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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When you think of chicken, what comes to your mind? In one go, all the non-vegetarians out there would think of all kinds of mouth watering chicken cuisines. Well if you are what they say as ‘pure-nonvegetarian’, then why not have your own farm of poultry and raise your own healthy chickens, so that you never have to go to the supermarket to buy eggs and flesh and get a fresh supply from your own backyard. Keeping poultry pets is not so popular in suburban areas but here are few reasons as to why and how you keep a flock in your backyard.

Why?

1. An omelette in morning and a chicken cuisine for dinner would be something quite common for you, and that includes the family dinners and parties as well. You will be happily feasting with your friends and relatives.

2. Keeping chicken is fun. They are active, alert always ready to run around. You can cuddle them, pamper them only if you take care of them and bond well. They are unique! Yes, every chicken is unique in its personality trait, apart from varied feather colors and sizes. Chicks are equally adorable. You will love to play around with them and raise them in your backyard.

3. Keep them if you have pest problems in your garden. They can turn it into a fertilizer. No need to use pesticides also. Chickens love to roam around freely and forage. They can eat almost anything, even the grass that has grown too long. So stop caring about mowing your gardens and let those chickens go loose.

4. Low maintenance is what is synonym to keeping chicken. No walking, no brushing only feeding twice a dy. With minimal needs and plethora of benifits what more you can ask from your pet, than an egg every morning. The cleaning and bedding is a once in a while effort.

5. Save a chicken from the farm-factory where they follow ruthless and cruel farming of poultry and diary animals to produce higher output. High epsticides and antibiotics are used to rpevent spread of diseases in the stocked up innumerable poultry animals. Here you keep chickens, there one less chicken is put in a gruesome situation plus even you prevent yourself from ingesting those chemicals.

6. Its not just about chicken and eggs, in the end you get a pet to whom you can cuddle, scoop around, comb and pamper. Amaze others as you make your chicken fall asleep in your arms, they can be good pets if bonded well.

Now that you have got enough reason to keepp them, lets see the how part.

HOW?

DIET

FOOD

Chicken diet depends upon the breed and the age. Feed should be well balanced and the containers should be regularly cleaned to avoid any chances of illness. Chickens need insoluble grit in their diet like hard flint grit. Chicken feeders are equally important when keeping chickens as pets.

Water

Constant clean and fresh water is a must in your poultry house. The drinkers should be cleaned regularly. Care should be taken that drinkers are not too deep to prevent the chicks from falling into them.

HOUSING

The place where your chicks will grow up and thrive has to be warm, dry and well ventilated. The area needs to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to remove parasites and other insects. The feeders and drinkers should be placed in one corner of the house and if you have more number of chickens, two or more feeders can be kept per chicken coop.

Flooring

The flooring should be made of dry material like wood shavings or straw that should be topped up. Chicken like to forage and dust bath around so the toppings can be replaced when required. The floor should be dry to avoid habitats for parasites to grow and cause unwanted diseases to your pets.

Space

Chickens require ample space to stretch their wings, run and hop around. If you have 30 birds in your coop, roughly 12 square meters of space would be enough for them. But this also depends on size and number of chicken pets you have. You can fill the space with perches, about 3 to 5 cm in length with round edges to avoid the chicken getting hurt.

 Nest Boxes

When the hen is getting ready to lay eggs it needs quiet places. Make sure you provide the would-be moms with warm, serene enclosed nest boxes where they can lay eggs in peace without any disturbances from humans and other male chickens. The flooring can again be straw or wood shavings, in short, something dry and comfortable.

Outdoor Environment

Provide an overhead cover over the coop, like a small tree or a shed to protect your pets from sun and weather. Chicken constantly sun bathe and forage so enough space should be there for them to do so. Feeders and drinkers should even be kept outside for easy access to food and water. Proper fencing should be there to protect your pets from wild animals or other pets in your house. Make sure the bird doesn’t get out of the fence or not hurt itself getting stuck in it.

HEALTH

Healthy chickens are easy to notice. They have bright eyes and alertness in their movement. Poor health symptoms include hunched posture, reluctance in movement, erect feathers, hiding in corners etc. The chicken seems dull and less interested. Always contact your vet if you think your chicken is not doing well. Late response may make other chicken unwell too. Chickens should be checked for lice and red mites, generally found under the wings or in the crevices of the coop. Chickens need regular de-worming, if kept outside in the same area over a long period of time.

