Simply Amazing ………………………………by Pam Todd

Recently, our two daughters, our seven-year old  granddaughter, and I were in Chicago for four days.  One of the sites about which I was most excited was the Shedd Aquarium.  I had heard that it was a marvelous exhibit of river, swamp, and ocean dwelling creatures, as well as other species of animals, and after going there, must totally agree.

There are fish from rivers in multiple countries and regions of the world.  I had no paper on which to take notes, and will not attempt to list all of them.  It amazed me that humans had been able to find so many fish of so many sizes, shapes and colors from Australia, to Southeast Asia, to the Amazon and Congo Rivers, and more.

 

The coral reefs were gorgeous as were the fish who swam around them.  The sea turtles were graceful as they swam past the glass. 

 

The manatees were beautiful, and the sharks were swift and sleek.  The jelly fish ranged from teeny tiny to large.  It was interesting to see the patterns of the lines at the top of their upside down bowl shape. 

This frog was standing right by the glass, as if to say, “Here I am.  Look at me!”

There was a dolphin show focusing on how the training provided for the dolphins assists in their being cooperative when being cared for by the veterinarians.  Of course, they also did some jumps into the air and posed on top the water, much to the oohs and aahs of everyone watching!

 

The white beluga whales worked with their trainers at the edge of the pool, and it was so nice to be able to see them so close.

As we walked from exhibit to exhibit, reading as many of the informational signs as possible, I was overwhelmed thinking about the amount of knowledge and training involved in creating the appropriate environment for each of the creatures who reside at the Shedd Aquarium, and for their daily feedings, cleanings, and maintenance.  Even more overwhelming was to consider the thousands of different specimens that we humans were able to watch and appreciate as we visited the Shedd Aquarium.  Were it not for such places, few of us would ever know about or be able to see the tremendous variety of creatures who reside in the waters, swamps, and dry lands on the earth. 

LiveJournal Tags: Shedd Aquarium,fish,jellyfish,sharks,eels,beluga whales,iguanas,penguins,dolphins,rivers,oceans,coral reefs,turtles,manatee,animals,crafting4animals guild,cfa guild

This post written by Pam Todd, www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com, an animal lover, supporter of The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and who hand crochets and sells items for people, pets, and homes in her ArtFire Studio.

The Newfoundland dog

Newfoundland dogs are known as the big, gentle, giants. Considered a large dog (and I guess really they are..), but to most Newfoundland dog owners they are not thought of as huge dogs. They are just the right size! :).

They can come in a variety of colors, and not all colors are approved by different countries National Kennelclubs. The colors approved by the American Kennelclub are (base color with a little bit of white is okay for all) brown, black and gray. There is also the landseer color, white basecolor with black markings (as described by the AKC).

There are other colors that do appear such as brown and white landseer. Although not very common, it does still exist, and perhaps one day it will be an approved color.

The average height for adult dogs is 28 inches. For adult females, 26 inches. The approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult females from 100 to 120 pounds. Weight can vary from the standards of course, and you need to consider that you might have a dog that is larger then the standard and thus probably is more massive in body structure.

There are overweight Newfoundlands, and I remember seeing an ad for Newfoundland puppies where they first said that there were nice AKC blood lines (okay, that's a good thing), but then.. the father of the puppies is a 200 pound landseer! Now, that is not a healthy weight for a newfie.

My first newfie was definitely bigger than the standard height and he weighed about 170 pounds, he was a BIG newf. He was not overweight, but for a newfie to weigh 200 pounds? That certainly does not sound healthy, and to be described as a plus? I don't think so...

I now have my third Newfoundland girl. I often call her "little girl" and people that hear that usually go "LITTLE?" Hehe. She'll always be my little girl, 130 pounds and all! Cleo is a wonderful girl and she is a brown white newfie. We (Cleo and I) often hear, is that a St Bernhard? And I can see Cleo go "um NO," and I say no, she is a Newfoundland. She is not built like a St Bernhard at all, she doesn't even have similar markings. She looks just like a black and white landseer, except she is brown and white.

Here is a youtube video I made of my beautiful girl Cleo so you can see what she looks like :).

In summary, the Newfoundland dog is a big, beautiful dog but they are not for everyone. The puppies look like little bear cubs and you need to consider that the cute little bundle of fluff will become a big, strong dog with an even stronger personality. When dogs like German Shepherds and Rottweilers often have an attitude of "Ok what next, what do you want me to do now?" a Newfoundland (in general) comes with the attitude of "Alright, and you want me to do this WHY?"

