A Health-Related Article for Fruit and Veggie Lovers!

This is a non-animal-related blog article today! We are definitely all concerned with our health and with saving money, right? And, the healthier we are and the more money we save, the more time and energy and money we can spend on the animals we love, right?

So, I found a great recipe for a natural vegetable and fruit wash that can clean our fruits and veggies before we eat them, without a lot of expense. Here’s the recipe:

Natural Vegetable and Fruit Wash

1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 T baking soda
2 T lemon juice

Mix ingredients together and then pour into a clean spray bottle. Spray fresh vegetables & fruit generously. Let them sit for 5 minutes and then rinse off well.  

Note: Make sure to use a deep container to mix the ingredients together because there will be some fizzing from the baking soda and vinegar.

Fast Cleaning: For last minute cleaning when you may not have the solution above on hand, here are two tips for quick cleaning:

**Sprinkle wet produce items with baking soda, then gently scrub and rinse. This will safely remove dirt and other surface residue off produce.

**A mix of 50/50 vinegar and water sprayed on fruit and vegetables also works well as a good produce cleaner. Let items sit for a few minutes before washing off.

Happy spring and summer everyone; enjoy all the yummy fresh fruits and vegetables!

Submitted by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs
(www.SleepyCatDesigns.artfire.com)

Those Cute Easter Bunnies and Baby Chicks………………………..by Pam Todd

When my sister and I were young, we always asked for a cute little yellow chick or a baby bunny for Easter.  We thought that would be so sweet.

 

However, our grandparents and parents were much wiser than we were, and we didn’t get any sweet little creatures in our Easter baskets. 

I was reminded of their wisdom when reading the “Dear Abby” feature in our local newspaper.  A reader had written in and asked Abby to reprint a letter about Easter bunnies and chicks that had appeared previously in her column.  This reader had owned rabbits for eight years and wanted to be sure that others knew that many bunnies and chicks purchased for Easter were disposed of the very next day.  How sad! 

The reprinted letter said that there are still many parents purchasing these animals as pets for their children.  But the original letter writer asked these questions: 

1.  Is the family willing to care for the rabbit for  7 – 10 years, the average lifespan of a rabbit.

2.  Do they have room in their home for a rabbit cage?

3.  What happens if the child gets tired of the rabbit after a few months?

4.  Do they have the finances needed to have the rabbit spayed or neutered and to provide other veterinary care?

5.  Do they know that a rabbit’s spine and legs may break if the rabbit is dropped?  Will they keep children younger than seven from picking up the rabbit?

6.  Will they be willing to make an escape proof place outside the rabbit’s cage so it can exercise for three hours every day?

7.  Are the adults as excited about having a rabbit as a pet as the children appear to be?

8.  Do they know that many rabbits really don’t like to be held?

Today and tomorrow, as parents and grandparents prepare to give their little ones special Easter treats, I hope that they will think about these things, and choose only to include toy stuffed bunnies and chicks in the children’s baskets.

Rabbit and chick  photos courtesy of http://www.free-stock-photos.com  Toy rabbit photo courtesy of http://www.photos-public-domain.com

This blog feature written by Pam Todd, www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com, an avid animal lover and member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artifire.

LiveJournal Tags: rabbits,chicks,Easter,pets,animals,children,parents,grandparents

One Year Anniversary: BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Today is the one - year anniversary of BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While many of us have not forgotten what happened and the effect it had on wildlife and our planet, there are those out there who are still working hard to clean up the mess!

I signed up to receive alerts and news from the Defenders of Wildlife and receive periodic email alerts when they need help with various issues, petitions signed, and/or letters sent in to the officials, and I do my best to support this organization and its efforts to help not only wildlife, but our planet.

Most recently I was asked to adopt a sea turtle or dolphin to help those animals that are still affected today from the oil spill, every little bit helps when you are out to change our world for the better.  Yes, they are still affected, still living in oil spilled a year ago, still dying from it, and there are still people trying to clean up the mess.  To learn more about sea turtles or to donate or adopt one, please go here: sea turtle, or to learn more or adopt a dolphin please go here.

One must ask what is being done to prevent future oil spills?  I asked that and found that instead of banning oil companies from repeating their mistakes they are instead pushing for drilling and placing our planet at further risk.  So today I ask that we all send a message to the officials stating that we do not approve of these practices and ask for stricter policies instead of rushed decisions.  To send a letter, please see Defenders of Wildlife page here.