Chicken Company

Feather pecking can be a cause of serious trouble while introducing new chicken to the flock. Cockerels who haven’t grown together should be kept separate to avoid rivalry. Even hens peck and pull at the feathers of other hens causing injuries. This can occur anytime and may even lead to cannibalism. Care should be taken to separate any newly introduced member into the flock if they break into a fight.

Before getting yourself a flock of your own birds make sure you have ample space and can devote enough time and care towards them.

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Relocating and have got a pet? Pet owners always freak out a little when it comes to taking their pets to a new place. Before you choose your dream home, make sure it is as good for your pet as it is for you. Your pet shouldn’t feel alien or uncomfortable in a foreign place. Make sure the dog in the neighborhood isn’t too aggressive or always kept loose, there might be chances of your pet getting into an unwanted fight unnecessarily.

1. Space

Ensure there is ample space for your pet as it was in the house before. If not possible at least make sure the pet is let out to roam around if you feel the space is too congested for it. Your kitty doesn’t love much change. Try to make it feel as homely as possible by keeping certain empty shelves for it to climb over and find a space for herself in some corner of the house.

2. Packing

When you are busy putting things in carton and taping them, or when the trucks arrive to take your luggage your pets might not like too much change and may freak out. For that on the day you are moving keep your pet in a quiet room and keep the doors closed until all the commotion is over. You can also send your pet to your friend’s place where it is accustomed to go, so that it doesn’t feel scared by the sound of trucks.

3. Moment

When you move your animals, in crate or a cage, you should be sure they are comfortable enough for a long journey and it doesn’t freak out or get impatient. For this you need to make sure your pet habitual to the crates and cages long before you move. You can first try to keep their food inside an open crate and repeat it periodically. Gradually you can shut the door and have them eat their meals with door shut. Try keeping your pet inside crate for some time or take it for a short drive. You can even keep their favorite toys or piece of cloth, so that they don’t feel alien.

4. Home

It may be exciting for your pet to explore the new house and roam around. For it to get accustomed to the new place start by making them comfortable in one room where they are going to spend their maximum time or where you would like them to stay. Place their favorite toys, food, water and other treats at that place so that they get adjust to the room and make it their home base. Gradually introduce them to other rooms as well, keeping the other rooms shut. Five days is usually enough for your pet to get accustomed to a new place.

5. Additional Tips

Like humans animals can get airsick too. Give your pet light meal the previous evening of travel, at most 12 hours before flight. Avoid giving anything liquid to your pet 4 hours before departure. Also keep in mind that your pet is done with peeing before it begins with the travel. If you are going on a long road trip, take some breaks in the journey for your pet to stretch and relieve itself. A big no to tranquilizers or sedatives during travel as this can hurt them during travel. You can put shredded paper or wood shaving inside the crate for comfortable bedding.

WHILE TRAVELLING BY:

1. Car

Your car can turn into an oven for your pet if leave your pet alone in the vehicle on a hot day. It can even distress and in extreme cases lead to death. Ensure that you don’t leave your pet in the car alone, whilst you are out somewhere. Make sure your pet is not super excited and disturbs you while driving. When you or anyone else exits from car, make sure they don’t follow you and escape from the vehicle. Cats, birds, rabbits and other such pets can be kept in crates or cages that have proper ventilation with enough space to sit up, stretch or curl around in their usual positions. The crate should be securely placed to avoid any accidents while applying sudden brakes and cause injury to your pet. Before taking them for the long journey, take them for small car trips so that they are accustomed to it. Make sure they don’t suffer from travel sickness, otherwise consult your vet. Make sure your pet has ample water to drink. Don’t feed them too much during the journey. A meal 2 hours before the journey should be fine enough. Take regular breaks in between so that your pet can go to toilet and stretch around a little.

2. Train

Travelling by train can be a little stressful looking at the sound and continuous movement. Try to make the journey as short as possible as your pet may not be accustomed to the sounds and the sights. It may be freaking or too exciting for him leading to unexpected reactions. You can contact the railway prior to journey to know the rules and policies of travelling with the pet. Again the crate or cage should be secure and robust and big enough for your pet to stay comfortably in. Travel when it is cooler, and when you expect less people around, may be early morning or late night. Again make sure your pet has plennty of water.