Until next blog post,
Gunilla Wachtel - Kanweienea Kreations

Gunilla is an artist that loves animals. She is a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire. She is a supporter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Gunilla's artwork features many animals such as dogs, dolphins, orcas, horses and more. She sells her artwork as originals and prints, as well as printed on mugs, t-shirts, mousepads and much more.

Fourth of July Parade…..not just for people! by Pam Todd

No doubt across the country, folks celebrated the Fourth of July with food, parades, and fireworks.  Our town has a parade every year, and I can’t recall having missed one since our kids were youngsters.  This year’s parade featured lots and lots of fire trucks with their red lights flashing and their sirens ringing through the mid-morning air; police cars and motorcycles; the county fair queen and her court riding in a convertible; the Scottish Society of Bloomington, Indiana with their wonderful bagpipe music; church floats; military floats recognizing those who have served our country in multiple wars and military actions; stage companies; gymnastics groups; cheerleaders from the middle school and high school; a combined high school band from Bloomington North and Bloomington South; a 4-H float; soccer team; people on horses; the solar bike team from BHSS; and many more.  People of all ages watched, some in lawn chairs they brought, others standing. 
This year’s opening ceremony was especially impressive.  There was music by the community band prior to the start.  A chaplain from the American Legion gave a prayer, and then led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.  There was a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of “Taps.”  Goosebumps covered my arms from the first note, and tears made their way slowly down my cheeks by the last note.  “Taps” touches my soul in a way I can’t adequately describe.  The crowd then sang The National Anthem, and the parade began. It was an overcast day, with a nice breeze, and quite comfortable weather-wise viewing the parade.  

I know you are thinking, “What does this have to do with animals?”  Well, it is the fact that people weren’t the only watchers at the parades.  Just from our little spot by the town square, I saw several dogs who had joined their people family for the celebration.  There was a long-haired chihuahua just in front of us.  At first, the dog was down on the pavement, sniffing around the chair and looking at people, but ended up snuggled on his owner’s lap before I could get a photo.  Then we saw a couple pushing a stroller, with their dog sitting up taking in the sights.  I so wished my I Phone had been out of my pocket.  That would have been a real digital photo moment!  There was a shepherd mix just across on the other corner.  And then there was this handsome guy, who walked back and forth in front of us several times.  The last time, his owner stopped right in front of us, with a chunk of crushed ice in her hand, holding it for him to lick, chomp, or whatever.  At that moment, I just looked at the woman and said, “Can I take a picture of your dog?”  She smiled and said, “Sure.”  So, I did, and here he is . . . a very handsome fellow!

Sure wish I could have gotten a photo of the dog in the stroller, too!
This post written by Pam Todd, http://www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com/, a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild, who loves animals of all kinds and loves learning about them.  Pam  features hand crocheted items for people, pets, and homes in her Art Fire Studio.  She supports The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee (http://www.elephants.com/) with an annual contribution.

LiveJournal Tags: dogs,Fourth of July,parades,animal lovers,patriotic events,pet lovers,doglovers,cfa guild,crafting4animals guild,crafting for animals guild,celebrations,pamela todd

Kanweienea Kreations: CFA Volunteer and Her Dog Cleo

April 18 was Pet Owner's Day so I took a country tour around the United States to some of our CFA guild member's homes to meet them and their pets. In the post I completely forgot about Gunilla/Kanweienea Kreations and her dog Cleo.

Cleo is a Newfoundland. She is a brown/white landseer which isn't an approved color technically (black/white is though), but regardless of her color, Gunilla loves her. She's very much a part of Kanweienea Kreations. Besides being inspiration for artwork (see the t-shirt?), she also loves getting her photo taken. She makes sure there is always time to play and when Gunilla is working she tends to keep her company by either lying next to Gunilla's work desk, or waiting outside her studio. She eagerly waits outside the studio when Gunilla is airbrushing and can't wait for Gunilla to finish and come outside her studio.

Besides being an animal lover and artist, Gunilla is also an active member of the Crafting for Animals Guild and also one of our monthly columnists. We are very glad to have her in our guild!

