Precious Pets Vol 2, Issue 3 Halloween Edition by PreciousPets

Pernicious Pests the special Halloween edition of Precious Pets

The scariest monthly paper for pets and their owners LIKE US ON

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca #33ccff logo (web color)

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Tony’s Top scr eamer flick pics

Credit Jenna Forsyth

Halloween fun to some, sacred to others By Bram D. Eisenthal - Exclusive to Precious Pets

Another Halloween, or in other words, my favourite time of year. I don’t know why I am such an unabashed fan of anything that deals with creepy things. I am certainly not Wiccan, or I do not have Pagan beliefs: For that, I rely on the initiated and enlightened like Juliana Pavelka, who graciously accepted my invitation to write about HER chosen spiritual pursuit. From what I understand, Paganism and animals have a lot in common. Not in a nasty way so propagandized in film, literature and history, mind you, but Paganism as a belief system that cherishes nature would naturally champion the rights of animals. You think that the triumvirate of major world religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam... believe that way? Not on your life, dear reader. For this very reason I sent letters out to three leaders of major religions... the Pope, the Chief Rabbi of Israel and the Dalai Lama. I would have sent one to a major Islamic authority, too, but I could not find anyone willing to reply to my requests. Seriously, please try to find a spokesperson for the religion of Islam for me and I would be happy to contact them. Thus far, I find Islam very clandestine, even in Montreal, which is quite disturbing. In any event, about two months later, my letters have been ignored and this surprises me greatly. I know, for instance, that Buddhism holds all life sacred and I have ex-

changed correspondence with the Dalai Lama’s people in the past. So their silence is rather deafening. In the case of Israel, they HAVE been rather busy fighting the terrorists group Hamas, so their silence is not a huge shock. And, as for the Pope, I cannot get one solitary Catholic priest to confirm that animals have souls. So, no surprise there, either. In any case, while this issue, which I call Pernicious Pests only in fun, is devoted to the lighter side of Halloween, we are living at a time when animals exist in an atmosphere of grave danger. The existence of gassing pounds, exposed by Gerdy Gouron in her excellent editorial last issue, was VERY disturbing. In essence, pets that go unadopted are often sent to these gassing pounds, where they are starved for three days (which cuts down on their bodily evacuations, thus ensuring a cleaner gas chamber) before being tossed “en masse” into a killing chamber and gassed using carbon monoxide, a rather hideous way to die. In my comments to the Editorial last issue, I mentioned that this sounded a lot like what the Nazis did to undesirables during the Holocaust. Now, it is NOT my intention to compare the murder of defenceless animals to the 10 million-plus human lives snuffed out by the Nazis, but is the torture and execution of pets defensible? WHAT sort of people can

Barking Bram with Bram D. Elsenthal allow that sort of activity to go on? Yet there are four gassing pounds in Quebec, two in Ontario and one in Alberta, all of them performing this function. Stay tuned as we get to the bottom of this in the weeks and months ahead. If necessary, we will lead the way in organizing a campaign of civil disobedience until these gassing chambers are dismantled. I promise. Reptiles not as scary as advertised We also feature an article in this issue on the Reptile Expo that Tina and I attended in Toronto recently, one of the most incredible and educational events I have ever been to. The excellent cover image is the work of photographer Jenna Forsyth. And the answers to my questions are from event organizer Grant Crossman, who has recently announced he will be mounting a HUGE generic Pet Expo in Toronto in April 2015. Grant will be running another Reptile Expo, basically a scaleddown version of the Toronto show, in Montreal this November. If you like or are intrigued by reptiles, which include snakes, salamanders and other lizards, frogs, turtles, etc., you must attend these events. You will love them, I promise. No more pets being blessed on Mount Royal? About 10 years ago, I attended the Blessing of the Pets on Mount Royal, Montreal’s namesake. This used to be an annual event for a long time, until the passing of the priest who would bless the many pets brought to him. Well, this year, Tina and I were prepared to

attend in order to publish a story, but guess what? There WAS no such event in 2014! We learned from a local priest late last year that he had been asked to officiate at such an event, but that he did not have the time to organize it. If anything is an indication that pets are not seen as spiritual entities worthy of special attention, this is it, in my opinion. It’s a lot easier to gas them than to bless them, apparently... just saying... Halloween Contest Winners I wish we could rave about the great success our Halloween contest was... but that would be a lie. If you participate, you can win some nice prizes courtesy of our loyal advertisers. If you don’t, well, it’s your loss. Our winners this time – and thank you for your submissions – are: First Place: Sandi Bercovitch for the cutest pic of her umbrella cockatoo Cody Second Place: Gail Goldstein for the photo of her cat, Mingus Third Place: Chantal for the sweet pic of dwarf rabbit Bun Bun We will run the winning images in our November issue. We will also notify our winners where and when to pick up their prizes. Leave the animal treats for the animals, please... as you can see by reading Pet Healer and They Call Me Dr. W. this issue, human Halloween treats are not so good for them! Happy Halloween, everyone. Enjoy our issue and have a safe, fun and, if you are a member of that Tribe, a spiritual Samhain!

