If you fancy your own supply of fresh free-range eggs then perhaps now is the time to invest in a few chickens so that you need never rely on your supermarket again! As well as growing fruit and vegetables, small herb gardens and even mushrooms, many of us in the new age of austerity are turning to poultry as a means of saving some vital cash. Even if you decide to keep your chickens primarily as pets, they are fascinating creatures to watch and listen to, and if you decide to purchase a cock, you can also dispense with your alarm clock too! We can supply you with all of the chicken coop products which you require, from smaller coops suitable for two or three birds to very large chicken dens which can hold up to 100 small or medium sized birds. We can advise you on all aspects of raising chickens, including feeding and healthcare as well as the perfect size of coop or ark. Arks tend to be smaller and can be moved around your grass area ensuring fresh feeding for your chickens, but coops are perhaps more robust and durable. You can allow your chickens to wander free inside the perimeter of your property during the daytime under your supervision but always ensure that they are locked securely at night, safe from nocturnal predators such as foxes.
We can also supply feeders and drinkers as well as premium poultry food and are happy to cluck to customers at any time about poultry problems!
Always choose www.ideas-4-pets.com for dog cages and so much more!

We all like to satisfy our winter needs for a warm, safe place with plenty of food in the pantry. But so do rodents and other animals. When these pests intrude on our property, it becomes a situation much like kicking out the unwelcome kid next door who is constantly coming over and staying past dinner, and insists on using everything in your house for his own purposes. There are several types of animals to watch out for as it gets colder: rats, mice, raccoons, and opossums.

Rats & Mice: The general types of these rodents that exist in your home can include the Norway rat, the roof (or black) rat and the house mouse. Roof rats usually stake out attics or cabinets and can climb quite well. Norway rats choose to live in the ground by digging burrows against foundations, tree trunks, and gardens. Their burrows can lead into crawl spaces and small openings around pipes which can enable them to inhabit your kitchens and bathrooms.

No matter the type of rat that lives in your home, you can be sure that it will be attracted to any food item you have in your pantry, especially high-quality food products such as meat and fresh grain. If you have pets, be extra cautious about foods being left out, because rats will smell and detect dog food that is sitting out.

Rats need one-half to one fluid ounce of water everyday when consuming dry foods. They have extremely sharp senses of taste, hearing, and smell. Once they are aware of what is within their reach and given their keen senses, rats will do anything to get to food or shelter. Overall, rats are able to enter a building through openings that are wider than half an inch across. Rats have a very short life span — most die within a year. However, rats can breed rapidly, so even though they die off quickly, their young will survive them. Female rats produce five or six litters of about half a dozen to a dozen young each year.

Now that you know a little about the rat’s habits, how can you tell that you have rats living alongside you in your home? Spotting droppings or visible signs of fresh gnawing should be an obvious indicator of rats. Rat tracks can appear on dusty surfaces or mud. Rats usually build runways and burrows to get into your home and they can be found next to buildings and under debris and low vegetation.

Rodent Treatment

There are many things you can do to prevent rats, but what about the rats you know are already snooping in your attic and dark corners?

Snap traps can be used along with baits to attract rats. However, once other rats see that a fellow rat has been killed from a snap trap, they will avoid it at all costs. The other drawback to using a snap trap is the potential health hazards it can cause when the rat is killed by the trap. Snap traps can also pose a danger to children or pets in your home, as they can break bones or cause an even more serious injury.

Glue-boards are traps that use non-drying glue to capture and hold down rodents. These traps can be placed under tables, furniture, next to walls, refrigerators, or any place where you suspect rodent activity. Glue-boards are designed to get the rodent stuck on the board so that they cannot escape. Like the snap traps, glue-boards can pose health problems if rats’ bodies are pulled apart and exposed in your home.

Live traps are probably the easiest and most inexpensive rodent control out there. The other benefit of live traps is that it poses less risk or danger to animals you are not targeting, such as your pets. They also do not kill rats, unlike all the other methods discussed above. Instead, rats are captured and left in the trap until you dispose of them. Be sure to place enough bait to attract rats. If rats are without food, they may become anxious and eventually die, leaving behind their bodies to decay, as well as a horrible stench. Try to find areas where there are a lot of rat droppings, chewed entry points, and any other place you suspect rat activity or have heard noises from.