3. Ferry

In most cases you may not be allowed to accompany with your dog in the passenger area. Contact the travel people prior to arrangements for travel to know about their pet travel policies.  You would have to keep your pet in crates or cages, or leave them in the car if you feel it is cool and safe. Before doing that make sure your pet can’t escape and land itself into danger. Proper ventilation in and around the crate is a must along with ample water. Your pet might get sickness or may freak out in an alien environment, so take a look over a few times if your pet is comfortable. Keep it busy with his favorite toy and food and let him feel everything is normal. Let the ferry officials know you have a pet along with you so that necessary measures for its safety and comfort and advice some to you too.

4. PLANE

Your pets can’t travel with you in the cabin of the plane; they will be kept in the hold. Hold is usually temperature controlled and ventilated but while the plane is on ground t can become warm. Also if there is any delay in the flight the situation may worsen. Sometimes they do not allow the hold to be opened even during high temperatures. Considering all this you should decide upon selecting the mode of transportation for your pet. Choose the direct flight for your destination, don’t go for break journeys. Travel in early morning or late night to avoid warm conditions. Make sure the water is provided to your in non spill container or even gel water can be provided. Try to get your pet accustomed to flight containers if possible. Contact the air-transport people prior to journey so that they can take necessary measures for comfort and safety of your pet.

Above all make sure that you have got all legal rights and requirements to take your pet along if you are travelling to a different country altogether.

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My usual pastime is surfing the net for cute dog or cat pictures. I came upon one such picture wherein a puppy wearing a jacket that said,” Service dog in training”, was sitting on the grass. This term perked my curiosity. I asked Google, what is a service dog? A link to a movie named ‘Quill: The life of a Guide Dog’ popped up. I clicked on it and could not stop watching what the movie had to show for 1 hour and 40 minutes! This movie is about a dog named Quill which is sent by his mother’s owner to trainers who give him basic training. Then the trainers send him to a dog trainer, who specifically deals in training guide dogs for the visually impaired. After his training is complete, Quill is selected to assist a blind man and they both train together to walk, work etc. in harmony. Quill serves him till he passes away and serves as a demonstration dog till he becomes too old to work. In the last year of his life he is sent to his first trainers home, where he dies after living with them for a year. This movie beautifully captures how a chosen puppy is trained to be a guide dog for the blind. It also shows how he helps his handler to overcome his physical disability and makes him faster and safer to walk to work on his own. This movie touched my heart and I started researching on ‘Service dogs’. To my amazement, I was introduced to a whole new world of how dogs are a gift of god to humans!

All through history dogs have served man, in peace and war, guarding his home and livestock from intruders, carrying and pulling heavy loads and being a loyal companion. In times of war, dogs have served as messengers, sentries, scouts and lifesavers. In the modern-day fight against crime, dogs assist in sniffing out drugs and explosives and tracking down wanted criminals. In recent times dogs have been busy giving a new lease of life to people who are physically challenged. A service dog is a type of assistance dog that is specifically trained to help people who havedisabilitiesincludingvisual difficulties, hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, autism, and more. The most commonly used service dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden, but any breed can be used. I discovered that for each handicap, physical or mental, a different type of service dog is used. The different types of service dogs are (according to Wikipedia):

• Autism service dog: An autism service dog is a service dog trained to assist a person with autism to help them gain independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living similar to anyone else. For the most part, these dogs are trained to perform tasks similar to those of service dogs for other sensory processing disorders.

• Guide dog: Guide dogs or ‘Seeing Eye dogs’ are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impairedpeople around obstacles.
• Hearing dog: A hearing dog is a type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. They may also work outside the home, alerting to such sounds such as sirens, forklifts and a person calling the handler’s name.
• Medical response dog: A medical response dog is a service dog trained to assist an individual who has a medical disability.
• Psychiatric service dog: A psychiatric service dog is a specific type of service dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia.
• Seizure response dog: Seizure response dogs are a special type of service dog, specifically trained to help someone who has epilepsy or a seizure disorder. They can summon help, move potentially harmful objects away from the person’s body, block the person from walking into danger during a seizure, attempt to rouse the person, provide physical and emotional support and carry information regarding the person’s medical condition and oxygen.
• Mobility assistance dog: A mobility assistance dog is a service dog trained to assist a physically disabled person who has mobility issues, which may include being wheelchair-dependent. They provide balance and stability, pull wheelchairs, carry and pick up things for persons with mobility impairments, open and close doors, and operate light switches.

