Pets

THE MYSTERY OF MILO

2012-02-11T01:03:00.000-08:00

Milo

This is Milo, a young brown male. I usually carry him around on my shoulder or inside my shirt. He also comes in the car and usually sits beside me. He's quite a character and a prolific jumper who can leap well over a metre.

Anyway, just recently I was doing some gardening and moved the car out of the carport. It was after I cut the lawn that I realised he was missing.

My wife and I conducted a massive search every day - emptying the car and searching it many times. Searching all over the garden area and outside. I even asked neighbours to keep an eye out for him. But we did not find him.

It was nearly four whole days later that I drove the car to the tip to dump some garden rubbish. While I was there a familiar face suddenly appeared from under the interior of the car dashboard. Yes it was Milo.

Of course we were very happy and we had prayed a lot for him to be safe and return but quite frankly I had given up hope. NEARLY FOUR DAYS LOST. How did he survive? There was no food or water in the car and it was very hot summer weather. Maybe he got out of the car somehow, found nourishment somewhere and returned to the car because he regards it as a home. I just don't know. It's the mystery of Milo.

Anyway while he was gone my son brought me a young replacement whom I named Pluto after the planet because it is small and is the same fawn colour as him. Pluto is really delightful and friendly and after a careful introduction the two rats - Milo and Pluto - are now a team and playing happily together. It's a joy to watch.

Pluto

RATUSA ORCHIDUS - THE RAT ORCHID

2012-02-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

SCIENTISTS HAVE CREATED A BLEND OF RAT AND ORCHID CALLED RATUS ORCHIDUS BY USING DNA AND EPIGENTICS BLENDED WITH PLANT SEEDING. THE ÇENTRE OF THE ORCHIDS BLOOM HAS THE HEAD OF A LIVING RAT THAT CAN BE FED AND WATERED .

DISCOVERING WHAT MEAT MEANS

2012-01-28T01:59:00.000-08:00

It was in September, 2010 that I mentioned that my wife had become a vegetarian (Would You Eat Your Pet). Since then much has happened to me. Things like -

1
Discovering that meat didn't taste so good nowadays because it is not natural. It's forced grown with chemicals and antibiotics in hell houses called factory farms

2
Discovering the terrible cruelty to farm animals like cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry in factory farms and slaughter houses.The killing is so uncivilised I just did not want to be a part of it.

3
Discovering that all these animals and more actually have feelings the same as us. They have central nervous systems and have surprising intelligence and emotions like fear and pain, pleasure and joy.

4
Discovering that meat production is one of the world's biggest polluters and wasters of water.

5
Discovering that meat and diary products are not good for your health and can in fact cause illnesses.

It was when I saw how some Muslim butchers were killing cattle and sheep that I made the decision to be a vegetarian. The killing was so horrific, bloody and cruel that I could not bear it. My heart went out to those fellow animals who shivered and moaned in terror as they watched their brothers slowly slaughtered and skinned in front of them.

I will never eat the flesh of other animals again as long as I live and I will do my best to stop the cruelty.

The fancy names we give to meat like rump steak, sirlion, chops, T-bone, hamburger, kebab - it's all bullshit. It's actually all just dead animal flesh, dead meat that died in terror.

Pet Portraits

2012-01-11T01:13:00.000-08:00

Mouse on a roll

Hullo World - I'm Milo

Computer Cat and Mouse

Puppy likes orange juice

Hi. I'm Ting Tong

BONSAI

2012-01-06T01:21:00.000-08:00

My names is Bonsai
I'm cute and caring

I'm almost everything you wish for

I'm a family to you and more

I'm a door to haven of home
I'm a dome of happiness, helpfully I'll try

I bring you smiles and merry
I'm lovely and loyal
I'm a toy and a teddy
I'm a baby and the brave

I crave to care and comfort

Just as I crave your care and cuddles

Be kind and kill not my kin

Think of us as K9 for your keep

So you may sleep with smile and safety

Be you then a baby we're the brave

Stop craving for my kind for dining, thank you

MESSAGE TO MAN FROM THE ANIMALS

2011-12-23T23:35:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not the same as you

Butcher human with a knife

Merciless and killing life

For flesh to eat and money too

No, I am of the gentle few

Who love and care for things alive

Their right to live, right to survive

God grant one day your sons will see

The evil of your cruelty

The billions killed in fear and pain

The torture and the greedy gain

Then perhaps one day they too will be

Supporters of our liberty

HUMANS EAT EVERY- BODY

2011-12-05T00:59:00.000-08:00

It's amazing what humans eat. There's animal ears, tails, tongues, hearts, lungs, kidneys, feet, claws, skin, even stomachs and eye balls. There's also powdered horns, testicles and bodily juices extracted from animals like bears.

As well as beef, lamb, goat and chicken flesh people in various countries eat rats, mice, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, rabbits, hares, frogs, deer, grasshoppers, ants, snakes, buffaloes, kangaroos and crocodiles. People even drink blood or eat it as a jelly.

The cultured Chinese Eat Cats

...and Dogs

Bird food includes sparrows, larks, emus and ducks. Insects include ants and witchery grubs. Fish food includes egg roe, whelks, cockles eels, even tuna eye. Other seafood unfortunately includes mammals like whales and dolphins, mostly eaten in Japan.

It doesn't matter what part of the world you live in, you can be sure there's something weird around that people find acceptable dining. The list is long. There are many other menu items. It's been that way throughout history.

People have even eaten each other and it's rumoured that this still goes on in certain parts of the world.

You might expect that over a period of thousands or even just hundreds of years that people's food tastes would change. For example in this modern age of awareness you might not expect Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans to eat dogs and cats which they have done for several hundred years. Yet they still do, very much so. Dog is as common a meat as any other despite the modern cities and lifestyle..

While the western world does not eat dogs and cats it does eat horses and frogs, as in France. In fact the French eat and export a disgusting item called foie gras which is basically a very fatty duck or goose liver. The poor birds are force fed by machine to create the fatty liver and of course suffer terribly and die in the process.

Mostly in the west beef and chicken are consumed. In the Middle East countries its mostly sheep, goats and chicken. But often you find people will try other meats just for curiosity. For example in Australia they now eat kangaroo, crocodile,buffalo and large lizards

I'm now vegetarian and it saddens me how we earth creatures eat each other, usually in the dead state and sometimes while still alive. People don't seem to question the eating of a fellow animal. Food nowadays is based on meat because that's the way farmers and the food industry want it. It's very big money and the demand for food is dramatically increasing every day. Currently we have 7 billion people in the world. Imagine the food requirements when its much more than this. What will be the breaking point?

Billions of animals and birds are already slaughtered every day by factory farms and the food industry and many consumers don't realise the horrible cruelty involved in the rearing and the killing of these poor creatures. Worse than that are the facts that meat is not a healthy product and the industry produces enormous pollution and water usuage.

My point is that whatever you eat – whether it be another person, a mouse or a grasshopper – you need to count the cost. There's actually no nutrional requirement for man to eat meat. You can get everything you need from veg and fruit.

So instead of eating every living thing on this earth why don't we try being kind to the animals. Just dont eat them. Like us, they know fear and pain, joy and sadness. Most creatures feel all of these things, just like we do. They are sentient beings.

BEING SAD IS NOT ENOUGH

2011-11-29T23:43:00.000-08:00

If you have not seen some of the horrific animal slaughtering done by the food industry it's easily traced on the internet. Cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and others by the billion every day force grown, force fed, force impregnated and then murdered and butchered and put in little plastic containers on your supermarket shelves. Most people have never seen a real life farm animal, let alone seen one slaughtered. To many meat is just stuff in packages or something that someone else has cooked for you - probably in a frozen or takeaway meal. Few question its beginnings.

When people do see the real thing - the animal full of fear, the fight for life, the screaming, the blood, the killing - they are shocked, often profoundly. Many weep. Many can't watch it. Many say:"Oh it's so sad."

Babies like this are taken from their mothers at birth and then served to you as veal

But being sad is not enough to stop the biggest killing machine this world has ever seen, namely the food industry. It spends billions of dollars constantly brainwashing people to eat meat, to eat eggs, to eat cheese and to drink milk. It tell consumers nothing about how the food is produced only that it is good for you ( a blatant lie that should be legally challenged) and how tasty it is. Clever colourful packaging hides the fact that you are buying dead flesh, dead body parts to eat. The advertising and PR razmataz hides the killing fields and the torture that our fellow animals endure every day like -

* being beaten to death
* being hung upside down and having your throat cut while still alive
* spending your life in pens that are smaller than you
* having your beak burnt off
* having your newborn taken away from you and killed at birth
* being tortured in grotesque ways by depraved farmhands and abbatoir works

Terrified sheep console each other before being hoisted upside down and having their throats cut

Being sad enough is not enough to stop this. Action that can be taken includes petitioning, protest letters and emails. This helps as does lobbying to governments for better animal rights and welfare laws. But the one single action that anybody and everybody can take that would be most effective is to stop eating meat, eggs, cheese and milk. The mighty and vast power of the food industry that is mostly based on these things could not exist without consumers support.