Although we may not be able to save the world by ourselves, with the help of others we can make a huge difference.  Please consider helping on this day, the one-year anniversary of the tragic oil spill.

Happy Pet Owner's Day!!!

Its Pet Owner's Day so I've  interviewed several of our Crafting for Animals Guild members' pets to find out what they think about their owners.

I first interviewed Chester over the telephone. Chester was very candid about his owner Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs:

My owner, Debra, is so funny. She loves to take my photo but I seldom do anything the seems photo-worthy at my age of 12. (Mostly, I sleep a lot.) For example, for this photo she told me she loved my whiskers! Yikes - but she means well! So I put up with it.

Next, I made a virtual home visit to Sara of Posh Pooch Designs. There I met Maximo and Rosie. 

Sara says that Maximo and Rosie are the reason she designs and does what she does. Maximo, the white dog, was rescued from a dog rescue. The lady had lost her job and was moving to a small apartment that didn't allow dogs and was going to put him to sleep. He was 9 months old then. Rosie, the other chihuahua, was reasued from a bad breeder - when she was 13 weeks old, she only weighted 1.4 pounds. 

These two pooches are well known in the design industry for their debut in the Posh Pooch Designs' caricature. Their caricature were an instant success so Sara designed several Posh Pooch paraphernalia after them as well.

Maximo and Rosie, despite their celebrity status, spend much of their time at home with Sara. They say that Sara often tells them, "Even though I rescued you I think you rescued me! You guys have brought so much joy and love and energy to our house." Maximo, Rosie, and Sara support the "Because of you Chihuahua Rescue" and donate a portion of the Posh Pooch design proceeds to them.

Eddie is a Boston Terrier and lives with our Crafting for Animals Guild member Pam of Bags and More by Pam. He is a big guy for his breed. Some say dogs don't like to be hugged, but Eddie is a real hugger. I asked Pam how this usually occurred and she said, "He will stand in front of me if I am sitting, put each of his front legs on either side of my neck, and snuggle his head against me.  Or, he may get on my lap, do the same thing, and his whole body is against my chest and his head against the side of my face." 


I asked Eddie why he likes to snuggle with Pam so much and he said, "You know,dogs don't like to hug. I hear it all the time from my friends. But I just can't help it and I'm not ashamed. Maybe my mom was a cat?  I just can't remember."


I asked Eddie about his favorite past time and he said, "Its definitely traveling. My Pam and My Bob let me travel with them and its just great. They let me know when they are leaving by barking, 'Do you want to go?' I am ready to go in seconds - since I always carry my jacket with me. I pounce off the sofa and sprint to the door and head straight to the car. They are slow but I deal with it and wait to be let inside the car..... You know.....sometimes My Bob will go on an errand and take My Pam and leave me at home all by myself! That really irritates me. So to remind myself of My Pam I usually take out a shoe, book, or a little something from My Pam's overnight bag. I am not sure if she likes this but its the only way I survive the loneliness. I think My Pam thinks she is my number two but I hope not."


Calcifer was my next interviewee. He takes care of Michelle of Creative Critters, also known to Calcifer as Mommy, Best Friend, and Guardian Against All Bad Things. I asked Calcifer what he likes to do and he emphasized that he can't live without his snuggle time, catnip time, and special Mommy time. I asked him what he meant by that and he said:

I snuggle into Mommy. I can only find her fur on her head so I snuggle there and purr to make Mommy happy - that way she won't move.  I love playing hide and seek and crawl around the house with Mommy. I always manage to scare Mommy when I pop out from behind the couch. But when Mommy is not around I play with my catnip. Its the best I've ever had - I just don't know how Mommy does it. I see her making it and she lets me test it. Mommy always gives the best belly rubs and chin scratches, keep the litter box fresh and clean, and always leaves me good food and fresh water. 

I asked Michelle about her relationship with Calcifer and she said, "He feels safe when I comfort him when something scares him. Calcifer and I share a very intense bond, and I see that love every time I look into his pretty eyes."

Next I visited Mona of 3 Peeps Designs. There I was immediately greeted by Apple and Charlie during their daily sunbathing time. Apple is the tall one of the bunch and was brought home from the Greensboro SPCA. Charlie comes from a large family of nine litter mates from a dog that Mona's parents rescued. Like so many female dog rescues you often end up with more than one and Charlie's mom was no exception. As you can see from the picture, Apple and Charlie are very protective of Mona and have appointed themselves as her guardian. They find it their duty and obligation to take care of the mistress of the house so that they can be provided with timely feedings and back rubs.