Like our pets, service dogs of any kind know all the basic commands of ‘sit’, ‘come’, ‘go’, ‘fetch’ etc. But on top of that, they can perform many activities that our pets cannot since they have not been trained that way. For example, when the harness of a service dog is on, it knows it has to be serious and is at work! It is advised not to pet a service dog unless having asked the owner permission. Distracting a service dog is considered disruptive. It cannot bark, relieve itself, eat or do anything apart from helping its handler when its harness is on. Some of the things service dogs can do are pick up dropped objects, fetch a telephone, drop articles in a waste paper basket, open and close doors, speak on command to alert of an intruder, bark for help, get help in an emergency, load and unload the washing machine, switch on and off light switches, fetching items from a cupboard, shelf, refrigerator or a drawer, be a support, carry items from one person to another,reduce the anxiety of a person with post-traumatic stress disorder by putting its head on the patient etc.

After a service dog retires, the handler is the first choice to keep it. But if the handler cannot manage to keep it, the dog’s first trainer is the next one in queue to keep it. If by chance, they refuse to keep it, it goes through an adoption pool and goes into a home after a careful screening process. Since they are very well trained, the demand to adopt a retired service dog is so high that the waiting list may go on for years! I wish I could adopt one too!

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Rabbits make for great indoor pets who you do not really need to take care of by making them go on long walks but instead are known to be living, social beings who are so very active with humans. Human interactions are what keeps them away from depression and loneliness which is why they are the best pets that are a source of active entertainment for one and all. Rabbits even act as a good learning animal for little kids around the house as the new borns are able to retrieve a lot of vital education from the characteristics of this furry creature.

KID & BUNNY DEVELOPING STAGES

Rabbits have known to be a favourite amongst other indoor pets since the very 18^th century prior to which they were used for their fur or for food. Rabbits have distinctive personalities as they can be as playful as kittens, as independent as cats or even as loyal as dogs but at the very same time carry with themselves this aura of being unique in their own way. They are very adaptive in nature and can easily recognize and remember names as well as they can remember words, and can even use the litterboxes easily without creating a fuss. For rabbits, Pet shops and rabbit shows are usually high-stress settings. Foster homes, as well as some progressive shelters, offer a better chance to meet rabbits and to get to know them in an environment conducive to relaxed interactions, where their personalities can shine.

There are many things that must be taken into consideration when it comes to taking care of your pet rabbit, some of the relatively imperative ones have been listed as below:

1. Find a perfect cage:

It is vital for a new rabbit owner to find the appropriate cage for their pet rabbit as rabbit have the tendency to become ferocious if they feel like they are being cornered, or restricted into an area. The following aspects of a cage must be taken into account:-

• Cage must be either wooden or should be made of plastic.
• Cage must have wired bars attached to it.
• You can get a doe and a buck if you want to breed or if that is the only choice. It is recommended that you get your rabbit spayed or neutered.
• The cage must be latched at night for tight security.

THE PERFECT BUNNY CAGE

Wires are imperative in a cage as rabbits can get a disorder called pododermatitis if they are always on wire floors.

2. Rabbit Food:

For a newly born rabbit which is less than 6 Months old the following food stuff must always be AVOIDED:-

• CARROTS
• APPLES
• CORN
• BERRIES

For a dwarf rabbit, only one round of feeding is sufficient every day where as one may give Timothy Hay to rabbits when they are this young as this particular hay provides for the adequate nutrition.

For a rabbit which is older than 6 months one may provide the animal with a cup of fruits or vegetables or greens as a very tasty snack for them.

One must always AVOID pet store food for Rabbits, as they may cause sickness to your pet and may not always be fresh. Water is another element that must be provided to these animals as a necessity.

Overfeeding must always be avoided, as rabbits have the tendency to burn off carbohydrates and nutrients very quickly which is why consistency must always be taken into consideration when feeding such animals.