Such a move would represent a revolution in world opinion about killing fellow animals and eating their flesh. On moral grounds, for health reasons and to massively reduce world pollution the move would be more than justified. Future generations might not then be regarded as flesh eating savages but as one with their planet and the creatures on it. Humans would at last show love and understanding for all living creatures which in turn would make human better creatures.

Near the End of My Life Comes a Horrible Awareness

2011-11-24T01:43:00.000-08:00

Near the end of my life, just when I thought I'de seen it all, has come my worst, saddest, most horrible experience - an awareness that has totally shattered my existence and all I thought was right before. Every day of what is left of my life now is overshadowed by this terrible realisation.

It happened when I first saw video footage of farm animals being tortured and slaughtered in the most inhumane manner in Indonesia and Middle East countries. It's something I had not thought about before. You eat meat but never think much beyond that. You certainly don't think of it as a living being like you that has been butchered alive.

As I witnessed the horrific atrocities I was totally shocked and broke down in tears. Most of it was so beastly that I could not watch all of it. I wondered how the men who did these things could be human. Surely they were mentally unbalanced. I was told they did it for their god.

Beautiful creatures like these Brahmans are subjected to beatings, eye gouging, tail breaking and have their throats cut while still alive

I later learnt that, like us, animals feel fear and pain, just as they feel happiness and love. They are also intelligent. This has been scientifically proven about many animals like cows, pigs, sheep and chickens.

I realised that this cruelty has been going on for thousands of years. Man has always assumed animals are simply tools to be used and made money with. He has enslaved them and denied them all rights.

In these modern times it is money and the greed for it that is causing the greatest amount of animal cruelty the world has ever seen. Farmers and the food industry are producing more food than ever in history.

We are constantly brain washed into eating meat and meat by-products. Many millions of dollars are spent every day in advertising and public relations to make you buy meat.The presentation is made as tempting as possible but not a word is said about how meat gets to you.

For me, this realisation is like living in a nightmare, like in one of those horror movies where the people around you seem nice but you know they are really Vampirish flesh eaters. The human race is condoning the mass torture and killing of animals and eating them and doesn't realise the horror of it all.

I just hope that one day after I'm gone people will change and will wake-up to the reality. Maybe world goverments will eventually legislate to stop all animal killing. Maybe people will just stop eating meat and the cruel and greedy meat farmers and supermarkets will go out of business. Maybe takeaway chains will become meatless health food stores.

At least there are some people who know the truth and their organisations will keep fighting for animal rights and try to awaken others to it. God bless those people for their efforts are based on love and kindness for animals and come from the heart. Most of them are volunteers.

SHEEP CONSOLE ONE ANOTHER BEFORE BEING HOISTED UPSIDE DOWN AND HAVING THROATS CUT

If I had realised all this when I was younger I would have devoted my whole career and life to animal rights and care. I've spent over 50 years as a newspaper journalist and written thousands of different stories around the world but it's only now in my twilight that I'm writing to help animals. Oh that I had awakened sooner.

By the way, if you ever want to see what hell is like take a quiet visit to a slaughterhouse while they are killing cattle, sheep and pigs. Personally I don't think hell will be as bad as that.

CHINA - NO ATTITUDE CHANGE FOR ANIMALS

2011-11-07T01:03:00.000-08:00

Previously I use to think of China as highly cultured and sophisticated. When living in Asia years ago I loved the soft romantic Mandarin music and love songs, the pretty girls in cheongsams and the colourful bustling markets. Those were my Suzie Wong days. It was a colourful world full of fun and in my youthful ignorance I enjoyed it all to the full. I thought of the Chinese as modern, dignified and civilised

More recently, however, my opinion of China has become more realistic. This ancient land is not the gentle civilised paradise I thought it was. Among disturbing aspects that have changed my opinion of China ( in particular the PRC ) is its lack of animal protection laws and its primeval attitude towards animal life on this planet.

Instead of sacred lives that we share the planet with, Chinese generally regard animals as a food source. They seem to have no respect for animals feelings of pain, fear, stress and other emotions such as love and affection. Their only concern is whether they can eat it.

They are a nation that eats dogs and cats. They've done it for ages. Many thousands of dogs and cats are consumed in restaurants and homes. It's big business. The dogs are often beaten to death and dog meat is as common as any other meat.

Every day countless thousands of dogs (many former pets) are caged, beaten, tortured, killed and butchered - often publicly. The dog meat industry is big business in China - also in Vietnam and Korea.

Chinese zoos allow visitors to buy live chickens, goats and horses in order to watch them being torn apart by lions, and tigers.

The city of Harbin in northern China has an attraction that denotes Chinese attitude towards animals. It's a park where visitors can feed live animals to the tigers. Tourists can buy a chicken, sheep or even a cow and watch as it's killed and eaten by a tiger pack.

Although animal rights activists are starting to appear in China - and brave souls they are - most Chinese still have a barbaric attitude towards animal life. Yes, there are some civilised Chinese now who have cats and dogs as pets but they are the minority.

There is draft legislation in China to stop animal abuse but it's been around a long time and could take years to approve - if it ever gets approved.

THE MEET YOUR MEAT RESTAURANT

2011-10-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

Imagine a restaurant where when you order a meat dish you have to kill the animal yourself or witness it slaughtered before the meal is cooked and served to you.

The methods of slaughter could include beating the animal to death or cutting its throat while it was still alive. You would have to tolerate the animal's screams of fear for they are intelligent and do fear death and feel pain. There's also the matter of blood gushing everywhere and then the actual butchering.

After all this your selected piece of meat is then cooked and presented to you as some gormet creation.

This already happens. In some seafood restaurants you can see your fish or crustaceans swimming around. You can catch what you want and it is killed, cut and cooked for you immediately.

However I believe if people see the animals they eat being slaughtered then most would not eat meat. Those delicious beef, lamb, pork or chicken dishes they like to eat would become real life walking talking creations and not a piece of something wrapped nicely in a plastic package in a supermarket.

Most people are not aware of animal slaughtering. Farmers and the food industry don't want them to think about it. From childhood people are reared to eat meat. It's developed as a cultural thing. Massive, expensive and perpetual publicity campaigns sell meat products to the masses every day of their lives. The numerous food programmes on television, food magazines, restaurant menus - almost all are based on meat dishes. It's amazing how brainwashed people are and how most fail to question the morality of killing other creatures or how animals are tortured and tormented.

I believe that in the future the people of this planet and others will look back on this time on earth with horror. They will weep at this dark and evil part of human history when we uncesessarily killed and ate other earth creatures daily, butchering them and slaughtering them in such barbaric ways. Not only that we were cruel to them and caused them insufferable pain and agony.

Why don't all religions forbid this? Why do governments not forbid it? Worst of all, why do we tolerate it?

MASS MURDER CONTINUES IN JAPAN
CONSTANT DOLPHIN POD MASSACRES

SAVING THE ANIMALS IN TIMES OF DISASTER

2011-10-19T00:13:00.000-07:00

Piglets in the current Thai floods

The world is currently seeing some really serious flooding. The Philippines, China, Taiwan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand are some of the countries presently affected. First priority is obviously to save human life but animal life is also important and it's good to see how much people try to save our fellow creatures.

In many cases people try to save animals because they are stock and worth a lot of money to them, like pigs, cows, horses and chickens.

In other cases people strive hard to save their pets like dogs, cats and birds. This has nothing to do with money. This is love, the kind of love that is so strong people think nothing of risking their lives to rescue their loved ones.

Nowhere did I see this demonstrated so magnificently as in the big Japan earthquake, tsunami and floods. Some Japanese pet owners refused to budge, would not flee to safety without their dear ones. And the Japanese disaster saw some amazing animal survivals, like the dogs found floating on wreckage miles out at sea - or the dog that stayed to look after another dog that was injured. All were rescued.

And people's pets are not only cats, dogs and birds. Pets comes in many shapes and sizes like horses, pigs, monkeys, kangaroos, elephants, buffalo, rats, mice, rabbits, ferrets and many more.

I say thank you to those people who do save pets in disasters like major flooding. There are numerous volunteer organisations that do a splendid job at not only rescuing but also rehabilitating animals. This was seen in the Japanese disaster with Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a coalition of three groups united to provide shelter and rescue .

These groups have been rescuing and homing animals in Japan for many years. They have a strict no-kill policy for all the pets they rescue. I like this. It make such good sense - unlike the system in other countries where they kill animals if they can't sell them within a certain time.

Kangaroo Gets a Tow

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MY PALS PUPPY AND PING PONG

2011-10-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

I've never kept my pet rats in a cage. They are free range - free to go where they want although they generally just want to stay near me. When I go out I take them with me in the car and at the shops I carry them around in a comfortable bag so nobody can spot them. They've never been any trouble.