Rodent Proofing

Here are some simple rules of thumb you can adopt to prevent a rodent invasion in your home:

- Store all your accessible food in rodent-proof containers such as glass or metal

- Place your trash in tightly covered metal cans to prevent smells from escaping or potential rodent entry.

- Check your faucets to make sure they are functioning properly and to fix leaks as they occur, since gaps or holes around pipes can serve as easy entry points for rodents.

- Seal up any unnecessary openings with concrete or sheet metal. For other access points, a 1/4 inch hardware cloth or steel wool should do the trick.

- For pet owners, put any uneaten pet food away before you go to bed, as any pet food left out is subject to rodent consumption!

- Wipe your floors often! Any bits of food left on your floor may be game for mice.

Commensal Rodents

The most common commensal rodents, raccoon and opossums, are known to many homeowners as troublemakers because of the damage they can cause by hibernating in your attic or wreaking havoc in your garden.

These animals normally hide out in attics, under decks, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, etc. Sometimes, they choose to live in naturally formed holes near foundations. Raccoons and opossums especially have an affinity for digging in yards and garbage. They love to inhabit attics where they can care for their litter in a warm, dark, and enclosed environment. If they are living in your attic, chances are your attic has a strong odor, which can eventually make its way into the living area. Besides odor problems, raccoons can destroy your insulation and chew on any electrical wires present.

Preventing Animal Pests

Here are some ways you can prevent those pesky raccoons and opossums from entering your property:

Spray a non-chemical solution over the areas where these animals are prone to dig or consume food. This will leave a bad taste in their mouths and will discourage it from going to the same place to cause trouble.

- Use a non-drying glue when animals are climbing your bird feeder poles. Once the raccoon or opossum gets the glue from the pole on their paws, it will usually irritate them enough to discourage them from climbing the pole again.

- Implement a 24/7 motion detector near your fish pond. The motion detector will be able to detect the animal when it is in its range. The detector is non-chemical and will release a three-second spray of water to scare the pest away.

For raccoons and opossums who are already inhabiting your home, trapping with a bait (usually meat) is the most effective and viable way to get rid of them. However, you should only handle raccoons and opossums if you are an experienced handler. If you are not sure what to do, the best idea is to call an animal removal service. Anteater Pest and Lawn can send a trained professional out to the property to identify, inspect and design a program for you. The Exclusion portion of their Rodent Service is designed to:

- Identify rodent and rodent damage

- Inspect conditions conducive to rodents

- Seal/Close entry and exit points

- Install traps

- Return and remove traps

- Include a 1 Year renewable warranty

Once you are armed with the right facts and materials, you should be able to handle rodents quickly and efficiently before they overstay their welcome in your home and ruin your holidays.

About the Author: Fran Phalin is a freelance writer and editor specializing in home improvement and things that work. She has worked with Anteater Pest Services to improve the pest problem at her home. Visit http://www.anteaterpestandlawn.com for more info!

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=203996&ca=Home+Management

Read the rest here: Rodent And Animal Control For Your Home

Wild animal attacks are not common. Dogs that live among us are a much more common danger. But there is something about being attacked by a wild animal that is especially disturbing. Of course, we want to avoid this nightmare, and if unavoidable, we want to survive it. Some tips on doing both follow.

Moose Attacks

More common than bear attacks, moose attacks can be just as dangerous. A bull moose can weigh over 1500 pounds. Attacks in the fall, during the mating season, are most likely. Winter is the second most common time – they are just pissed off because of all the snow and lack of things to eat.

Be especially watchful during fall and winter, then to avoid an attack. When you see a moose, watch closely. Do its ears fold back, or the hair on its neck stand up? Does it clench it’s teeth? These signs show that it is upset and may attack you.

Go behind something big, like a boulder or tree. If possible, run and get into a stand of trees, but be sure they are not too bushy – you need room to maneuver, in case the moose continues the chase. The good news is that most moose attacks are “bluff attacks,” which end shortly after they begin.