3. Rabbit Exercise:

Although rabbits can easily sustain inside a cage, but they must be let out once a while for proper and healthy development. Although leaving them outside in the environment hopping around all ALONE may lead to some bird snatching the poor bunny away, which is why they must be let out only and only under supervision.

One must purchase the appropriate rabbit harness and leash for such supervision to take place carefully as rabbits unlike dogs when on a walk tend to run away. When taking a rabbit out on a walk, the rabbit might dominate over your hands, and may walk you instead which is why one must keep up with them and have the stamina to walk along with their pet rabbits when they go out grazing grass. One gets more exercise while walking a rabbit than walking a dog in comparison.

4. Bunny Proofing:

It is important for any new rabbit owner to BUNNY PROOF their houses in order to adjust a bunny into their homes and vice-versa. This becomes a part of your lifestyle when getting a rabbit as your pet. Even if you keep the bunny in a cage, condo, or puppy pen, you still will need to safeguard your home when you let the rabbit out for supervised exercise. Rabbits are very curious and persistent creatures.

They will find a way to get into your computer cables, wires, molding, couch piping, slightly frayed rug, etc. They will eat your most important documents.

Cords must be concealed so that the rabbit cannot reach them. Exposed cords can be encased in vinyl tubing (found at hardware stores).

By splitting the tubing lengthwise with a utility knife the cord can be pushed inside it. Give your rabbit enough attention, safe chewables, and toys, so that she is distracted from chewing furniture and rugs. A cardboard box stuffed with hay makes an inexpensive play box. Young rabbits (under a year) are relatively more inclined to mischief and require more confinement and/or bunny-proofing than mature rabbits.

5. Maintaining a Rabbit’s Health:

One must keep the following things in mind when taking care of a pet rabbit:-

• One must regularly check the rabbit’s health by keeping a tab of the number of sneezes, coughing or running drops are exceeding the normal limit. Mild rabbit symptoms like these must be taken into account and be followed up with a check-up with the veterinarian as a safety measure.
• In order to keep your pet rabbits calm during any vet- visits, they must be flipped on their backs and their sides must be stroked gently so that they do not create a fuss during such visits. This process is even called TRANCING, which must be done very cautiously.
• One must never BATHE their rabbits, as they are very capable of maintain themselves and have enough natural oils pigments in their body to be hygienic.

On the other hand, water can get in their ears and their ears can get infected. Also, the stress of a bath can be very bad for your rabbit’s health.

• One must even groom their pets as often as they can by cutting their toe nails frequently in order to avoid any cuts or scratches. Rabbits are not known to be docile and may kick as well when being held up.

Rabbits are fun loving creatures for all who are not DOG PEOPLE or who are not CAT PEOPLE.

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Countless years, we have all watched certain T.V. shows and movies which have shown a police officer with his most trusted friend and companion, which is a canine. I am sure most dog lovers have watched the movie ‘Turner and Hooch’ starring Tom Hanks as Detective Turner and Beasley the Dog as Hooch. The synopsis of this movie is that Turner’s friend was murdered by a thug and his dog, Hooch was the sole witness to that incident. So turner brings him home in order to solve the case with his help and the dog shows its scent and face recognition capabilities to catch the criminal. Likewise, the K9 : P. I. series stars James Belushi and his partner Jerry Lee, the dog, who assists him in sniffing up drugs. Although Tin-Tin is not in the police, his dog Snowy assists him in all his adventures. Even Dogmatix, Obelix’s pet in the comic series Asterix protects his master and his friends now and again from miscreants. All such movies, comics and cartoons show us, although in a comical way, that our very beloved pet dogs are a very important part of protecting us. Dogs have become an integral part of the criminal justice system over the past centuries. Starting from chasing and catching a criminal to locating drugs and bombs, dogs play a big part in our everyday security. In India, the Chhatisgarh police has recently planned to train street dogs along with pedigree dogs to assist them on Naxal based operations. Talks about training street dogs in all cities for security purposes are going on.