Puppy and Ping Pong

One day I went shopping and forgot them.I left them on the counter in the bag. I was just getting into my car when I realised I did not have them with me. I ran back to the store and fortunately the bag was still there. When the shop assistant handed it back to me she didn't know she was carrying two big fat rats.

My guys are called jumbos because they get so big. They are beige and white albinos and very handsome. When they were very young they moved around a lot but now because they are much bigger and heavier they don't so I have to watch their weight.

Despite them being hugely overweight I'm hoping they will live a long time - like 3 years or more. Lots of rats die at around 18 months old and mostly from lung infections. You can read lots about rat health and illness on the internet but the main things to avoid are dust, smoke, dirt and cold draughts. Aways keep their bedding clean and fresh and feed them a vitamin rich diet but not too much protein.

I love my guys deeply. Puppy is already 20 months old and Ping Pong is 16 months. I want them to live long because I love them so much and because I think rats get a rough deal in life duration. (So do mice)

Puppy

Puppy and Ping Pong like to play and roll around and get a belly scratch. One of the sweetest things is when they give you a kiss or blow in your ear to wake you up. Often one will hold my hand with his. They love to snuggle-up.They are adorable creatures and highly intelligent.

How anyone can use these dear creatures for live laboratory experiments I do not understand. It would take a cold and cruel heart. It's not only rats that are tortured like this. Ferrets, mice, cats and dogs are among other animals used.

Please be kind to all animals and if possible stop killing and eating them

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SHOP TO STOP ANIMAL TORTURE

2011-09-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

Supermarket shopping provides a great opportunity to strike a serious blow against animal cruelty.The decisions you make when shopping can greatly influence factory food farms.

Factory food farms exist because unwitting shoppers buy their products not knowing how they are produced. It's bad enough that most products sold nowadays are processed foods but there is a greater horror behind a wide range of everyday food items, things like meat, eggs and even milk.

The vegetarian sections in supermarkets are usually very small and grossly overshadowed by the many unhealthy farm factory items. Vegetarian products include items such as mock mince, pig-free 'bacon' and veggie roasts. Opting for cruelty-free vegetarian alternatives is one way to ensure that farm animals — who have been excluded from animal cruelty laws — are protected from abuse.

However you don't have to eat veg products because the other wider choice is natural food like fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, cheese. There is a wide selection of food available without having to eat animals.

Personally I find I don't like some of the manufactured vegan products, nor do I like things like torfu and soya bean cake. Instead I create recipes for fresh veg and fruit dishes and only occasionally use a vegan product like soy bacon or mincemeat.
Let's not forget pastries and cakes and the joys of naughty things like apple pie and cheesecake.

The small choice for vegetarians in supermarkets annoys me and I let them know. You too can lodge a feedback form and urge your local supermarket to end their support of factory-farmed meat and eggs in favour of more humane alternatives.

Also spare a thought for lab animals. Millions of animals suffer immensely in stupid product testing experiments. Look for household cleaning products and cosmetics that are not tested on animals.

On the food front cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens all live in a perpetual hell so that the food industry can profit financially. Visual proof of such cruelty can be easily found on the internet so I will not spend time detailing it but beware because viewing it can truly upsetting.

It can all be stopped by shoppers like you.

HAVE A NO MEAT DAY

2011-09-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

Eating meat means killing animals and other living creatures and eating their dead flesh. Put like this it sounds horrible but every day people relish the taste of it without a thought for the suffering that's been caused to the creatures they are eating.

An estimated 50 million creatures are killed daily worldwide to settle meat eaters appetites. The way these animals are force grown and cruelly treated is shameful as is the way they are slaughtered. In some places they are beaten to death, in others they have their throats cut while still alive.

We don't have to eat meat. We can, in fact, be healthier not eating it. So why not try a no-meat day - or two.

Not only will you be helping stop the exploitation of fellow creatures but you'll also be helping improve the environment.

Give it a go. Have a no meat day.

PAKISTAN BEARS CRUELTY SHAME

2011-08-27T02:33:00.000-07:00

One fact that's come out of the campaign to stop the live export of cattle and sheep from Australia (because the animals are not slaughtered humanely overseas) is that Australia is the only country in the world to take a stand on this aspect of animal cruelty.

If that is so what the hell is happening to animals in other countries. Don't governments have rules that forbid torture and cruelty to livestock - or it just for pets like cats and dogs.

It seems illogical to have laws protecting pets and not all animals. Respect for life should be for all life. And when they make laws governments should police them properly. For example, in Pakistan bear baiting is illegal but it still goes on - so much so that Pakistan is the leading bear baiting country in the world today.

In case you don't know what bear baiting is, it's one of the vilest and cruelest forms of animal cruelty. You can find plenty on Google about it. Bears, with teeth and claws removed, are tied to a post while packs of dogs attack them constantly and tear them apart. It's all for the entertainment of those bloodthirsty Pakistani bastards who call it sport. Bit like the Spanish with their bull fighting.

I really believe that people who like such cruel "sports" are mental cases and as such should be put away - preferably permanently. How often have boys who started by torturing and killing cats grown up to be people killers.

CONTACT
wspa.org.au

PLEASE PROTEST FOR THE ANIMALS SAKE

2011-08-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

We are highly intelligent, gentle, sensitive and loving. We feel joy and pain. We can see in colour and remember your face. We have many things in common with humans and have individual personalities.

Studies by Keith Kendrick, a professor of physics at Gresham College in London, found sheep can distinguish between different expressions in humans and can detect changes in the faces of anxious sheep. He also discovered that sheep recognize the faces of at least 50 other sheep and can remember 50 images for up to two years.

Professor John Webster of the University of Bristol found that, like humans, sheep visibly express emotions. When they experience stress or isolation, they show signs of depression similar to those humans show by hanging their heads and avoiding positive actions.

Like us, sheep experience fear when they are separated from their social groups or approached by strangers. Sheeps' heart rates have been found to increase by 20 beats per minute when they are unable to see any members of their flock and by 84 beats per minute when approached by a man and a dog.

Sheep and lambs can be affectionate, playful and puppy-like, wagging their tails when stroked. They are intelligent, social, emotional beings—just as humans are—the meat and wool industries continue to abuse them in ways that would warrant cruelty charges if dogs or cats were the victims.

When they are still lambs, sheep are subjected to mulesing, a cruel mutilation in which farmers carve skin and flesh from the animals' backsides, often without giving them any painkillers. When the sheep begin to produce less wool, millions each year are loaded onto extremely crowded, multitiered cargo ships and exported to Muslim markets where their throats are cut while they are still conscious.

Please, for the animals' sake, don't buy wool, or eat lamb or mutton. Help stop the cruelty and killing by your personal actions and through organisations like www.peta.org www.animalsaustralia.org, and www.wspa.org.au/

GOD BLESS THE DUTCH

2011-08-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

I was so glad to hear that the Dutch Parliament has passed a bill for all livestock to be stunned before slaughter. The ruling removes exemptions that allowed Jews and Muslims to butcher animals according to their religious beliefs.

Animals in Holland now have to be stunned before being slaughtered in halal or kosher rituals, except if it could be proven they would suffer less without it which I think unlikely because the animals have to have their throats cuts while still alive and then bleed to death.

The Dutch Party for the Animals, the world's first animal rights party to win seats in a national parliament, welcomed the approval of the bill, first introduced in 2008, that now has to go before the Dutch Senate.

If the Netherlands stops Jewish or Muslim slaughter methods it will be the second country after New Zealand to do so in recent years and will join Switzerland, Scandanavia and Baltic countries.

The ruling spares animals needless pain and distress.

The threat of the ban has brought protests from religous groups who say it imposes on their right to freedom of religion.

However the majority of Dutch voters support the ban and the Parliament voted for it 116-30. Many Dutch see ritual religious slaughter as inhumane and barbaric.

Personally I've always thought it weird that goody goody religious people want to kill animals in a cruel ritual before they will eat the poor creature. It's all so öther age" and historically past its use by date.

Here's hoping that eventually all countries will adopt the same type of legislation regarding animal slaughter.

Meanwhile God bless the Dutch !!!

There is no way that any cause, religion, belief, culture or custom in this world can justify the torture or inhumane killing of animals.

James Larkin

Help Animals Australia. I do.

AnimalsAustralia.org

IS HEAVEN VEGETARIAN ?

2011-08-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

Do they eat meat in heaven or is it all vegetarian? Maybe they don't need to eat anything but I'm sure they have animals there.

Personally I can't imagine angelic heavenly types slaughtering creatures in order to eat their dead bodies. I think that the people in heaven must look down on this world in horror as we not only kill each another but also slaughter almost every other creature on the planet for food.

As well as beef, lamb and chicken people eat rats, mice, dogs, horses, rabbits, hares, frogs, deer, grasshoppers, ants, snakes, buffaloes, kangaroos and crocodiles. People even drink blood or eat it as a jelly.

There's everything from animal ears, tails, tongues, hearts, lungs, kidneys, feet, claws, skin, even stomachs.