Mountain Lion Attacks

These animal attacks are not normally a bluff. Fight with everything you’ve got, using rocks, your walking stick, a knife – anything. A jogger in Colorado successfully got a cougar to let go of his head (it was in the animal’s jaws) by sticking his thumb into the cat’s eye. You have to convince the mountain lion that you’re not the easy meal he thought you were.

Before an attack – when you and the cat are looking at each other – your goal is the same. Let him know you’re trouble, and look big, by standing tall with your jacket opened up. Yell, and slowly back away while looking for a weapon. Whatever you do, don’t turn and run or crouch down – behaviors that will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to attack.

Bear Attacks

These come in two forms. The classic bluff attack is meant to scare you away, but may also kill you due to the size and strength of most bears. You can often survive by curling up on the ground and holding your hands around the back of your neck (to protect it).

The animal attacks when you surprise or threaten it – or its cubs. Bears in these circumstances make a lot of noise and may charge you repeatedly, stopping before contacting you. Avoid eye-contact and back away slowly.

The other type of bear attack is predatory. These are rare, but both black bears and grizzlies occasionally prey on humans for food. Such attacks are quieter. The bear will have its head down and come straight at you, watching you closely. He is assessing whether you are an easy meal or not.

In this case, don’t play dead or you will be. Yell, make noise, and look for a weapon. In a worst-case scenario, you might have to fight for your life. Fortunately, most adult grizzly bears can’t climb trees, so if there is a lot of space still between you (these bears are fast), you can try climbing to safety.

Various Other Animal Attacks

Ellephants may swing their trunks, kick up dirt and hold their ears out before an attack – and make noise. Get yourself behind a large rock or tree. If that isn’t an option, run downhill – elephants are slower going downhill.

Snakes usually are just warning you, so step away slowly. It is very unlikely that a snake will chase you. Avoid the problem to begin with by watching the trail carefully and probing with a walking stick before stepping over logs.

Get between mother baboon and her baby, and the whole troop may attack. Back away, while shouting and clapping. Drop any food you have in your hands, and don’t yawn or stare – these are signs of agression to baboons..

Don’t feed wild animals, or provoke them. Learn to use the zoom function on the camera instead of getting closer to wild animals. Basically, just use common sense to avoid animal attacks, and the rules above to deal with them.

About the Author: Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook “Ultralight Backpacking Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)” for FREE, as well as photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=171027&ca=Recreation

Go here to see the original: Animal Attacks – Avoiding And Dealing With Them

There are so many animals that are in desperate need of a loving home so if you have decided to get a cat, why not choose one from your local cat rescue home or animal shelter?

By adopting from a shelter instead of buying from a pet shop, you help those animals that are most in need to find a home and help fund the rescue work so that other cats can be saved. Many of these felines have had difficult lives so far – they may have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their owners. So, responsible rescue centres will take special care to match owner and pet and find them a good home. They will give you as much information as possible about their charges’ personalities and histories to help you choose wisely.

At the animal shelter,use your power of observation.

Take some time to just watch the cats and kittens without trying to interact with them. Observe how active they are and what type of attitude they have. A cat that stays huddled in a corner or appears lethargic may be sick, which could mean expensive vets bills in the future. Or the poor cat may nave been abused and so is terrified of everyone and everything. If you have the time and patience, please don’t automatically dismiss an abused feline. They can repay your care many times over.

Give the cat a thorough examination, starting with the eyes. Bright and clear eyes with no discharge or weepiness are a good sign.

The nose should be clean and slightly moist.Again,there should be no discharge.

Ears should also be clean. Those that are extremely dirty are potentially contaminated with ear mites which can be very difficult to eliminate and can easily spread to other cats at home.

Finally, the cat’s fur should be clean, shiny, and free of fleas. Fleas can be particularly bothersome to both the cat and to the owner. Eliminating fleas once they infest the home can be very difficult.