My last visit was Linda's house. She runs Jazz It Up Designs and has a houseful of furbabies.  The two cats are Dudley and Digit. The three Yorkies are Earl, Elvis, and Priscilla. Warren is the Maltese. 


I tried to interview the siblings all at once but they would just all speak at once. As a result, the best way to sum up their feelings for Linda are through these pictures.

 

 

Little did I know that Dani had been waiting all afternoon. She came on a visit for Pet Owner's Day. I was shocked! Dani is my very own buddy that I had placed in a loving family home. Her mother, Anna, barged into my apartment in Saipan and I instantly fell in love with her. After a month (maybe less) of asking around for her owner, I took her in permanently and brought her to the vet. That's when, like Charlie (Mona's big fellow), I found out she was pregnant. She had several puppies and I had found good homes for them but I couldn't help keeping Dani, her first born and tiniest. In fact, I helped Anna deliver Dani - Anna was a natural mother. Right after delivery she popped the sac and licked Dani and got ready for the next delivery. 

However, after moving to California, I had to find Dani a loving home. Now that Dani has situated into her new home, she recounts her past in Saipan:

Mom was so grateful that El took her in. She admitted she was a little pushy but she wanted the best for me and my brothers. I still look out the door to make sure strangers don't come in our house. Its just something I am born to do. I miss and love El but I know I am with a loving family. I loved watching her crochet and I liked to sleep under her bed.

Happy Pet Owner's Day!!!!

----------------------

El of Tantalizing Stitches is the proud guild master and member of the Crafting for Animals Guild. She runs Bag Makin' Supplies at Tantalizing Stitches. 

Help!! Emergency Preparedness Tips for Our Pets

We all hope that our pets will never have any health problems or be involved in emergency situations. Sadly, this is not the case for a large number of our animal friends each year. That is why it is important to plan ahead and think of what can we do in our daily life now to work toward preventing health emergencies, being prepared rather than unprepared should something go wrong.

PLANTS: Many of us love having plants of various kinds growing in our homes. And so there is a concern about which ones may be harmful to our pets and which ones are not.

For a list of plants that are felt to be safe for pets and their digestive systems, go here:
http://www.sniksnak.com/plants.html

For a list of plants that are felt to be unsafe for the digestive systems of our pets, go here:
http://www.sniksnak.com/plants-toxic.html

As far as vegetables go, I read recently that onions, rhubarb and members of the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes) can all send us and our pets on a very unpleasant journey to a vet hospital. So if you have a garden, it’s a good idea to fence it off if you have pets that may like to go sniffing around or chewing on things.

FIRST AID: Since April is also National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, there is a lot more to think about that you can do ahead of time to help in many possibly disastrous situations. We can look into taking a pet first aid and CPR class and also keep a pet first aid kit at home and in our car. Here is a good example:
http://www.wagn4u.com/Small_35pcs_Pet_First_Aid_Kit.html

PET INSURANCE: And we can protect our best friends with pet insurance in many cases, depending on age and current health conditions. I have a great plan from PetPlan.com (http://www.gopetplan.com), but there are several good companies who offer excellent coverage. A simple search on the web will yield many possible options.

EMERGENCY RESCUE ALERTS: Speaking of emergencies that would require rescue for your pets, how will the firemen or other rescue workers know you have pets? Only if you are there at the time....but if you are not, only if you have a means of notification readily visible about the pets who are living in your home. Fire and rescue workers are trained to look for alerts on windows and doors about the pets who may be living inside the homes or apartments they must enter in an emergency.

So, to help all of us protect our pets better, PetPlan.com is offering a free download to make a pet rescue alert that you can put on a window or somewhere else visible. Just go to this link to get yours:

http://www.gopetplan.com/firesafety/ - And the neat thing is that for every 100 of these downloads, a Wag'N Oxygen Mask kit will be donated to a rescue company in need of such equipment to help with the rescue of animals during fires. Of course, you can also buy these types of stickers in various locations on the web and in pet supply stores.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION: But what would we do if we had to leave our pets in an emergency situation that included evacuation? Or if we took our pets with us but those coming to our home later may not know if we have our pets with us or not? There’s a lot to read on this subject, but one way to help emergency responders know you have pets in your home or what may have happened to them, you can print out these free evacuation cards here:
http://www.wagn4u.com/free_evacuation_cards.html

There are numerous resources on the web with helpful info and tips. But these can help get us started as we think of ways to prepare ahead of time to handle emergency situations involving our pets.