Bird food includes sparrows, larks, emus and ducks. Insects include ants and witchery grubs. Fish food includes egg roe, whelks, cockles and eels.

As well as what we kill and eat, the people in heaven can also see how cruel we are to our fellow creatures. They can see abominations like modern food farm-factories and how our meats are mercilessly force fed, slaughtered and butchered. Maybe they will ask why cruelty to our fellow creatures was never declared a sin in any religion or why there is not a world wide charter for the protection of our fellow creatures.

Perhaps hell is seeing and fully realizing the horror of our actions in this`world.

The irony is how millions of people in the world have and adore pets. It's not just cats, dogs and budgies. Nowadays pets include everything from a tiger to a turtle. However, most pet owners are also meat eaters and some are the very people who work in the daily slaughter of animals for our meat supplies..

How strange it is that we can love our pets so much and then sit down to a meal of animal flesh. I really think there's something unholy about it.

Fact is we don't need to eat meat or so much of it. We can be just as healthy on a diet of fruit, vegetables and diary products. There are also many types of bread, cakes, rice, pasta and noodles to enjoy.

Personally I would much prefer a plate of tasty Italian pasta than a cat curry, dog stew or monkey meat sate.

Help Animals Australia. I do.

Animals Australia.Org

Pets and Vets

2011-07-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

One of the most vexing aspects of pet ownership is vets. It's an expensive business.They have this image of kindness for animals but the majority of vets are in it for the money.

Certainly lots of people cant afford vets so that means we have to make bigger efforts to keep our pets healthy.

When something bad comes along that say requires surgery costing thousands of dollars we just cant hack it. Ultimately we may suffer the loss of our dear friend and it's the pet that comes off worse.

If you can afford a vet then it's certainly important to shop around for one that specialises in your particular pet. Don't be afraid to ask. I once had a pet die in a vet's hands because he didn't really know what he was doing. Not all vets are good and none specialise in everything.

Don't be shy to ask how much everything is going to cost in detail. It's just as serious a financial m atter as if you yourself were getting medical treatment with a specialist or in a hospital. The bill could ruin you.

I think pet insurance is a joke. Like most insurance it has it compromises and limits and conditions. Most of what Ive seen doés not make it worthwhile financially.

Years ago there use to be free pet clinics.run by the RSPCÃ. You could pay something if you wanted but the service was free.

Vets nowadays are an unfortunate aspect of pet ownership, just as pet illness is. All you can do is maintain hygiene, feed and exercise them properly, try and spot any trouble in advance, learn about home cures - and give them lots and lots of love.

I've heard it said that love extends a pet's life considerably. I believe it.

ThaiThai

LET THE CATTLEMEN AND SHEEP FARMERS FIND A MORE DECENT WAY TO MAKE MONEY

2011-07-02T01:03:00.000-07:00

After recently seeing the horrible and disgusting ways cattle and sheep are slaughtered - particularly in muslim regions of the world - I have decided never to eat beef or lamb ever again.

From this very moment I will never again eat these meats, this dead flesh, for the remainder of my life.

Currently I'm only eating very small amounts of chicken and fish but I'm also thinking of stopping all meats as I gradually adapt to no meat dishes.

I've always thought it wrong to eat other creatures, albeit dead or alive. Somehow there's something not right about it. However, the torturing, mutilation and brutality of animals that I've witnessed by abattoirs in Indonesia and Egypt has been the last straw. I will not be part of this business that is essentially money driven but also uses religion and culture as excuses for its actions. Let the cattlemen find a more decent way of making money.

If you want to see film of some of this torturing go to the ABC TV Four Corners programme on the Internet. Or you can click on to http://banliveexport.com

I believe it is a sin to treat our fellow animals like this and I say shame on those bastards who do these things. I hope that hell is full of their kind or that they are reborn as animals and will receive the same cruel end.

There is no way that any cause, religion, belief, culture or custom in this world can justify the shameful torture and inhumane killing of animals.

TIME TO STOP THE BEATING AND TORTURE

2011-06-14T02:29:00.000-07:00

The Australian Parliament is debating whether to permanently ban live export of animals to all countries.

It has already banned live exports to many Indonesian abattoirs because of the disgusting cruelty and torture of the live cattle exported to there.

Please support the RSPCA and http://banliveexport.com/ to get this bill passed. There's not much time left. Whether you are Australian or live in another country, please make your voice heard and help these poor creatures.

Let's stop the barbaric practices that have been going on unchallenged. Let's make the world more civilized.

Warning: Beware if you watch films showing the animal cruelty and torture in Indonesia. It is so shocking I was not able to watch more than a little of it and simply burst into tears. The filmed reports are a horror that happens every day to our fellow creatures. Please speak up against it.

There is no way that any cause, religion, belief, culture or custom in this world can justify the shameful torture and inhumane killing of animals.

SHAME SHAME INDONESIA

2011-05-31T00:56:00.000-07:00

I've just watched an ABC TV programme showing how live Brahman cattle exported from Australia to Indonesia are shamefully tortured to death by Indonesians.

I warn you that to watch it will truly shock and disgust you. I just broke down and cried in shame that fellow humans could do such cruel things to our fellow creatures.

There is no way, no religion, no belief, no cause, no justification of any kind in this world for the shameful torture and killing of animals.

Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world. If this is how Muslims want their meat killed then I suggest they all become vegetarians because there is no God anywhere in the heavens who would condone this cruelty.

I've seen the same senseless thing in Arab countries and it makes me think that people who are part of this practice can have no respect or kindness for living things.

A Brahman

For God's sake, it's evil enough that we eat these poor fellow creatures as food. At least give them a good life and a fast ending and respect their poor souls - for I do believe that animals have souls.

God forgive us for worshiping money. God forgive us for not wishing to offend the wrongdoer.

Bills are currently being presented to the Australian Parliament for a halt to meat exports to Indonesia. I sincerely hope they succeed.

In the meantime this affair has really changed my opinion about Indonesia. Hopefully it will make Indonesians reconsider themselves. Arrogance is not an answer.

Talk to the Animals

2011-05-22T00:48:00.000-07:00

Soxy

Puppy

Bonsai

All animals and birds like being talked to. If you talk to animals you immediately establish a special relationship with them. Animals understand all about this but most humans don't.

You need to be perfectly honest with animals though because they have the gift and can read your feelings. You also need to be pleasant and not too loud. Nobody likes a loud talker and it's best to talk softly. Compliments are, of course, always appreciated as are any edible treats you may care to offer.

If you sit down and have a really nice long chat with an animal - especially on a regular basis - you will establish a very special rapport. You may eventually be granted the greatest honour of all - that of being accepted as one of them.

Animals and birds, of course, can talk back to you and often do. At first you may find their language hard to understand but after a while you'll get the hang of what they are trying to tell you.

So next time you are with your pet or outside somewhere and see a horse, a cow or even a chicken, squat down for a while and have a chat with your fellow creatures. People might say you are crazy but what do they know? They've never tried it.

READERS PLEASE NOTE; The above was composed by my cat Soxy, my rat Puppy and my dog Bonsai

What Would Aliens Think?

2011-05-03T02:15:00.000-07:00

Many people assume that aliens on other planets are probably more advanced than us - more sophisticated. So what would these highly civilised aliens think of us when they see what we eat.

As well as occasionally eating each other, we eat a vast selection of the other life on this planet.

We have no qualms about killing these creatures. Hundreds of thousands of birds, fish and animals are killed every day as part of our meat-food supply.

Some we keep as pets and aliens might think these are our emergency food supplies.

I think aliens might ask why we eat flesh when we don't really have to. And why do we eat so much? We could easily live on fruit, vegetables, dairy products and other food types.

I'm not a total vegetarian but it still amazes me how we earth inhabitants eat each other, usually in the dead state and sometimes while still alive.

I think aliens might be quite disgusted with us and could regard us as savages. The fact that we haven't stopped killing one another in wars and disturbances for thousands of years is another minus. Killing seems to be a human trait.

Of course, this is assuming that aliens are vegetarian or have a more civilised system of nutrition. It might be that they are the same as us, or worse. They might even want to eat us.

But just in case they are highly developed, maybe it's time we reviewed our eating habits, cut down on the meat scene and moved more towards vegetables and fruit. Then one day when our out of space visitors arrive in their huge spacecraft they will not completely regard us as cannibals.

On the other hand they may be vegetable life forms themselves and will be totally appalled that we are vegetable eaters. Their word for cannibal would be vegetarian.

It gets so confusing.

One thing's for sure though. If you ever meet an alien the first thing to do is check out what they eat. In the meantime we can all be kind to animals and eat more salads.

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PET RESCUE IN JAPAN'S EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

2011-04-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

Some of the best news I've had lately is that teams of wonderful people in Japan are working tirelessly to rescue animals caught up in the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster. Not only that but the animals are being housed in no-kill animal shelters.

Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support is a coalition of three groups — HEART-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata, and Japan Cat Network. They have united to provide shelter, rescue, and an exchange of information for animals of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. These groups have been rescuing and rehoming animals in Japan for many years. Funds are used directly for animal rescue and support of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims. They have a strict no-kill policy for all the pets they rescue.

