have to clean up – if and only if they allow for such creatures(dogs) to enter into their territory(their homes).which is why the outward NO is their general response.

#2 BARKING CAUSING NOISE POLLUTION:

One of the most senseless and ridiculous argument that parents tend to use so as to get out of the situation of bringing in a canine into their homes is that the amount of noise created by these furry creatures leads to deafness in their ears and would create disturbance for their neighbours- about whom just FYI they never gave a shiny shovel about till now.

#3 DOGS RUN?!?

One of the major concerns of the parents is this- DOGS MOVE. THEY RUN. Which is an issue! Why, Mother? WHY? Because they will break their antique crystal glass made frog, she says. Well, it might be true that little puppies who are new to an environment cause a bit of destruction around the house- but it is something that can be taken care of, via TRAINING. Which everyone knows, requires patience; the only thing that did not go down as a gene in our parents in all possibility.

#4 DOGS = NO MONEY

Which is what exactly my mother told me she doesn’t have and ended up buying a new closet full of clothes the very next week for her own self, shopping consisting of the very same clothes she bought the last time she went for such a shopping. Why can’t I buy cerelac with that money for my pup, mommy??

Dogs do require money on them- but look at it this way, you feed them and treat them like your own child and they will provide you with their lives trying to guard and protect you from any unwanted entities. I think it’s a very fair deal, don’t you?

Which brings me to the latter part of my article- HOW TO RESOLVE THIS CONFLICT?

In order to crack this code, one must take into consideration the following things and be sure that they meet with these conditions, fully:

• MUST REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT A DOG- they aren’t a stuff toy
• MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DOG
• MUST TAKE OUT TIME FOR THE DOG; NO EXCUSES ARE PERMITTED
• MUST TRAIN THE CANINE, BY BEING PATIENT WITH THE PARENT FIRST
• MUST ALLOW FOR THE OPINIONS OF YOUR PARENTS BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL- they are providing you with pocket money after all and they would be the ones paying for the doggy expenses as well.

So, in order to convince the parents, one must satisfy the following points in order to garner their parents acceptance:

• Get to know their reason(s) for hating dogs:

One must allow for their parents to freely express how they truly feel about having canines as a family member and if they hate them- get to know why is it that it is how they feel towards them. This would allow for you to signify that you are willing to make this a two-way process, and are not just being adamant about it only because you saw a pup that you really admired.

• Make a schedule:

Convince them to allow you to make a schedule of how you will carry out your responsibilities if they do allow for a canine to be a part of your family and how you will contribute towards the nurturing of the dog yourselves. Tell them the times you will feed the dog, take the dog out for walks and how many times you are willing to clear the dogs dump out- this will show your dedication towards the cause of getting that new doggy.

• Talk about the dog you want to get:

Sit down and research about the dog you would like to get, if you want to get a Dalmatian; tell her about their guarding capabilities, similarly whichever breed you want- get to know about them and let your parents know as well. Tell them about the various studies that suggest how dogs would be able to uplift their and your moods and would bring about sheer moments of happiness and find a cute dog- as that would allow them to look beyond their personalities and maybe, just maybe, their cute little adorable eyes might pester them into actually agreeing on getting that dog that you would like to get!

This and other suggestions might help you attain that furry creature you saw at the pet store and really wanted to buy.

SHOW THEM YOU CAN HANDLE DOGS- WELL

Happy Canine Convincing!

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