No one is sure exactly when humans domesticated dogs, but one thing is for certain, dogs and humans have been working side by side for years. Even before the B.C. era came into being, dogs were kept as pets and protectors. They fought wars side by side humans and were trained to be guards in service to Egyptians, Greeks, and Persians. They were even used during both the World Wars. Whether the dog is trained in guide work, search and rescue, bomb detection, or narcotics detection, modern training methods have made the application and institution of these four-legged crime fighters more reliable throughout their time of service. A Police Officer encounters both dangerous and potentially fatal situations on a regular basis and apart from having firearms, they are equipped with less lethal tools. Police service dogs fall under that category. Suspects are more likely to surrender in the presence of a dog due to the psychological effects of the dog being present. Military personnel and law enforcement officers alike utilize canines as companions and partners in the field due to their strength and attributes of loyalty and courage, which complement that of his handler. These dogs stay with their handlers like pets. They are properly cared for and trained before they are taken into the field.

K9s begin training at a very young age, in most cases at about six weeks old. The training starts with learning a task as simple as retrieving a tennis ball and as the ball comes toward him he is told “Get your dope,” associating that phrase with play time. As the dog moves up in age and maturity, the tennis ball or towel is then scented with the smell of drugs or explosives but the same phrase is used to reinforce the “play drive.” As the dog continues in his training the “toy” is hidden out of sight and the dog is brought in to “find his dope” at this time he will begin sniffing for his toy. After a successful alert the dog is praised by his handler and rewarded with play time. Bite work is very important to agencies so the K9 can assist in apprehending a fleeing suspect and so that he may also protect the handler. The dog is trained very young to bite only the things he is told to.

I think it is an incredible experience to have not only a partner on the job, but also a companion in the home because a K-9 officer does not only have the responsibility of controlling their dog in the field, but also when they go back home after work. The dog becomes a part of their family now and forever. K-9 partners frequently work nights and weekends, and they have to be ready to respond to emergency situations with little or no notice. Even when the dog eventually retires, which is usually after eight to ten years of duty, it still remains a part of the family of its handler.

Common dog breeds like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Beagle, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Pitbulls etc., that we keep as pets in our homes, make good police dogs because they are big in size, strong, good runners, have a thick coats that can protect them from harsh weather conditions and they have a lot of heart—these dogs wants to be of help. Though tired or even hurt, they will keep going. Speaking at a personal level, I have a Doberman who is a darling. But even if I am out for a midnight stroll with her, no one dares to come near me or pass a comment at me. She may not have been trained as a service dog, but she is born with the intent to protect her owner.

The post Pets as Protectors: Dogs for Justice appeared first on Pet Attack.

A pet is your animal companion and eventually becomes your family as you develop bonds with it. At one point this human-animal bond becomes so strong that it can turn your pet into your protector. There are hypothetical super-humans who risk their lives for your safety. Now let us have a look at super-pets who have pushed the limits of human-animal relationship and emerged as heroes with their extraordinary and unbelievable deeds to protect their owners and family.

Below are few instances where animals have proved themselves to be understanding, protective, heroic and above all a best friend.

1. Protector Pedigree

This incident took place on a fine October day in 2007. Charlotte Svillicic, a 17 month old baby was playing in yard in her Australian home when suddenly their pet Doberman, Khan starting making growling noises. The reason behind his snarl was totally unexpected, as it turned out to be one of the most poisonous snakes of the world, king brown snake, under the house. The dog tried to nudge the baby away but when it realized no avail in doing so, it lifted the baby with the diaper and tossed her few feet behind him. This startled the snake and in the sudden act it struck back at Khan and bit him on the paw. The snake dashed away and the toddler was saved, but the dog was ended up in hospital. Though Khan was given antivenin and he soon recovered but this act of courage got him appraisal and made him ‘hero of the day’.

2.  Parrot Alarm

Megan Howard, who was babysitting 2 year old Hannah Kuusk, heard her pet Quaker parrot screaming at the top of its voice and flapping its wings. Megan was in bathroom at that time and later said that she had never heard such shrill cries of her pet before. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw the toddler had chocked herself and her face had turned blue by then. Immediately Megan performed Heimlich maneuver over Hannah, a series of steps to save people from chocking. Although she saved the little girl but admitted that her pet had been the real life saver. The bird was later presented with the local Animal Lifesaver Award by Red Cross.