Many animals have been rescued, not only the now famous dogs we've seen on TV, like the one rescued way out at sea. Birds too are among the rescued - like these two sweeties.

The thing I like is the no-kill policy. It make such good sense - unlike the system in other countries where they kill animals if they can't sell them within a certain time.

The two dogs whose video went viral after a news crew filmed one of the dogs faithfully standing guard over his exhausted pal are OK. Animal lover and rescuer Kenn Sakurai travelled with other rescuers by motorcycle to the area and both dogs were saved. The injured white dog was taken to a veterinary hospital and his faithful companion (pictured below) is at a No-Kill shelter.

You can send financial support to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support to help keep things going. I have and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for the kind and good work they are doing.

2011-04-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

Out for a drive in the car

Having his black coffee

Sipping his morning orange juice

Just looking comically cute

This is my mate Puppy. Like all my mates Puppy has never been caged. He stays with me just like a dog and we go everywhere together. We're pretty close and he never runs away. Rats are very good company and playful and loving companions.

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When Pets Pass On

2011-04-07T03:28:00.000-07:00

I've been away from the blog world for a while but I'm back now. It's been a sad period. During this time some of my dear pets have passed away. I don't know why but I usually feel the loss of a pet more than I do the loss of a person. Maybe it's because the pets are so close to me and with me all the time and they are so innocent and love without measure.

My most recent losses have been Bubbles, a lady Chihuahua, and Bluey, a talkative and lively budgie.

I bury all my pets in my garden and say prayers for them. I also ask Buddhist monks to pray for them because I believe that animals have souls and can ascend to higher realms.

Bluey the budgie was the most recent to go. He died yesterday morning and I wept and still do. I buried him next to Bubbles because they always played together and for some reason Bluey really liked Bubbles.

Hopefully they are playing together now in some heavenly place where pets are safe from harm and loved by all around them.

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Would You Eat Your Pet?

2010-09-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

Some months ago my wife became a full time vegetarian.This has had an affect on me. I've reduced my own meat consumption and now regard food in a different light than previously. Meat does not have to be the main course anymore. In fact, my food horizon has widened greatly.

It didn't happen overnight. Frequently over the years my wife and I discussed the rights and wrongs of eating other animals - basically eating dead flesh. As pet lovers we both agreed it was wrong for many reasons and could find nothing to really justify it.

It was when we started getting more pets and even closer to understanding animal life that the message became clearer. When you form strong friendships with other creatures you begin to realize they are the same as us in many ways. It's especially apparent when you live close with them and they become part of the family, part of your life. You can reach a point where there is a spiritual link between you.

Killing is bad enough but to then eat the dead body of any other creature? No, something's not quite right about that. I'm against the killing of all animals unless it's absolutely necessary and I think it won't be long now before I stop eating meat entirely.

Anyway, the meat nowadays is not so good. Not like the old days when it was natural and free range. Nowadays creatures are caged, chemicalized, forced fed and doped-up with things to make them grow faster. We're probably healthier not eating meat anyway.

I've already started eating more vegetables and fruit. It's so easy to knock-up a veggie stir fry and some boiled rice or a pasta dish with a nice sauce.

However I've found the dining out scene does not cater well for vegetarians. I think there's a lot more that could be done to create good and tasty meals for vegetarians. Chefs need to think outside the meat square. It would be good if they trained chefs to have a less meaty outlook.

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Putting the Brakes on Bull Fighting

2010-07-29T01:49:00.000-07:00

So glad that Spain (or a large part of it) has at last banned bull fighting.

I was always puzzled how people could enjoy watching a poor animal being tortured and slowly murdered in an arena - even more puzzled at those animal killer Spanish people who say it's a proud Spanish tradition. Proud? What's to be proud about.

If I was Spanish I would feel shame that the public spectacle of animal cruelty was a national attraction.

Now that the law has been passed you'll hear a lot from the bull fighting supporters but it will all be a lot of bull. The big thing the bull killers will really miss is the money. It's a big money business.

Best that beautiful Spain bathe in more civilised glories - like winning the world soccer this year. Congratulations mes amigos. I know that most of you would prefer things like soccer and tennis than butchering bulls in public.

Now let's see all of Spain support animal rights. Let's wipe the bloody stain of bulls' blood from your history.

In the past bulls used to be worshipped as very special creatures. You have ancient paintings in your caves that portray it.

Bulls are noble and brave creatures and have a right to dignity.

And while you are at it don't just stop at bulls. Prohibit cock fighting, dog fighting, horse fighting and similar disgraces around the world.

But meanwhile I sincerely thank those dear Spanish people who helped to ban bull fighting. Bravo!

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Do Animals Have Souls or Spirits?

2010-06-23T02:10:00.000-07:00

Do animals have souls or spirits? Of course they do. I believe they have the same as us. We are basically all the same in that context. In fact, they might be on a higher level than us because they are not cruel and wicked like humans.

Nor are they usually greedy, egotistical, power hungry or envious. They are loving and devoted. They too can feel sadness and happiness and enjoy play and have fun. They are undoubtedly intelligent and possess senses much stronger than ours, in fact senses we no longer have.

Of course, one must define what a soul is. Generally I think it's thought of as that non-material part of us that is a spiritual personality or essence that may move on to another place after death of the physical body.

I don't see why animals and birds should not follow the same pattern as us. In fact if there was no bird and animal life in heaven it could be a pretty dull place.

There is also the possibility that the birds and animals can eventually be reincarnated into humans and we arrogant humans may next become birds and animals.

So! What would you like to come back as? Things are not going too well for animals at present in this world. You wouldn't want to be anything that's edible, I think. And man is so intent on killing wildlife around the planet you probably won't last long anyway. Even protected species are not safe because their parts are worth more on the black market.

Personally I would like to see humans who have been unkind to birds or animals reincarnated into something like battery hens or force fed cattle, or maybe poor creatures in a vivisection laboratory. Or dogs in Korea, caged bears in China, whales or dolphins in Japan or bulls in Spain.

Presumably in their next life after that they would be more kind to animals.

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2010-05-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

Introducing Puppy - newest addition to my family seen here at seven weeks old

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On the Death of a Pet

2010-04-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

One of my pets Ratoi (pronounced ratwah) has just passed away, nearly three years old. He died in my lap, silently, as I sat here at the computer. Only moments before I had stroked him and kissed him. He had been ill for sometime and I tried to make things as comfortable as possible for him.

He seemed to have picked-up a bit and was still eating a little but when I next looked at him to give him a stroke I saw he was gone.

Oh the sadness and grief of losing a pet, especially one so close with you and whom you loved so much. Sometimes I think this love is stronger than between people because it's so true and honest.

And how unfair life can be to our fellow creatures. Like rats, many are given such short lifespans, with inherent ailments. Many are scorned because of their species type. Some are treated cruelly yet are never cruel to us.

In return for our attention they provide us with unconditional love and devotion. Their friendship and companionship is unquestionable and true. They comfort us in our lonely times and make us happy in moments at play.

Each time we lose a pet it's like losing part of ourselves, part of our family, part of our life. We grieve and only time will heal the pain of the loss but the wonderful memory of our pet will always be there.

Our sorrow can be made worse by people with a total lack of feeling and understanding who believe the loss means nothing, that animals are just objects. Theirs is the loss for not knowing friendship so warm and caring and innocent.

I buried Ratoi in my garden and prayed sincerely for him that he might fare well in another life and asked that he be cared for there. I told him again that I loved him.

And now I am left with the wonderful memories of him.

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The Mystery of Mouse Tails

2010-03-05T23:14:00.000-08:00

When you hold mice in your hand take a look at what they do with their tails. They automatically entwine each others tails. It's a mystery why they do this but it's cute to watch. I think it might be to make one another secure. It's a bit like people holding hands.

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Lots of Love for the Little Ones

2010-02-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

Looking through various pet websites and forums I'm always so totally amazed and delighted at just how much people love their fellow creatures. It's not just dogs and cats and the larger variety of animals but also the little ones like rats and mice.

As an owner of rats and mice I can understand the deep love that owners feel for their little friends. You can get so very close to them and they are so loving and intelligent. When they have health problems you worry so much because they are such delicate creatures.

Mice Mates
Yumchar and Sushi

I always thought, for example, that rats were strong and very durable under all conditions but the truth is that most of them suffer perpetual lung and breathing problems. How they can live like that I really don't know. I would not want to be a rat.

Nevertheless these loving creatures manage somehow. They are clean types and always washing themselves and they can be very playful, especially when
young. When they are older they sit by you like some faithful old dog. They love to be talked to.

Mice are much the same but less likely to get ill. They recognise you, play with you, even kiss you.

However while you can leave a rat next to you and it won't run away, some mice are inclined to explore everywhere and so you need to keep a close eye on them.

As with all pets, before buying rats and mice it's a good idea to do some research.