Listen to the cat. A cat that coughs, sneezes, or sounds congested can be quite ill and should be avoided. Also, listen for sounds of contentment. A cat who is purring is probably happy and healthy.A meow can indicate either trouble or contentment – a long, pleading meow could show that the cat is ill. On the other hand, a playful meow could mean the she is already developing a bond with its potential new owner!

Watch how the cat plays. Some pet owners are looking for playful cats that will scamper about the house and chase and play with toys. Others would prefer a more docile cat who will spend hours cuddled up in the owner’s lap.

See how they play with each other first to get a feeling for their disposition. This is particularly important for pet owners who already have a pet cat at home. Then play with the kitties yourself.

Take out a string, ball of wool or car keys and dangle them in front of each cat. The one that seems most alert and active is likely the better choice. Of course, you could always take home more than one if the decision is just too hard to make

It is so rewarding to adopt a cat from a cat rescue shelter and know that you have saved its life and given it a comfortable home but do be aware of potential problems. Any cat or kitten that comes from a shelter will be stressed to some level. This stress has put them at a higher risk of attracting a respiratory infection. They may also be more prone to bite or scratch you before you have bonded. Most cat rescue shelters offer a spayed or neutered cat, with full shots and de-worming but You must also get your cat tested immediately for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

finally,listen to the advice of the shelter workers and don’t rush into any decisions.

About the Author: For chats about cats and for more information on cats, cat care and cat care products, visit Tricia’s website All About Cat Care at http://www.all-about-cat-care.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=123087&ca=Pets

See the original post here: Why You Should Think About Adopting A Rescue Cat From An Animal Shelter

Now think of safari…of Serengeti…of wildlife sanctuaries…what images dominate your thoughts? Yes, animals.

Wildlife aside, safari would only be composed of a number of plant species, of terrain and of strange creatures like insects, bugs and the likes. Without the animals, African safaris would be reduced into a haven of sedentary and rarely moving species. Without the animal of the safaris, ecosystems would not exist. In a sense, animals add to the beauty that life in Africa may present. They give meaning. They add excitement. And they encourage tourism.

It is thought that African safaris started to become famous when the hunt for animals boomed sometime in the nineteenth century. This is because men then were perceived bold enough if they can kill wild animals right in their habitats and in action. This activity provides them a bag full of hunting trophies that adorned the walls of their libraries.

These days, a great thanks to movements for wildlife, hunting is restricted to many areas of African safaris. Nonetheless, there are still areas where slaughtering of wild animals are allowed. Because of the banning, travelers are now limited to only watch the animals hunt each other, predators to prey, and experience the exchange of life and death among them. Some of us still see hunting as a sport though.

The most famous of the animals in safari are known to be the big five which includes rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard and the elephant. Why they became to be, no body is sure. Why other equally wonderful animals are not included in the list remains to be a mystery. It’s safe to presume that that’s simply the way hunters prefer it.

Adding to the big five are plain animals and mammals that coexist with each other. Some being the prey. Some being the predators. Nonetheless, they all take their parts in the circle of life. They give life.

Though not really considered animals, it is still worth saying that there are thousands of insect species, bugs, butterflies, and other moving creatures found in the African safaris. However large or big they can get won’t really matter. They still balance wildlife and they aid in continuing the existence of ecosystems in African safaris.

Some people say, once human intervene with this natural process, even only for once, he may intervene with the succeeding years and life of the species that live in the safaris. And this seem to be true. Sudden and gradual fluctuations of population in the safaris are very much affected by the minute actions of the animals and other living things that exist in it.

Thus it is important that travelers and explorers let things be in the wildlife. Just allow them to exist and do as they were destined to do.

About the Author: This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on safari & other useful information, please visit http://safari.articlekeep.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=106344&ca=Travel

See the original post here: Animal Safari- Let Nature Balance Itself

Many people think that pictures of animals are just for children, but boy are they all mistaken. They might look at cute animal photos when they are small, but as they grow, they assume that, like cuddly stuffed bears, these pictures of animals are best left to childhood. Oh sure, trying to be cute, their boss might leave animal photos up around the office as a pleasant, if boring decoration, but no one ever thinks about these pictures at all. I really do think that this is a great shame. As a professional animal photographer, it should be no surprise that I like animal photos, but the reasons might be things that you have never thought about.