~Submitted by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs

Pet Owner's Day Special: Spay / Neutering Saves Lives

Most people know that you should have your pets spayed or neutered because there are countless unwanted animals in shelters, as well as out on the streets. Many of these poor creatures live a short and difficult life. Here's a personal example.


When I was young I had a female cat named MC, short for Madame Cat. My parents never got her spayed, and before she was a year old she had her first litter of kittens. Of course they were adorable, and I loved each one, but now we had 5 cats to take care of.


MC's personality really changed after she had kittens. She wasn't as playful and loving anymore, and even after the kittens were weaned she seemed to prefer being by herself. After that I learned to recognize the signs that she was going into heat, and kept her in the house for the duration of her heat (which wasn't easy, because all she wanted to do was get out and find a mate).


Then I found out that sometimes female cats don't exhibit obvious signs when they go into heat. And so MC, just over a year old, had her second litter of kittens. All but one of these ended up being sold at a pet store. These births must have been pretty hard on my little kitty, because it wasn't too much later that she got sick. My poor little girl only lived a few years before dying in my arms one night. I believe if she had been spayed when she was a kitten, she would have lived a much longer, happier life.


 And if you think it's OK to not neuter a male cat, just think about how many females a Tom cat can impregnate, and how many unwanted kittens each of those females can have. Plus, neutered males don't spray and are much more affectionate (once again, I'm speaking from experience here).


 Once I was old enough to make the choice myself every pet I've owned has been spayed or neutered. And I've had long, loving relationships with each of them.


You are doing your pet a favor by fixing them. They have fewer health issues and better personalities, and are much less likely to stray from home. When we take these creatures into our homes, they become our responsibilities. It's up to us to give them the best life we possibly can.


If you love your pet, please, get them spayed or neutered.
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Michelle of Creative Critters provided this special post for you. At CreativeCritters you can find animal themed sculptures, jewelry, stuffed animals, home decor, catnip toys, and organic catnip from my own garden.

Utilities Cooperative Thinking of Wildlife

Just this morning, I was reading an article in The Herald-Times, a local south central Indiana newspaper, and would like to share a summary of that with you. A reporter named Aleasha Sanley had written that the South Central REMC, which has its headquarters in Martinsville, Indiana, was taking steps to provide safe nesting areas for  birds of prey, such as eagles, owls, and hawks.  Often these raptors build nests near electric lines and poles, placing themselves in danger, and their demise can have a serious effect on the economy.

She interviewed Patti Reynolds, president of the Nashville, Indiana-based Return to the Wild.  This organization helps birds of prey that have been injured return to their habitats.  She noted that a single family of screech owls can eat seven mice a day.  Just one mice can do $25 worth of damage to crops during a growing season.  (Can you imagine the damage rodents can do to crops?)

The SCI REMC will begin its program of providing safe environments for these birds of prey on Earth Day, April 22.  The program consists of placing nesting platforms, perches, and bird boxes in the electric cooperative’s service area. Birds for whom the cooperative will provide safe nesting and perching include American kestrels and red-tailed, Cooper’s and red-shouldered hawks; bald eagles, northern harriers, and several owls: eastern screech, great horned, barred and barn owls. All of these raptors are found in this part of Indiana. The article included comments from Larry Terrell, manager of SCI’s Vegetation Management Department who said his  department’s responsibility is to maintain the natural habitats of animals that live in the areas near the power lines.  He noted that hollow trees, used for nests by owls and haws, often have to be cut down in the areas of the power lines.  The perching, nesting platforms, and boxes is a means to provide safe homes for the birds rather than them using electric equipment in the area.

I found this information in Aleasha’s article to be heart-warming, and very environmentally and wildlife  friendly.  The South Central REMC’s Raptor Enrichment Program is an example of how other businesses, land developers, cities, and counties can protect animals. When I think of the eagle’s nest that was filmed with a remote camera, and then placed on the Internet so that millions of people could watch the eggs hatch, the actions of the South Central REMC may well allow that to occur more frequently.  This utility company feels a responsibility to provide a safe environment for birds where they have had to alter the previous environment. It understands the economic impact rodents can have on the food supply of people and animals. The crops of farmers will be better protected from rodents, which are mainly controlled by these birds of prey.  And thinking of all the baby birds that may safely hatch away from the dangers of electric lines and one day soar away to live on their own makes the mama in me smile.