KanweieneaKreations

Unique Gifts

El of Tantalizing Stitches was born to be an animal lover. Currently, she uses her love for animals and handmade to spur her online endeavors in running this Guild and her online store. At Tantalizing Stitches, you will find bag making supplies such as magnetic snaps, swivel clips, and d rings.

CFA GUILD-EARLY BIRD COLLECTION for July

CFA GUILD-EARLY BIRD COLLECTION for July

Curated By: Expressions

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Personal Pet Story.......................editor BJ

My dog Stormy, who I miss greatly, was a very special dog. Stormy was a rescue from a very bad situation. She had been kept tied up under a building for several years in an area that flooded. The owner often forgot about her, so she seldom got fed. When I got her, she was already 10 years old and weighed only 46 pounds, which is very low for a Golden Retriever/Collie mix. Her coat had not been combed in ages, and was completely felted into a hard shell.

It took several days to slowly trim off that hardened shell of fur, but Stormy was a very patient girl. We fed her all she would eat, and slowly she recovered and started gaining weight. We had her treated for heartworms. She absolutely loved to be with me, and when I went to work, she would sit at the window and cry until I came home. Because it was driving my husband crazy, I started taking her with me to the gallery where I worked. She was content to lay behind the counter, and most people didn't even realize that she was there.

The last day of the season, the gallery was one of only two shops open in the complex, so it was a very slow day. A young man came in to the gallery, and was looking around in a way that seemed too fast to be browsing. He told me that he was looking for a gift for his mom. I made several suggestions, all of which he declined. Since it seemed that I wasn't going to be able to help him, I returned behind the counter. He came up to the counter and planted his hands down firmly, leaning across toward me. I was sure he intended to rob the store!

All of a sudden, Stormy leapt up and put her paws on the counter, nose to nose with the guy, and growled like I had never heard her growl ever! The guy's eyes got real big, and he squeaked "Nice dog" and bolted out the door, through the parking lot and across the highway. I was shaking as I went to lock the door to the gallery and call the police. Stormy never left my side the rest of the day, and we never saw that guy again. We closed up for the day after the police left. I am convinced that if it wasn't for her, the shop would have been robbed. The police officer agreed with me.

Stormy lived to the surprising age of 19 before crossing over the Rainbow Bridge. I tell people that the Good Lord gave her a whole second lifetime to make up for the first part that was so awful.

This story was submitted by Lisa Penosky of OBXPuparazzi on Artfire and OBXPuparazzi on Etsy.
Lisa is a retired nurse, and loves to sew. She enjoys creating dog bandanas and dog themed goodies for their people. She does craft shows and other dog related events.


BJ is columnist & editor for Personal Pet Storey and the new "Did You Know?" column for our blog. BJ loves animals and has a handmade jewelry & jewelry supply studio EXPRESSIONS on Artfire

SAFETY REMINDERS AND TIPS FOR OUR PETS

Summertime...a great time of year for trips and fun! But, there are many dangers lurking around every corner...and so we all have to be more careful as we are out and about so much during the summer months. Here are a few tips:

CAR TRAVEL: Many dogs love to ride with their head hanging out the window! So it is very important to make sure your dog is safely secured. Pets can jump or fall out of car windows in a split second. One pet insurance company says that their claim stats show that only 1% of claims related to motor vehicles are associated with pets being inside the vehicle, with almost ALL of those types of claims being related to pets leaping from a moving vehicle due to not being restrained!! So, even though our dogs may love to let their tongues fly with the breeze, ears in the wind, it is not the safest way to travel. Traveling in a carrier or crate is the safest way, but if you prefer to let your dog enjoy the fresh air, you should at least secure him via a pet-approved seat belt or harness. There are many options available on the web and in local pet supply stores.

FOOD ISSUES: Food tends to spoil faster in hotter weather, so all pet care websites recommend that we keep an eye on our pet food supply. Even if the expiration date is far off, if the food gets too hot (which can happen if a box of canned food is left in the car trunk or shed), bacteria can start to grow really quickly. If it doesn't give it on the bag, check with the manufacturer for recommended storage temperature during hot weather. Most cans and bags have the number or website to contact if you have any questions.

