Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Wordless Wednesday - It's Kitty Time!

Pandora- affectionaly known as Wabby Wibby (baby kitty in baby talk!) Relaxes on the family bed

Bailey - snoozing. 

Bella, being her usual flirty self. Belly rub anyone?

Booger (I didn't name him)... frisky as usual.

Dear Animal Planet

Dear Animal Planet,

I'm a pet lover. I love all pets but I'm especially fond of dogs and cats. That doesn't rule out ferrets - some of my friends have ferrets and those little guys and gals are a delight. The one shown here is called Snotface and he's a bundle of laughs. I also hear that chickens are pets, these days. Of course, we shouldn't leave out horses, either.

If you really push me, I have to admit it's not just 'pets' that move me to tears, on a regular basis. It's all animals. It's donkeys and sheep and pigs and cows and wolves and bears and ... all creatures great and small. Well, except insects. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't dislike insects but I do. 

As a member of a growing online community of devoted animal lovers called BlogPaws, I get to see reports from all over the world on the ways people abuse and neglect animals. It's appalling and horrifying and downright criminal, although for the most part the humans who perpetrate this cruelty on innocent animals don't pay for their crimes. They just continue to do ... what they do. And, those in authority continue to pretend it doesn't concern them. 

Blame the right group - blame the humans

Lazy Afternoon

How Dogs Will Save the World

With a head's up to Something Wagging This Way Comes, and her fantastic post, 5 Ways Dogs Save the World, here are my 7 Ways Dogs Will Save the World This Year. Seriously.

1. By being...themselves. Dogs just naturally generate love everywhere they go. They attract little children, they slobber all over their owners, they send out those, "Hey, want some warm hugging?" vibes and then they deliver. 

2. Dogs rescue people. Dogs all over the world are called upon to rescue people from their own misfortune (hanging out on mountains where an avalanch is imminent - just saying...), from natural disasters, and even from other creatures - like those pesky cats that are allowed on the furniture when the dog isn't. Really, what's up with that?

Life Unchained, at last

Thank you to Andrea Arden of Animal Planet. I saw her post this video on Facebook and I had to share. To me, this proves the undeniable fact that animals not only think, they have feelings. Humans are pompous and overbearing to think we are the only species on the planet with intelligence.

Have tissues at hand. Know your tears will be the good kind.

 

Wordless Wednesday - All Mine!

Typical Day at our house:

Undeniable - Dogs (and cats, I think) Do WATCH what we say

Steve Dale, of Steve Dale's Pet World, shared a truly great article last week. "Dogs and People- an Integral Connection" is about how dogs communicate with us. He says dogs don't just listen, they watch.

I can tell you that I spend a fair amount of time watching my dogs. I love trying to figure out what they're saying to each other (what does that nose nudge mean? why is Emily following Olive today when Olive usually is the one following Emily? and how does Emily get Chester to come and poke my elbow, when SHE wants something... obviously she thinks Chester can get my attention - and he usually does; he's my boy)... and I know there are numerous times when I'm convinced Emily wants to talk to us. Really talk.

It can be painful watching her stare at us with those big, brown eyes... and feel her need to convey her message...which we are too stupid to understand!

Domestic Abuse bill protects pets, too!

I want this bill in CO! As I've written about before, pets can be injured in abuse cases involving wife or children, just as humans can. And, often, the pet is hurt to inflict psychological pain on the other humans - as if the physical pain they feel isn't enough!

 In Florida, State Senator Mike Fasano introduced an Animal Abuse Registry Bill to get animal abusers registered, which is about time, isn't it? Kudos to him. Well, he hasn't stopped there. He also just introduced another bill to hold  people accountable when they abuse the family pet in a domestic violence case. 

Guilty until proven innocent - why pit bulls are NOT the problem

From River Fire Films a video describing the issues with our pit bull misinformation and the BSL laws that need to be banned - rather than banning a dog breed. Hop over and 'like' their Facebook page.