Sandy Bolan No matter where you live, you are not immune to the effects of disasters, whether it is a blizzard, fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado or terrorist attack. Which is why it is important to have a disaster preparedness plan in place, and it must include your pets. Good disaster planning …
Are you finally caving in to the never-ending pleas from your children that go something like this: “Can we get a dog? Please? Please? Can we get one?” Deciding to bring a dog into the family is just the start of a very long, and sometimes confusing decision-making process. This …
There is nothing cuter than a young child and the family dog curled up together, enjoying an afternoon nap. The pet-child relationship is important for children as it provides kids the opportunity to learn about love, respect and care for other living creatures. It also teaches children about responsibility (grooming, …
Bringing the wild into our homes is never an easy task, especially when it comes to aquatic life. And no environment is more particular, and difficult to maintain, than the marine/salt-water aquarium. Everything from which light source you choose, to aquarium size, the choice between real or synthetic salt water, …
For the second year in a row, feline urinary tract infections and canine skin allergies were 2005’s top two medical conditions for which cat and dog owners filed pet insurance claims, according to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. Veterinarian visits are not usually pleasant, especially for the animal, which is …
A green thumb and pets do not always mix. But with some pre-planning on the garden’s design and research into which plants are toxic to pets, the two can co-exist in relative harmony. More than 700 plants have been identified as having enough toxicity in them to harm pets. Symptoms …
Gerbils and hamsters are busy, burrowing, tunnel-digging critters that, if well cared for, can live for about four years. Gerbils are active during the day, while hamsters, on the other hand, are nocturnal – they sleep all day and play all night. The Mongolian Gerbil is the species most commonly …
Last year’s annual trek to the family cottage was a less than relaxing trip thanks to the dog running around the vehicle barking at every other car on the road. And the cat was so terrified because it thought it was heading to the vet, that it hid under the …
Pet ownership is an important part of a child’s life. They teach children about responsibility and caring for another living creature, no matter if the pet is a cat, dog, hamster or turtle. A lot of children are enamoured by the exotics. However, when it comes to exotic pet ownership, …
Those lazy, hazy days of summer are in full swing, and it is hot out there! If we’re feeling the heat, just imagine how our pets are coping with all that fur on them. While it is tempting to shave down a longhaired dog for the summer, it could do …