One of the greatest things about animal photos is that they really can capture any emotion that you can think about. People are often reserved about showing what is going on inside them, but reserve is not really anything that shows up too frequently among the members of the animal kingdom. In animal photos, we have the chance to see practically any emotion, from the tenderness of a mother cat caring for her young, to the fierceness of a lion pouncing for the kill, to the sly disdain of a baboon, leaving its friends behind for new fun.

Many people believe that we are not really seeing these expressions in animal photos, and that what we are seeing is just a reflection of our own emotions that we want to pin on animals, but anyone who has spent any time with animals at all knows that this is simply not true. When we look at animal photos, we are looking out at our own emotions, not because we put them there, but because animals are really very strikingly similar to us. Dogs really do feel loyalty and friendliness quite often. You can tell if you have a pet dog what the expressions in dog animal photos really mean. Cats really are quite evil and sneaky, not because their tiny, creepy eyes look that way in animal photos, but because that is their natural temperament. Animals are less intelligent than we are, and are more driven by instinct, but that does not change the fact that they feel real emotions the same as we do. It does not take animal photos to show most of us the truth of this statement, but looking at pictures of animals can help to confirm it again and again.

About the Author: For more information about animal photos, and other types of photos and photography please check out website at Photography Tips. http://www.allphotographytips.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=76561&ca=Pets

See the original post here: Animal Photos Not Just For Kids Anymore

If you are bitten by any animal, be it a pet or a wild one, you need to take necessary precautions to prevent any form of infection or disease.

- Home Remedial Measures

Thoroughly wash the wound with cold water, once you get the bleeding under control, remove the saliva from the bitten animal by washing the wound with soap and water. Do this for five minutes.

Once the wounds are cleaned, apply a bandage over the infection with a sterile gauze pad.

To prevent swelling apply ice pack over the wound. For pain relief take pain killers. Do not give these to children, as it may lead to further complications.

For any animal bite, apply a mixture of castor oil and lime juice. Simultaneously you can have one glass of warm water mixed with honey and lime juice to alleviate pain.

Take vitamin C in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits. Juices of these vegetables and fruits are easily digested and they have the capability to fight infection, an important property while tackling animal bites.

Intake of vitamin B supplements produces antibodies that fight infection.

Use herbs like Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis ), Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis ), Calendula (Calendula officinalis ) and Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous ) in tincture form for a five day treatment. Recommended dosage is 1 drop per pound body weight of each, either orally using a syringe or directly on to your tongue.

The puncture wounds of cats tend to heal from outside which can lead to abscesses. To avoid such problems take extra care to keep the wound open. You can wash the wound with saline solution, later add half or one drop of Calendula (Calendula officinalis) to the solution for the same purpose till it is completely healed. For internal problems have one drop of Calendula (Calendula officinalis) per 10 pound bodyweight for the external healing process.

Goldenseal tea works great as an antibiotic. It can also be applied directly on the bitten area for the benefits of its natural antibiotic properties. Avoid using it during pregnancy or if there is a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or glaucoma. Seeking proper guidance prior to use is advised.

You can also apply antibiotic ointment to the bitten area twice daily, till it’ s completely healed.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

About the Author: Sharon Hopkins is the webmaster of sites like Home Remedies which provides home based remedial measures for all times. Home Remedies for Animal Bites. Can be easily treated with simple home care remedies.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=67410&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

Go here to see the original: Home Remedies For Animal Bite

While most Garden Buffs can hardly wait for spring and summer to arrive, many pet owners fear this lovely time of year. They know it’s the beginning of flea and tick season. While the exact time when these tiny pests appear en masse to torture pets and humans alike may vary, a wise Pet Owner starts to prepare for their arrival as the snow melts, flowers bloom or the temperatures start to climb.

Preparation can help avoid infestation. Flea and ticks may seem like super-pests that are able to thwart even professional efforts to get and keep them out, but they are not as tough as you might think. In most cases, people actually invite these pests on to their property and into their homes by their action or inaction. They do this by creating a flea and tick friendly environment.