Ratoi likes to share the pillow at nap time

Record Weather Rough on Cat Litter

2010-01-08T01:45:00.000-08:00

While in Australia we are currently suffering record heat waves, over in Europe countries are coming to a standstill because of the big freeze. Snow, ice and cold are also at record levels.

Either way it can be a tough time for pets and I was interested in reports that Britain has run out of cat litter. The reason? People have found it very effective against the ice and snow on the roads and they used it all.

In fact the absorbent type of cat litter has various uses. I've often used it for mopping up oil leaks after working on the car. It's useful when you spill liquid, say in the kitchen.

Hopefully there will still be enough cat litter left for the cats in Britain when they want to widdle.

Maybe they'll have do what we did in the good old days before there were manufactured pet products – either put kitty outside to do it or use newspaper.

The extreme hot and cold weather does present problems for pets. Currently my problem is keeping them cool. Air conditioning can be harmful to some (like rats with lung problems) so we've bought some extra fans. I also make sure there's plenty of fresh water around.

In the heat pets like cool foods and we include treats like chilled cheese, water melon, milk, ice cream and a coconut drink.

We also use little hand sprays to cool them down with water.

In the cold weather its wrap-up time and they get clothing made from the sleeves and legs of garments.

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How To Be a Pet Whisperer

2009-12-14T00:10:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why they call it whisperer. It's probably because the technique involves whispering or talking very softly to animals.

I've been doing it all my life. I've always had a way with animals, namely dogs, cats, horses, camels, cattle, ferrets, rats, mice and various birds. It's always seemed natural to me to communicate with animals. I believe they like being talked to and have always thought of them as beings in their own right.

I've always believed that animals can “sense “you. They can feel your mood and whether you have good, bad or indifferent intentions. This is very important because you have to approach an animal in a genuinely calm and friendly mood if you want to make friends. If you are angry or tense it won't work.

So number one rule is be in a peaceful and friendly mood. A loving mood is ideal.

Animals will want to smell you. They will remember your body smell like we might remember a face. But they don't like certain smells, especially things like after shave or perfume. You too can pretend to smell them by sniffing. This is a form of communication.

The next thing is not to move quickly and suddenly or make noises. Fast and sudden movement alarms creatures, especially birds. You need to move slowly and quietly. With a very nervous animal you might not even get next to it. You might have to sit nearby until it gets use to you.

A food treat is also handy to have on offer.

Now comes the talking. You can talk softly and if you are close enough you can whisper in the pet's ear. I talk as if I'm talking to another person. It's friendly, loving conversation. I'm telling the pet honestly how much I love it and what a nice creature it is. If it's in pain or upset I talk to comfort and sooth it. I really feel deeply inside myself that I love this creature and want to be its friend and I believe the pet can sense those feelings and thoughts.

Eventually the pet will get closer to you and come to expect these private moments. Somehow a deep understanding develops between you and your pet and there is love and respect.

It doesn't always happen overnight. Sometimes it might not happen completely when, for example, an animal has previously been treated very cruelly. But with patience you will at least achieve a closer friendship and make the animal happier.

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Don't Buy Pets This Christmas

2009-12-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Please don't buy pets as presents this Christmas unless you are sure the pet will be properly cared for as long as it lives.

Pets bought on a whim as presents usually end up dumped and dead. The purchase needs careful and humane consideration because a creature's life can be at stake.

Sure a pretty kitten or playful puppy is initially a big hit with a family but they can also become a nuisance when it comes to cleaning up after them or repairing the damage they can cause in a home.

Who is actually going to care for the pet – clean it, clean it's mess, walk it, feed it, tolerate its howling and most of all love it? Who is going to be its carer for all the years it lives?

I mention this because Christmas time is one of the worst for animals. Once the novelty wears off many pets are simply dumped by their new owners. They usually end up in animal shelters and if nobody buys them after a certain period they are killed.

Others simply roam the streets and get run over by traffic, starve to death or get captured for laboratories to experiment with.

Pets are not toys. They are living creatures with needs and feelings. A proper relationship with a pet is a long term one and needs a responsible and humane approach.

Think of all the love and devotion a pet gives you , whether its a animal or a bird. A pet will bring you companionship and happiness and you can give it the same, plus your protection.

Please don't let them be like silly presents that are dumped when a child gets bored with them.

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Government Parasite Taxes on Pets

2009-11-07T22:58:00.000-08:00

Greedy government is always on the lookout for new tax ideas and pets are always in their line of fire. It's bad enough that pet owners have to deal with parasites like fleas and ticks on their pets but government is one kind of parasite you just can't get rid of.

Where I live in Australia local government first of all introduced registration fees for dogs. “It's to help you find your dog if it gets lost” was one of the excuses. “It's to help stop strays” was another.

Registration is compulsory so they get more money from fines if you don't pay. In addition, they increase the registration fee annually, so their income rises year by year. At the moment just a small dog costs $100 a year.

With this registration law they gave themselves special legal authority to enter your home to search for pets you might be hiding so I think of them as the Pet Police.

Rat Registration Next?

At the time they introduced this dog registration they promised they would not interfere with cats. But now they are ordering people to register their pet cats.

First they want you to tell them how many cats you own and bet your life that soon they'll be announcing the registration fees for cats.

What next I wonder? Mice registration? Rats? Goldfish? Chickens?

I'm really tired of government sticking it's beak into my personal business and nothing is more personal than one's pets.

As far as I'm concerned the worst pet parasites are political ones. It would be nice if we could treat them in the same way as fleas. Imagine it – a spray that makes your rat bag political person disappear with one squirt.

Ah well, I can dream can't I?

PS/ Since I wrote this piece they have introduced registration for cats. Like I said....Parasites !!!

Pet Mice a Must

2009-10-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

If you want a small pet that is fun and good company then a mouse is a must.

You might call mice the ideal pets. The tiny furries come in 40 different varieties and are very cheap to keep and take little space.

They are slick, smart, sweet, fun loving and friendly and make excellent pets. They are very responsive to humans and can do tricks

Mice are also healthy and effected by very few ailments. They are clean and quiet and can live up to three years.

I got my first mice a year ago and have never regretted it. They are lovable. It's best to buy females because they don't fight like males.

I have three females named Yum Char, Sushi and Toffee.

Mice are expert escape artists and can chew their way through things and slide through tiny openings. I keep mine in a metal bird cage with narrow slits. I lay paper in it and change it every day.

I let them out at least twice a day and often when I go shopping they are tucked inside my shirt. Mice need to be handled very gently and softly and you should never pull their tails or lift them by the tails. Also it's best to talk softly to them, preferably in a whisper. They do listen to you and sometimes talk back.

Mice eat most things. I feed mine oats, cat biscuits, boiled rice, pasta, carrot, sweet corn, corn flakes, bread, snow peas, green beans and various other things. Always be sure there's plenty of clean water available.

When they are sitting in the hand my three ladies often entwine their tails as if holding on to one another. It's an instinctive thing for them and cute to see. I will try and get a photo of it one day.

It's said that mice as pets dates back to the palaces of ancient China and Japan. I think it was in the 1800's that ordinary people started keeping them as pets like we do nowadays.

German Shepherd Dogs World's Biggest Biters

2009-09-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

German Shepherd dogs – also known as Alsatians – are one of the most popular breeds in the world. The breed boasts more dog clubs than other and yet internationally Alsatians have the worst reputation for biting people.

Observers believe the biting is because German Shepherds can be over protective. They have a reputation for aggression if not socialised correctly. That's why proper training is essential. Some experts believe Alsatians need “firm” training but others says the reward system works better.

German Shepherds have come a long way since their origins as sheep dogs in Germany in 1899. In fact, it's hard to imagine them now as sheep dogs.

Since then they've proved they have many other talents and are now one of the world's most popular pets as well as the most used working dog used by the police, military and blind dog associations throughout the world.

German Shepherds are strong, obedient, loyal, protective, hard working and have an exceptionally keen sense of smell. They are also one of the three most intelligent dog breeds in the world – the others being the Border Collie and the Poodle. They are certainly the most intelligent large dog.

German Shepherds have even become famous movie stars like Strongheart and Rin Tin Tin, now in the Hollywood Hall of Fame. More recently there is the Inspector Rex TV series starring a police Alsatian which my dogs and I watch regularly.

German Shepherds basically come in black, brown and white. They were called Alsatians because German was not popular in some countries after World War 1. First they were registered as Alsatian Wolf Dog and later this was changed to just Alsatian. The word Alsatian was taken from the French region of Alsace-Lorraine where the people are German speaking. German Shepherd became favoured again in 1977.

The lovely white German Shepherd in the picture above is called Mia and belongs to my son James in Queensland, Australia. She is one-year-old and hasn't bitten anyone ...yet.

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Pet Horses Popular But Pricey

2009-08-15T00:55:00.000-07:00

Horses are surprisingly popular pets considering that they are large animals that require plenty of care and attention and owning one can be pricey.