3. Lulu to the Rescue

While on a vacation in Pennsylvania woods, Jo Ann Altsman suffered from a heart attack. Lulu, her potbellied pet pig realized that something went wrong with her owner and somehow managed to get out of their mobile home, towards the road. When a car would approach, the petit piggy would lie down in the middle of road to stop the passerby. The times car didn’t stop, Lulu would go back to her owner to check upon her and then run back to the road. This intelligent act of the pig made a motorcycle stop and follow the pig into the woods. There he found the lady and immediately called 911. Such an immediate and surprising act saved by Lulu, saved the owners life.

4. A Meow saveS 3

Keesling family would have died in their sleep, had their cat not woken them up, by nudging and meowing loudly and continuously. A gas-powered water pump started leaking odorless carbon monoxide in the home. Nobody realized it except the cat, who tried her best to wake up her owners. Cathy’s husband and son were already unconscious, when Cathy got woken up by shrilling meows of her cat. Slightly feeling dizzy she called 911 and got help before it was too late.

5. Magic Mare

Animal therapy has long been known for its health benefits. Animals are known to reduce blood pressure and even prevent heart attack.  In a similar incident where horse therapy proved to be a boon to a patient who hadn’t spoken to anyone for three long years in her assisted-living facility. Magic, a beautiful mare with blue eyes used to visit patients, who needed comfort. That included her trips to hospitals, care facilities and group homes. When that patient saw Magic for the first time, she uttered out her first few words after a long time and that were,” Isn’t she beautiful?” Those words made every one come to tears and the lady improved considerably up on her health. This one interaction got Magic AARP’s Most Heroic Pet 2010 award.

6. Taking a bullet

In this heroic act by Lefty, this brave dog dared to cross all bounds when she leaped in front of one of the robbers, who pointed the gun at one of the family members. This incident happened during one night when the family home was broken in by four robbers. The dog took the bullet all by her and ended up getting injured on her leg and her shoulder. She was immediately taken to the nearby veterinary hospital but unfortunately had to lose one of her limbs. The cost of surgery was too much so in order to raise money for her treatment, they shared her story on Facebook. Not only were they able to get enough funds but the family pet became a heroic pup overnight.

7. Fire Fighter

Buddy, a brave German shepherd, received a silver-plated bowl from Alaska State Troopers for his heroic act when he saved his owners home from fire. When Ben Heinrich’s workshop caught fire in 2010, he shouted to his pet for help. Buddy made a dash to the road nearby and led a state trooper to the fire site. With the in-time help and Buddy’s bravery, Ben’s house was saved from flares.

These are just a few stories of bravery and selfless acts of pets towards their owners. These super animals have saved lives in time, with their intelligent and heroic acts. They are not just your friends, they are caring and concerned for you as any family.

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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.

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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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All parents keep complaining about how tech savvy their kids have become and how they would rather spend time with their gadgets than with them. Have you ever realized that this is the exact same thing that your pet could be thinking about you when you are posting away on Facebook/ tweeting/ instagramming, playing on your XBOX or PS, or simply talking or texting via your phone? Being tech savvy is not all bad when it comes to pets though. Today, the average pet owner spends a fortune on the well being of his cuddly buddy. Keeping this trend in mind, the innovative technological industries have come up with many gadgets that could make your pets life better, let you monitor your pet when you are away, alert you about any impending illness etc. Some of the coolest ones are:

1. Pet’s Eye View Camera: It is a lightweight digital camera that can be attached to your cat or dog’s collar. It takes up to 40 photos at 5, 10 or 15 minute intervals. When you come home, you can load the pictures onto your computer to see what your pet has been up to all day. Although, there is another word for this – spying on your pet!

2. Doggles: These sunglasses for dogs screen out UV rays and protect against foreign objects like bugs, grass seeds and wind. It is also ideal for dogs that are sensitive to light due to an eye disorder. Doggles include shatterproof, anti-fog lenses with 100% UV protection and two adjustable elastic straps to keep it secure during any activity. This way, your dog can protect his eyes and look cool at the same time!

3. Poop-Freeze: Do you wish that you didn’t have to clean up the mess every time your pet vomits or has diarrhea right on your carpet or floor? Poop-Freeze is an emergency aerosol pet product that “freezes” vomit/poop into a single entity that can be picked up easily and discarded. The frosting process is said to rid smells immediately, making it ideal for pets undergoing potty training. It can be used both on carpet and vegetation.