I received a letter from a big city apartment dweller a few years ago. He had a small dog and lived in a clean, well-kept New York City apartment. He took stellar care of his dog, had his place professionally cleaned and always made sure that his pet avoided contact with other animals and areas likely to be infested. Despite all these precautions, his pet always ended up with fleas. Having lived in the Big Apple myself for a number of years, I knew that his problem was a common one. People who live in urban areas or clean suburban neighborhoods fail to understand how their pets get flea and tick infestations. Well, it’s a lot easier than you might think.

During my days in New York City, I watched more then a few people walk their pets near trees. I mean, when a dogs gotta go, they’ve gotta go! The problem is that almost all trees in urban or suburban settings have grass, weeds or some other form of flora near or around them. That grass is rarely trimmed to proper standards. Fleas love tall grass because it’s just a hop, skip and jump to the next animal that happens along to use the nearby tree as an animal restroom. Ticks also have a field day with these areas. Animals free and clear of these tiny pests interact with infested pets and you know the rest of the story.

There are just no shortcuts to preventing flea and tick infestation. It is all about cleanliness, vigilance and making the right choices. Providing a clean and well-kept environment for your pet is the best way to avoid infestation. Problem areas include refuse storage, lawns, trees, plants and bushes. Problem situations include contact with other animals and exposure to environments outside of your residence.

Let’s begin with the garbage. Refuse areas are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of pests. Keeping the inside and outside of garbage containers clean and making sure they are tightly covered is a step in the right direction. However, you also have to be sure that pets cannot get near or have regular contact with the containers or the area where they are kept. Pets are attracted to the smell of garbage (which you might not even be able to detect). So are other animals. Birds and various animal visitors to your property can bring unwelcome pests. These pests can end up infesting your pets. Refuse areas should be fenced off or placed outside of your pet‘s roaming area. Bird feeders should be placed away from areas where your pet eats, drinks or exercises.

Wild birds carry a number of tiny pests and diseases that can seriously affect the health of domesticated pets. When birds use pet water bowls to drink or bath, they can pass all kinds of health problems along to your animals. A large or concentrated number of bird droppings are also a major problem. While you cannot avoid having birds visit your yard or balcony, you can help limit their access to your pet by not going out of your way to welcome large numbers of them. Feed and water your pets inside. Avoid Bird Feeders if you have pets that eat, drink or exercise nearby. Keep pets inside when you seed your lawn.

The best way to place a NO VACANCY sign on your property when it comes to fleas and ticks is to avoid creating a pest friendly environment. Keep your lawn, trees and bushes trimmed. Use small portable gardening fences or other means of containment to keep your pet away from areas between bushes, small trees, gardens and your house. Purchase flea and tick preventive lawn sprays. These attach to your garden hose and allow the spray to be easily applied to your lawn, trees, plants and bushes. Most of these spray products are available at large pet or department stores. Outside areas should be sprayed once a month from March until October (and later if temperatures remain mild). If your pet has access to a balcony, patio, deck or garage, these areas need to be kept clean as well and may also be treated with anti-flea and tick sprays available in aerosol cans.

Dog Houses, concrete Pet Runs and containment areas can become havens for all kinds of bacteria, pests and disease. Unless you have a specific need to have these artificial areas on your property, don’t bother with them. Your pet is better off without them. These kinds of areas require a huge amount of maintenance and cleaning. Even when properly maintained and cleaned, it’s difficult to keep these structures free of troublesome pests.

Once you get the clean pet area thing down, you have another big hurdle to jump. Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of public picnic and park facilities. We all love to take our pets to the park and show them off. Well, fleas and ticks love that too. As pets meet and mingle, all kinds of pests and health threats rear their ugly heads to threaten your beloved pet. That is why it’s smart to stay away from public areas with lots of other pets, wild animals, tall grass and poorly maintained flora.