Statistics show in the USA, for example, 4 per cent of households own horses with 3 per cent of the horses boarded at home and the other 1 per cent stabled elsewhere.

Buying a pet horse is something of a major exercise that requires careful research and planning for horses can involve considerable time and money.

First you might like to consider the likely budget for having a horse. It could surprise you. Other than the price of the horse itself there's food and accommodation. Some owners pay to keep them in stables, while others can keep them at home. It can involve the cost of building a stable or barn if you don't already have one because the horse will need protection from inclement weather.

You need to know what food to feed them and how to groom them. There's riding hats, strapping, blankets and various other items.

Another important budget consideration is vet fees. When your horse is ill, hurt or pregnant you will need professional help. Then there's transportation. You may need a horse trailer.
You might also like to consider horse riding lessons if you don't already ride. That's more expense.

With something like a horse it's a good thing to have a friend who really knows the scene, especially when you actually go to buy a horse.

Before buying you need a vet to check out the horse for its condition. Is it healthy? Does it have any defects?

Then you need to get a reliable history of the horse and find out about its personality. This is when horse whisperer friends come in handy because maybe they can spot flaws on the spot. Is the horse friendly? Can it be ridden with a loose rein or tight rein? Is it excitable? Does it bite?

You have to be especially careful if you are buying a horse for children. It's hard to find a good kids' horse.

Then when you have bought the horse you need to train it so that it recognises you as its leader and friend. This is where I can help by making recommendations for online tuition.

The training courses I recommend for pets on my blog have all been carefully vetted by me personally. In fact I have purchased and used some of them for my own pets. They are good because the people involved believe in what they are doing and love animals and the courses are not expensive and have money back guarantees.

Online Horse Training here

Photo above shows a pet horse named Crom in Queensland, Australia.

Pet Turtles Need Top Class Care

2009-08-12T03:19:00.000-07:00

Turtles date back 215 million years and are among the oldest reptile groups on the planet.

They are also one of the more fascinating pets and popular around the world.

There's a wide variety to choose from with some 300 different species, some of them really weird looking because of their shell formations. Turtles come in various colours and dimensions - from cute pocket size to giant size.

They are cold blooded, breath air, lay their eggs on land and most live in or near water. They live for many years and often outlive their owners. Parents sometimes leave their pet turtles to their children and heirs.

Experts recommend keeping the smaller types of turtles as pets because they are easier to handle.

Professional turtle types stress that learning how to care for a turtle is very important. Proper diet is essential and most turtle illnesses and fatalities are caused by pet owners not knowing this.

Another vital factor is the environment where the turtle is kept and water quality.
Turtles require high quality water at the correct temperatures. Smaller turtles can be kept in aquariums equipped with filter, heater and something on which the turtle can have time out of water.

They also need lots of ultra-violet light to ensure vitamin D3 for shell and bone growth.

Turtles are not ideal pets for children because they don't like being handled and can get stressed. For beginners the hardier types of turtles are recommended.

One thing's for sure. Before you take to turtles you need to do a bit of studying and that's why I recommend a turtle guide..

Dogs Are Celebrity Favourites

2009-08-10T00:56:00.000-07:00

Cats may be the most popular pets in the world but the most famous people in the world own dogs.

Queen Elizabeth I1 owns a pack of corgi dogs. President Obama owns a dog. The King of Thailand - a country famous for its cats - owns a dog. Bill Clinton owns a dog; even Paris Hilton parades with her chihuahua. There's a long list of the famous and celebrated who are dog owners.

While dogs are the second most popular pet in the world I wonder why the very famous don't choose cats. I think it's because dogs are docile and controllable. Cats are far more independent creatures. Dogs can be trained and do what they are told but the independent feline does not take orders easily.

Belonging to famous owners also makes the dogs famous. Corgis were basically unheard of outside of Wales until the British royal family started keeping them in 1934. Queen Elizabeth's public outings with her corgis made them world famous. Because of this royal association the short legged corgi became a popular household pet.

American presidents' dogs are guaranteed to be famous. But whereas I always notice them on photo shoots I never seem to remember their names, only the breeds. George W Bush had two Scottish terriers and a mongrel. His dad had two spaniels. Bill Clinton had a Labrador and a cat. President Obama has a Portuguese water dog.

So why do royals, presidents and celebrities choose dogs to be part of their public profile? Is there something socially important about having a dog? Maybe the dog represents an essential part of family and famous people like to connect with the family image. Maybe it's because people who have pets are recognised as nice people and everyone wants to be thought of as nice.

Whatever the reason, it's good for dogs, especially if the owners love them.

Picture above is Bo Obama - The First Dog (photo courtesy White House)

See Puppy and Dog Training by a lady who trains them for movies.

Three Ways To Save Millions of Pets Lives

2009-08-07T03:17:00.000-07:00

Every year millions of cats and dogs are put to sleep – about 5 million a year in the USA alone or 10 every minute.

There's nothing wrong with the animals. They are perfectly healthy and fit and the animal societies, shelters and pounds have given them their health shots. They are killed because nobody wants them .There's no homes for them.

And that's not counting other creatures that people no longer want like horses, ferrets, rats and birds.

But there are three ways you can stop this useless killing.

1. Don't buy a pet on impulse. They're not toys. They're living creatures like you and me. Buying pets as surprise presents can be a big mistake in the long term.
Think carefully before you obtain a pet and do some research. Consider the commitment you are making and what things it will involve you in time wise and money wise.

2. Have your pet desexed, male or female. This will save many innocent lives by reducing the population.

3. Adopt a pet from an animal shelter or pound. This will save you money and save a life.

Desexing is particularly important. For example in Australia the Animal Welfare League is successfully progressing towards achieving zero euthanasia for cats and dogs through desexing.

For the past five years the AWL and vets have offered reduced desexing prices in an attempt to turn the tide of kittens and puppies arriving in the breeding season. Each year in Australia 200,000 healthy and sociable cats and dogs lose their lives simply because there are not enough homes for them.

Already there has been a reduction in the number of kittens euthanased.

Owners should note that a cat or dog does not have to have had a litter before it is desexed.

Desexing at two to four months is as safe as six months due to advances in anaesthetics and surgical procedures.

A kitten or pup desexed at two to four months recovers quicker with less healing time than an older animal.

Desexing does not make your pet fat – overfeeding and lack of exercise does.

Undesexed males are 50 per cent of unwanted pets and are more likely to get into fights.
Also it's cheaper to register a desexed dog.
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Ferrets so Friendly but Beware

2009-07-21T01:16:00.000-07:00

Ferrets are furry balls of fun, as playful as kittens all their lives and heart meltingly adorable to look at. But beware. They like to bite - even when they like you, especially toes and ears. They are always full of energy and expert at wrecking places and finding trouble.They know no fear and seeing these guys hopping around your house would bring a smile to any face.

It's no accident that ferrets are the third most popular pet (in the USA anyway).

They're really lovely but they're difficult pets to keep and their health needs careful watching.

Ferrets are pets you need to research and learn about because they need proper training and care. You can train them with expert advice.

The young ferret posing above is Snowy, a very lively white and fluffy albino who plays with dogs and cats.

Rats Just Want to Have Fun

2009-07-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

Rats are among the easiest pets to have and they are great fun.

They are very clean, sociable, playful intelligent and affectionate. Rats can be taught tricks and get to know their names .They can also be litter box trained.

Young rats are a delight to watch because they play a lot, just like kittens and they love company.

I have three rats – Ratwah and Cheeky, both white albinos,and Stewart, a handsome brown and white guy who always reminds me of a horse I knew.

White albinos are usually more gentle and docile than other rats but their eyesight is poor.

My three 'ratateers' are very friendly and even play with our dogs and cats. They love being cuddled and resting on your neck or inside our jumper or jacket. They are very affectionate and often come and give you a kiss. It's so sweet.

The other morning Ratwah decided to share his breakfast with me. Instead of a kiss I got a piece of biscuit.

As with most other pets, it's best to do some research before you buy rats. There's tips you can get so you don't end up with a sick or pregnant rat. I use to think that rats were very strong creatures but in fact they are susceptible to various things, like lung infections. So you need to know something about the scene before you buy. Not all pet shops can be trusted.

I recommend you read something on the lines of Pet Rat Care & Training. Better to be prepared and that way you and the rats will have a happy life together.

By the way, this is a picture of Ratwah, the one that shared his food with me. I hope he doesn't do it too often

Pet Rat Care & Training

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Ferret Care

Horse Training

German Shepherd Training

Turtle Guide

Susan Boyle's Cat

2009-06-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

A lot of singing sensation Susan Boyle's recent stress might have been connected to concern for her 10-year-old cat Pebbles.

It's reported that while recovering in the London clinic she was deeply concerned about her cat's welfare.

It's said that Susan and her cat have now been reunited at a secret location in London where she is staying.

Susan will be going back on the show business road again and hopefully this time Pebbles will accompany her.

Above is a picture of Susan's cat Pebbles. (Note: Since this time Susan Boyle has gone on the achieve greatness in the world of music.)