This blog post is written by Pam Todd, www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com, and a member of the Crafting4Animals Guild on ArtFire. The information was taken from an article written by Aleasha Sanley, entitled “Utility Powers Move to Protect Raptors,” and published in The Herald-Times, Bloomington, Indiana, Friday, April 6, 2011, section D, page 4.

Our Pet Stories..................................by BJ

NAKOMIS I currently have a 10 year old dog named Nakomis. She is a German Shepherd dog and was one of three pups born that blistery winter day. Nakomis's mother birthed the pups under the trailer and wouldn't allow anyone near her pups, so when Nakomis was given to me at a young 4 weeks old, she hadn't had much, if any, human interaction. Her thick, black fur was puffed up around her making her look like a little bear cub. Her ears stood straight up, but the tips leaned forward, and when our eyes met for the first time I fell in love. I named her Nakomis because in the Algonquian language (one type of Native American language,) Nakomis means "moon" and "grandmother." Nakomis is a black German Shepherd with brown sprinkles here and there, but she also has a big white circle on her chest that looks like a moon. When I first brought Nakomis home I already had a male dog who was 1/2 Dalmation and 1/2 Pit Bull, but he is another story of his own that I will share another time. After Nakomis befriended Bandit they became inseparable, but she was still leery of humans. I really had to work with her to get her to trust me. She would find the smallest places to hide, so I made her a den of her own that she could hide in and be left alone. I decided that it was best to not try to force her to like me right away, so I would coax her out of her den, but never reached in to take her out so that she had a private place when she was feeling scared. Soon she learned to trust me and would follow me everywhere I went. To this day she feels it is her job to protect me and will always lay between me and the door; she is my gatekeeper. When she turned about six months old she started to become fiercely protective of me and I grew scared that she might bite someone, so I began doing a lot of reading on how to get her socialized, and learned that I had to take charge and be the Alpha so that she didn't question whether it was her job or not. It took a lot of work to socialize her, but she did learn to trust me and also learned that I was alpha. After I gained her trust and put us both in our places, she calmed down and today you wouldn't know all that I went through in socializing Nakomis. Today I have several nicknames for her, she's always been my baby girl, but I also call her Komi and KoKo, and she always knows when I am referring to or talking to her. When people see how she interacts with me, they know without doubt that I am hers just as she is mine. She always greets me as if I had been gone forever, she follows me around wherever I go, and it seems she understands the human language too well for a dog. Oh, and did I mention that she talks? She communicates very well and I'm never left to wonder what she needs because she tells me by making noises that are between a howl and a growl. When she says yes she talks, but when she means no she won't say anything. She is a thick dog and always has been, but don't call her "fat" because she doesn't like that word at all and will tell you so. Nakomis is my loving companion, one of my best friends, and one of the best dogs in the world! Nakomis is my loving companion, one of my best friends, and one of the best dogs in the world! This story was submitted to us by our CFA member and columnist, TS of TSBeading on Artfire and Etsy. Tsilos Schoener is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and a direct descendant of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin. Her late mother, who was Menominee, taught her to bead more than 20 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history. Thanks TS, for the great story about Nakomis. _________________________________________________________________ DOGS MAY HAVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES: (HAS YOURS?)......by BJ Dogs may have something akin to mystical and spiritual experiences, some scientists believe. It’s just that they probably don’t interpret them as humans do, according to Kevin Nelson, a neurology professor at the University of Kentucky, and author of The Spiritual Doorway in the Brain. Research has found that spiritual experiences may sometimes originate in the limbic system of the human brain in areas similar to those of certain non-human animals, including our pooches, according to an article in The Dog Daily. Some scientists think that because of this, dogs may have moments that humans could interpret as being spiritual, even mystical moments of “oneness.” Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, says non-human animals probably can have spiritual experiences, which he defines as “experiences that are nonmaterial, intangible, introspective and comparable to what humans have,” reports the article. The article brings up another idea that many dog owners may already suspect: “It is possible that certain sensations are even more pronounced in dogs, given their heightened sensitivity to sounds, smells and more.” (Think about the utter bliss you have seen on your pup’s face for such simple acts as rolling in the grass.) Jean Houston, co-director of the Foundation for Mind Research, says that dogs and other animals “are closer to nature and thus seem to be on a continuum with the natural flow of things.” She believes “they serve as wonderful (spiritual) guides because of their simplicity and the naturalness of their being.” BJ is a CFA member and has the studio EXPRESSIONS on Artfire.