If you’ve got Spring Fever, curb your enthusiasm and keep your pet safe. I just cringe when I see people bring their pets out to public areas and allow them to run all over the place unleashed. That’s wrong on so many levels and it is an even bigger problem during flea and tick season. Maybe they watched too many Lassie reruns and have a vision of their dog running across a high grass meadow to save old Mister Hobbs who had a heart attack while plowing his field? Perhaps they saw Free Willy, all the sequels and want to give their pet a respite from the gated existence they endure as domesticated pets? Either way, letting your pet run free in public areas is not doing them or any one else any favors (except fleas and tick, they love you for it).

Another way to help keep your pet free of pests is by keeping the outside from coming inside. During the 1970s, everyone wanted to be Grizzly Adams. My mother loved to go walking out in the country (as long as it consisted of meadows off any one of a number of local expressways, parkways or highways). She brought all kinds of wild plants and berries into the house from those places. My favorite was the time that she decided to make Dandelion Wine, spent a couple of days collecting Dandelions and a couple of months trying to get the vile brew to taste like something someone would actually drink.

After any one of her attempts to get closer to nature, our home quickly filled with wild flora and all kinds of annoying flies, tiny flying insects and other annoying bugs that came along for the ride or were attracted by them. My Mom got really mad at me when I kept insisting that she had caused a fly with a human head to be brought into the house after collecting a bunch of wild plants and ferns from near an old research laboratory. I think the fly kept saying, “Help ME…Help ME!” The object lesson here is to keep inside plants and wild foliage brought in from the outside away from your pets. Trudging around nature and making it welcome in your dwelling can bring many tiny pests into your pet’s environment. May I suggest getting your inside flora from a reputable Nursery?

Because fleas and ticks have become such a big problem, there are now a number of indoor and outdoor chemical treatments available for your pet and their environment. Given the possible repercussions of exposing a pet to any chemicals, I suggestion you ask your Veterinarian for their input on these choices before using any. They are some natural choices that produce the same result.

A natural flea repellent can be produced by cutting up a lemon, allowing it to sit in a spray bottle overnight and then spaying it liberally on your dog. Avoid their eyes, but spray behind their ears. The spray can also be used on your pet‘s environment. A small amount of eucalyptus oil can be added to the final rinse of your pet’s bedding to help keep those tiny varmints away. Fleas hate salt and it can kill them. If your dwelling is really hopping with fleas, apply a thin layer of salt to your floor, carpet and furniture, then vacuum. You will be surprised how effective salt can be against all kinds of annoying pests. Dogs who need a flea bath can be bathed with some Lavender oil. And then there’s the G-Bomb. Dogs hate garlic, but so do fleas and ticks. Garlic can be added to a nice piece of meat or chicken. When you pet sweats, they drop the G-Bomb on pests.

When it comes to fleas and ticks, they always prefer to come into a pest friendly environment. The best way to keep fleas and ticks away from your pet, your housing and yourself is by making sure that you do not put out a WELCOME sign. Keep your pet and their environment clean and well groomed. Pest proof your dwelling. Use common sense when taking your pet outside or away from home. Like poor relatives, it’s much easier to keep these pests out then to make them leave once they have found a nice place to stay.

Read more about Dog Care and health tips at http://doggiestyle.billknell.com Adopt a puppy at http://www.AzToyDogs.com or http://www.ArizonaPups.com

About the Author: Bill Knell Author’s Email: billknell@cox.net Author’s Website: http://www.billknell.com
Terms To Use Article: Permission is granted to use this article for free online or in print. Please add a link to or print my website address: http://www.billknell.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=38706&ca=Pets

See the rest here: Animal Care: Pet Pests Are Back!

The world of exotic animal rugs is indeed fascinating. It is impossible not to love those adorable animals and people are constantly on the lookout for the best animal print rugs that display their preference. With a little research, it is not difficult locating the perfect animal rug you love.

The most popular animal print rugs in the market include dog, tiger, panther, zebra, dolphin, cat and orca rugs. Designs also vary to a great extent. For instance, the animal rug may feature the particular animal as a part of the overall design and theme or may just include lettering. Here are 4 tips on choosing the right animal rug for you.

1. Age of User – Depending on who you are buying the rug for, you can choose from a range of photo-realistic prints that offer the picture of the animal resembling closely what you find in the wild. If you are shopping for an animal rug for a small child, you can consider rugs featuring animals in a cartoonish style.