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Puppy and Dog Training Online

Ferret Care

Horse Training

Pet Rat Care

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Turtle Guide

Choosing Dogs As Pets

2009-06-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

Dogs are the second most popular pet in the world and come in many types and sizes. There are over 150 breeds ranging from the tallest, the Irish Wolfhound, to the smallest, the miniature Chihuahua.

Because of this and other factors, it's important to plan carefully before getting a dog. They are not toys that can be discarded at a whim. They are living, loving creatures that can become an important part of your life.

Companionship
Dogs are pack animals and like company so it's no good acquiring one if you're going to leave it alone a lot. It needs company and the more time you spend with it the closer you both will be. If you can't give it lots of time then buy a cat.

Exercise
Dogs need daily exercise, especially the larger breeds, so unless you're fit enough for a daily romp maybe you should think about a small dog. And big dogs can take a lot of handling, especially when they jump all over you. Yes, you need to be fit and strong.

Training
Dogs need to be trained. They have to be taught, even if they're just home pets. This especially applies to larger dogs.

Food
Big dogs can eat a lot and that can be expensive. I used to have an Irish wolfhound that ate a big bucket of food a day. Now I have a miniature chihuahua and save heaps.

Space
With a large dog you will need a yard or garden. If you don't have one, get a small dog.

Character
Different breeds have their own character traits that come from their origins. Some like going into holes and tunnels. Others like digging holes and still have long claws which enable them to do this. If you research the breed you can get some idea of the dog's personality. This can be important, especially if there are children around.

Expense
Consider vet and medication expenses. Depending on your luck (and the dog's) these can be heavy. It's something you need to budget for.

Hair
Long haired dogs like sheep dogs can leave a lot of hair around. They are also harder to bath and brush than the short haired guys. I once had a collie whose hair I never got out from my carpet. Long haired dogs in the house are only good in movies.

Adoption
You can save a life and save money by adopting a pet. Most animal welfare associations have lots to choose from and in good health. Those poor creatures who are not adopted after a certain period of time are put to sleep.

The important thing is to consider a dog as a lifetime thing. It's like a marriage. You are making a commitment to care for someone and that person will duly also care for you. Your dog will be a faithful and loving member of your family, giving you devotion till the day it dies. All it wants from you is companionship and cuddles.

If you need advice on teaching dogs contact Dove Cresswell at Dog Training Online. She trains them for movies and TV. Her online course is inexpensive and includes free advice and lessons.

In Memory of Bosum

2009-06-12T00:59:00.000-07:00

Bosum died today, the best cat I've ever known. Unfortunately he died slowly and with pain. It took two days. My wife and I were with him all the time, comforting him until the last moment of his glorious life.

Such was his character that there is no way I'm going to let him go without a mention.

We first met him when he kept trying to stay at our place. We use to chase him away because we already had cats and other pets. But Bosum persisted. He just wouldn't go away, so we welcomed him into the family.

He was a gentle and dignified cat, a handsome black and white who always kept incredibly clean.

From the beginning he became one of the family, as if he had always been or was destined to be.

He not only got along with the other pets but acted like a mother to them - playing with them, washing them, sharing food with them and protecting them.

The other pets included cats and kittens, puppy dogs, rats and birds.
Bosum was their good friend and they all adored him.

He never fought, except to defend himself outside the home. Normally he would protest and try hard to avoid fighting.

Outside he was the fastest cat I've ever seen and could dash to the top of a high tree in a second. He used to chase birds but I never saw him kill one.

He was a great talker and liked nothing better than to cuddle up in my lap. He was constant company. He would sleep on the bed and next morning be standing next to you at the breakfast table ready for his share.

He always greeted you with an hullo, especially when you had just come back from outside.
When he looked at you it was with a gentle knowing gaze, full of love and warmth.

If he had been human he would have been an angel and I hope he is an angel now. I've prayed so hard for him. I loved him so very much. I will never forget him. For about 20 years he was my dear dear friend and I miss him so much. My tears are flowing and my heart is full of sadness.
Farewell, dear dear Bosum. I love you.

Cats Most Popular Pets Worldwide

2009-06-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

Cats are the most popular pets in the world. There are over 600 million in homes worldwide.

They have been popular for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians, for example, adored them and believed cats brought good luck to the home. Today almost every family has one or more.

So what makes them world pet number one?

Well, cats are independent spirits and can look after themselves. This makes them easy to have as pets. You don't have to take them for walks, although many don't mind being on a lead. They are also clean animals.

Cats are highly intelligent and can be trained to obey basic commands. They can also be taught to perform certain functions, like using a human toilet.

They can come to your call or whistle, especially if it's food time. I once had a cat that always came when my wife played the flute. It was just crazy about flute music.

They are highly skilled hunters, especially with mice, rats, snakes and nasty insects. So they can be useful exterminators.

Cats can talk and they use body language for communication. Their
talk is essentially miaowing but they also hiss, growl and grunt. When happy and content they purr.

A major attraction is that they're such beautiful creatures who come in various colours, shapes and sizes and portray a unique air of sophistication that is distinctly feline. As kittens they are an unbeatable delight.

So what's the bad side? Is there one? Well, cats have claws and need to sharpen them fairly often and this can put a bit of wear and tear on your furniture. However if you provide them with scratch posts you can still have a nice home. That's about all.

Like most pets cats like a kiss and a cuddle and a bit of fuss and it's good to talk to them often. They are good listeners. If a cat likes you it can be a very close friend. I always consider it a privilege if a cat allows me to be its friend, considering how independent they are.

I believe they each have their own personalities and they get their moods, just like us. They can feel happy, sad and angry, depressed, elated.

And in the family situation they can get along fine with other pets. I have three cats and they are friends with my pet rats and dogs. (The mice and the budgie I don't take risks with)

If you want to learn more about cats and how to handle them, contact Cat Secrets Revealed. Yours cats will appreciate it and you'll gets lots of free info.

Above is a picture of one of my cats called Soxy.

Pets Bring a World of Love

2009-05-21T01:20:00.001-07:00

It’s not surprising that out of the many pets in the world, the most popular are cats and dogs – our feline friends holding first place.

What is perhaps surprising is that (in the USA at least) the third most popular pets are ferrets, those cute and cuddly little furries who like biting things.

I’ve been unable to find any reliable statistics available for the total numbers of pets and breed types worldwide but we’re talking many millions. Pets are really big time.

Other common pets include birds, horses, fish, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, turtles and tortoises..

The many unusual pets include reptiles, goats, monkeys, kangaroos, frogs, pigs, scorpions, spiders and stick insects.

What’s interesting is that people buy pets mostly for companionship. The bonds established between them are strong and often therapeutic. It’s also interesting how many creatures respond to love and care and become part of a person or a family.

The love of owners is amply rewarded by devotion and the depth of feeling portrayed between owner and pet is a joy to behold.

Owning pets enlightens people about wildlife. It provides a better understanding of other creatures and results in increased tolerance and compassion.

People realise how important wildlife is to our world and our lives. Never before in history have so many been concerned with preservation of wildlife. Movements to protect species likes, tigers, elephants, whales and polar bears were unheard of in my young days.

Today we tend to think of all creatures as family and this is reflected in our love for our pets.

Let's Have Liberation Rights for All

2009-05-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

Many years ago when I was young, men's attitude to animals and other creatures was a pretty cold one. We are superior beings and therefore there's nothing wrong in killing wildlife, was a typical attitude.

Hunting was common but more of a sport. Hunters thought of themselves as heroes and displayed on their walls the heads and body skins of their kills.

As a boy I often visited homes in England where the walls were crowded with the heads of many and various poor creatures. Movies of the time glorified rich slobs on safaris killing as many tigers, lions and elephants as they could. They were alway depicted as heroes and nice guys. Nobody showed how helpless the animals were and how outnumbered.

Thankfully attitudes have changed somewhat but the blood lust hunting for sport urge is still there is some quarters.

Cruelty still goes on daily. I've seen abattoir Arabs routinely beating their cattle to death. I've seen Koreans beating dogs to death before eating them. I've seen Chinese serve still living and pulsating fish and snakes in a restaurant. There are literally thousands of cases of severe cruelty every day - and in most cases it's legal.

The cattle industry in Australia, for example, still fire brands cattle. It even desexes cows and castrates bulls without pain killers. Some cattle are dehorned and left to bleed in pain. Cattle are packed into feed pens and left out in the hot Australian sun to burn.

Nobody stops this and other cruel practices, especially the law of the land.

And there are many other examples of cruelty today, such as the horrors of vivisection and using animals for experimentation.

How cheering it is then there are so many more people nowadays who care for and love animals - literally many millions of people in the world who believe in animal rights and dignity and have`humane respect for other creatures.

Without such people this planet would be a living hell, a place without compassion and understanding. Hopefully it will one day result in better laws that better respect our fellow creatures. It's not just a case of us protecting animals' rights. It's also a matter of us protecting ourselves, lest we lose our own dignity and respect.