4. Hydro Horse: Don’t have time or space to exercise your horse? Get a Hydro Horse Submerged Treadmill System, a combination treadmill, whirlpool and swimming pool, and all your problems of horse petting are resolved. The horse is partially buoyant in a water-filled tank, and the temperature-controlled water with Jacuzzi jets that are designed to relax muscles and eliminate stress on joints. Wish you could get one of these for yourself right?

5. Hydro Surge Rapid Bath Dog Bathing System: Isn’t it hard to drag your dog into the bathroom to give him a bath? H.S.R.B.D.B.S. can take this problem off your hands! It is an “all-in-one” wet, wash and rinse dog-bathing solution. The shower jets provide a massaging action, and the product’s patented Inject Air technology draws shampoo and oxygen into the water to create instant soaping and rinsing. The nozzle’s comb head allows you to remove loose hair and dander whilst untangling fur. Pretty cool, right?

6. ReptiPro 5000: are you into keeping lizards and other oviparous reptiles as your pets? With the ReptiPro 5000 incubator, you no longer have to be a breeder to raise your bird or reptile pets from their egg stage. The small, electric incubator allows you to regulate the temperature up to 140°F, and like an oven, it comes with an interior light on/off switch in the front, a drip tray and a see-through window so you can watch your pet being hatched. I can feel my senses going ‘Jurassic Park’ again!

7. Go Dog Go : Are you that busy that you cannot play fetch with your dog? You should not be a dog owner (just saying!). But just because you’re busy doesn’t mean your dog can’t play fetch. Go Dog Go is an automatic fetch machine for dogs that shoots out tennis balls. Using the remote control, you can set your Go Dog Go to any one of three modes: the two automatic modes launch a ball every seven or 15 seconds, and the manual mode launches a ball only when you press the button.

8. Zen Dog : Want to turn your dog into a peaceful pet? Zen Dog is a kit designed to provide therapy and relaxation for your dog through calming music and massage. The product aims to cure fears of vacuums, thunder and other loud noises. It can also help with separation anxiety, hyperactivity, inability to walk calmly on and off a leash, and poor interaction skills with people. Each kit contains two CDs, a brush for massaging and grooming, and an instruction guide.

9. Ionic Waterless Bath Pet Massage Brush : You no longer have to bathe your pet every time you want him or her to smell clean. This brush massages and silently circulates 100 trillion air-cleansing ions per second through the animal’s fur to remove odors and reduce dander and shedding. This is an alternative for those who don’t enjoy messy baths – pets and owners alike.

10. Komfort Pets Carrier : Ever wondered how it would feel to roam around with your own personalised heater on cold winter nights or carry an A.C. with you on a hot summer afternoon? You cannot have it, but your dog certainly can! Komfort pet carrier is automatically programmed to heat or cool your pet as needed. The carrier’s temperature control system is designed to complement the natural methods by which a pet regulates its own body temperature, using conduction and convection simultaneously. Even Paris Hilton owns one for her famous Chihuahuas and Pomerians!

11. Peticure Nail Groomer : Do you get yourself manicures or pedicures? Well, you can atleast get pedicure for your pet! Clipping your pet’s nails can cause problems like ingrown nails, torn skin, foot injury and sharp nail edges. The Peticure provides a controlled, safe experience for filing your pet’s nails, making them rounded, smooth and not too short. The electric, rotary filing removes excess nail by filing down enamel in controlled increments. Prices range according to the size of the file, which comes in petite, elite and power.

12. Positive Identification of Pet (Mobile App): Pet owners can register their animals with the app, which stores a photo and basic information about your furry friend. If your pet then goes missing, you can activate an alert, which prompts PiP to contact you for more information about your situation, as well as broadcast the information to animal shelters and veterinary clinics within a 15-mile radius of the pet’s last-known location. If someone finds a pet, he or she can upload a photo of the animal’s face and PiP will check its database to see if the picture matches any pet profiles.

These are just a handful of pet-techs available! There are more like video games for your pets, Pet Emergency Evacuation Jacket, The Canine Treadmill, Remote Pet Feeder, Litter-Robot etc. Pretty groovy, right?

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