2. Keep Dimensions Handy – You will also find many different sizes and shapes of animal print rugs. If you are looking to match the size of a particular area in your home, you can find just the perfect sized rug. As you go shopping for animal rug, be sure to have the dimensions ready on hand.

3. High Quality Rugs for Safety – By trying to save a few dollars, do not compromise on quality and safety. High quality rugs usually come with a non-skid surface at the bottom. If your home has a hardwood floor, the non-skid surface prevents the rug from moving around. Non-skid bottomed, good quality animal rugs also prevent you from slipping when you step on it. This aspect is vital especially if you have small children and aged in your home.

4. Before you go animal rug shopping for your kids, determine which animal they love. There is no point in choosing a zebra rug just because you think it is attractive for your child who is crazy about dogs.

No matter which type of animal rug you want, you can find a range of rugs either in your local home furnishing store or online. By visiting the local store in person, you can inspect the rugs personally before buying.

If, on the other hand, you choose to buy online, it is recommended to choose only the most reliable sites. Most of the online sites that sell furnishings have a wide range and you can choose the one you want depending on the dimensions, texture and design preference.

Choose attractive animal rugs that reflect the kind of animals you love and impress guests who visit. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the faces of your kids light up with joy as you open and spread out their favorite animal rug in their rooms. Take time shopping around and comparing prices before you purchase a rug that is of great quality offering value for money.

About the Author: For more information please visit our rug website.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=689962&ca=Home+Management

Link: 4 Tips on Choosing the Right Animal Rug

Over the years animal research has gone through many revolutions and changes. As early as the 1980s, leading cosmetic companies were still heavily involved in all sorts of animal research that supposedly was necessary to prove the safety of their cosmetics, from foundations to eye creams.

Organizations sprang up in defense of what was considered totally needless pain and suffering of animals and these companies were almost forced into finding other methods of research to test the safety of their products to make them ready for humans. Pictures of mutilated and blinded little bunny rabbits circulated mainstream media as shocked citizens rallied to their defense. It was ultimately decided that this type of maiming under the guise of product safety testing was needless to say the least.

As late as the 70s, it was an acceptable belief by many that animals were just “animals”, and they deserved no special care or understanding. Some labs didn’t even use anesthesia while performing tests or surgeries on these creatures; they believed in vivisection. Animals, in the name of science, were forced to undergo horrendous procedures without even the benefit of a local anesthetic. If they survived the procedure, they were simply put back in a cage to wait for whatever else was in store for them.

However, medical science is still heavily involved in various aspects of animal research, although they keep most of their experimentation under wraps and away from public eyes. Agreeably, however, that when advances are made in the treatment of deadly diseases, no one argues much as to whether a few chimps may have been sacrificed to achieve these important advances.

Organizations such as PETA keep what some call an overprotective vigil over any company, private and public, that is rumored to be using animals for any type of research. Many of their investigations make the news simply because of their aggressive nature in preventing undo suffering and death to animals whose sacrifice has done little in the advance of whatever the company is trying to prove.

Medical and research facilities have become so concerned about adverse publicity and undo questioning by animal rights groups, they have taken most of their research away from the mainstream hospital teaching facilities and built or purchased property literally in the middle of nowhere to keep prying eyes away as they continue using animals for what they believe is the benefit of medical science.

With advances and cures that have happened over the last decade, medical researchers have apparently been able to successfully reduce the need for animals’ deaths, and have learned to manufacture various serums with antibodies that help treat, prevent and even cure some of the world’s deadliest diseases.

Genetic engineering, however, has become a popular mode of research and because of the cloning that it produces, mice are still sacrificed in one particular procedure where their bodies are used to grow hear replacements for humans. Once the ear has matured, the mouse is euthanized once the ear is harvested. Because of this process, some possible recipients are choosing not to have this surgery.

About the Author: It is without a doubt that animal research will continue in some form or another in the years ahead. Geographic information systems will also be developed and integrated into even more systems that we use in everyday life.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=491156&ca=Pets

Read more here: Animal Research – Who Does it Benefit