DANGER OF FALLS: If you love to let in the summer breezes, be careful your kitty cats do not take a surprise fall from a windowsill or ledge. Despite their flexibility and amazing acrobatic abilities, cats can easily injure themselves if they fall from ledges and windowsills, or much worse. If you're going to leave windows open, make sure screens are securely fastened and in good repair with no holes or tears (cats can easily push through even small tears when determined to do so). Never leave a window or patio door open to an outside area that has a ledge of any sort if there is no screen in place. We all know how much most kitties love to jump up and look out around them! They do not know that there is a danger involved and that they may fall and get hurt or killed. And our dogs may find a way to jump from a higher location as well when excited or frightened. So, leaving any pet unattended with open windows and doors is just as dangerous as leaving a small child unattended. And we do love our pets like we love our children, do we not?

HEALTH HAZARD: A new strain of heartworm infecting dogs and cats in some southern U.S. states has become more of a problem in that region. The new strain is called MP3 and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Sadly it has shown a resistance to traditional heartworm prevention medications. Because this is a new strain, there is little information about how to best treat it, so check with your vet if you have any concern about this new health hazard. And this may be a good time to start using a bug repellant from one of the easy recipes found here: Keeping Insects Off Our Pets

It would be good for all of us to keep these things in mind. I hope everyone can have a safe and happy summer wherever your travels may take you...around town or around the country!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This blog article was submitted by: Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs and Sew Bizzy Gifts. Debra has loved having furry friends as part of her life since she was a small child, along with turtles and birds. She has often worked with and supported various rescue groups and shelters throughout the years. Debra's love also of crafting and sewing has led to the making all types of things for people and their pets so she can continue donating funds to various groups on a local and national level.

Coyotes Next Door by Pam Todd

We have two acres bordered on the west by our neighbor’s 20 acres, most of which is wooded areas, ravines, creeks, with lots of underbrush.  My husband mows probably three acres around the log home that sits there.  He often takes Eddie, our Boston Terrier, for walks on that property, with the neighbor’s permission, of course.

A few weeks ago, Eddie had his first encounter with a coyote.  We hear them often, and see them, sometimes even crossing our back yard.

Eddie isn’t very good at staying right with his buddy, and suddenly my husband heard yipping and other noises as if a fight was about to occur. A gunshot into the ground brought Eddie running as fast as he could, and when the coyote saw my husband and heard the report of the gun, it also ran away.  When we got Eddie into the house, we could see one bite, and called the vet right away.  The vet had not had any other coyote bites reported, and after examining Eddie, found three places where the coyote had bitten him.

She had to shave the areas around the three wounds so that she could clean them.  His temperature, 102.3 degrees, was normal.  And I said, “No wonder he is so warm when he lays next to you!”  They just smiled!

They gave Eddie antibiotics to prevent infection, and an anti-inflammatory pain reliever to prevent swelling and to make it hurt less while healing.

Eddie thinks he can run right up to other animals, turn his rear end into their face, and say hello.   But, I expect that Eddie will stay closer to Bob next time they walk in the woods and across the mowed area next door after this nail biting (or should we say butt biting) experience.  He is well on the way in the healing process, and has only the scars to show for this scary experience.

That isn’t the only encounter we have had with a coyote.  One day about two years ago, my husband motioned through the patio doors for me to come outside.  He walked to the storage shed, and there was an animal lying curled up in the front corner.  We stood and looked at it, wondering if it was a stray dog or what.  Then the animal saw us, stood up, and walked right past us, not four feet away from where we were standing.  It was a coyote!  It walked about twenty feet farther, turned and looked at us, and then continued on its way.

Housing developments have forced animals into smaller and smaller areas, and it is no longer unusual to see coyotes where we live.  In a suburb of Indianapolis recently, a news report told how a small dog was taken by coyotes and killed.  The town has an ordinance that no guns may be fired within the town limits.  I feel so bad for those folks who lost their small furry family member to animals that shouldn’t be forced to live so close to people.

Please feel free to comment and/or share any experiences you may have had with coyotes.

LiveJournal Tags: coyotes,dog,urban sprawl,wild animals,animal habitats,rabies,animal bites,woods,pets,pet exercise,veterinarians,animal lovers,crafting4animalsguild,bagsandmorebypam,artfire

Pam Todd is an animal lover and enjoys everything related to nature.  Her ArtFire Studio, www.bagsandmorebypam.artfire.com features hand-crocheted items for people, pets, and homes.  She supports The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, www.elephants.com, with an annual contribution, as well as provides gift certificates for auctions by groups raising funds to care for animals.