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Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Media Group Inc. Volume 2, Issue 3, October 2014. Copyright 2014. Precious Pets does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not presumed to be the opinions and statements of Precious Pets Group Inc.

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Scales and all, reptile exhibitions are fascinating affairs Story by Bram D. Eisenthal - Exclusive to Precious Pets

In mid-September, Tina and I went to Toronto to attend the Canadian Reptile Breeders’ Expo at the invitation of Grant Crossman, the entrepreneur who mounts these exhibitions across Canada. The Toronto show is the largest in Canada, with some 20,000 attendees on hand, so Precious Pets was naturally quite excited to be participating. I can honestly say we had a blast, even though the Quality Hotel, where exhibitors received discounted rates, is located right next to Toronto’s main airport in Mississauga (the expo was held at the International Centre nearby) and directly under a major flight path, it seemed. Still, the show was a real eye-opener and we were fortunate to be there. So, who is this guy Crossman and why is he such an avid reptilian buff? It seemed that our Halloween edition was the ideal spot to battle some commonly-held misconceptions. Crossman told me that the first reptile expo in Canada was held in 1989, involving seven distinct vendors and just 17 vendor tables. His interest in reptiles “began at an early age, as I trucked through the trails of Southern Ontario,” he told me. “Then, when my wife Yvonne and I purchased a landmark pet store in Port Credit, we had the distinction of owning one of this country’s most exotic pet stores.” Yvonne’s interest lay in reptiles, while Grant’s swayed mainly between aviculture and herpetoculture, areas that Yvonne also quickly became interested in. Year-after-year, interest in the reptile expos grew, thanks in large part, Crossman believes, “to films like Jurassic Park, Arachnophobia and the late Steve Irwin’s promotion of reptiles and other exotics. The interest quickly spread to a number of school boards, that began writing reptile care and breeding into their academic curricula.” The reptile expos and the general market has grown Canada-wide and does not seem to be slowing down. “Be it the small town of Kemptville, Ontario (near Ottawa) to Toronto, the passion bellows out as pet owners embrace the opportunity to

share their interest with others,” Crossman stressed. “The future for the reptile expos will become a staple environment in which to educate, research and locate the diversity that the hobby offers. “As major pet chains grow and the independent specialty shops drop off, the selection becomes more limited, so it will be unto the various (major and regional) Expos to maintain the energy of the positive growth of the reptile hobby.” In the case of interest in exotics, the proof is in the pudding, as Tina and I noticed very quickly. The floor-space was a throbbing, humming mass of humanity, as kids, adults and entire families besieged vendors, often emerging from the building with purchases of food, enclosures and, yes, even new exotic pets. One of the more interesting buys was a stunning – featuring a very colourful shell – extremely large tortoise that sold for $550. That brought to mind the many small turtles I had as a child, turtles that always got lost, only to be found, quite deceased, behind a door or under a radiator months later. Then again, what did a child know about animal life back then? I hope we have adapted and learned since those ignorant times in the late 1950s, early 1960s. Regarding those unfortunate turtles, however: “Those are “Red Eared Sliders,” Crossman revealed. “Long gone from the pet stores due to the potential to carry Salmonella, they don’t make good pets. They also grow quite large and are rarely adequately housed. There are now rescue groups set up to take in these pets and they can’t easily find suitable homes for them.” Crossman also confirmed just how popular his shows have become. “This last Canadian Reptile Breeders Expo in Toronto surpassed everyone’s expectations, slamming last year’s attendance on all levels,” he said with a pleased grin. “We featured over 85,000 square feet of reptiles, exotics and birds. Vendors were thrilled with the vast number of people who came to both educate and learn... blending seamlessly with the desire

to increase their personal pet environments and promote the desires of a group of passionate pet owners united to secure and maintain the privilege of keeping pets in Canada.” This April, Yvonne and Grant will host their first of many Canadian Pet Expos, “taking control of mainstream pet show that has been entertained at the International Centre for over 20 years,” stressed Crossman. “This will be the first year that reptiles and exotics will be considered mainstream pet interests. The Canadian Pet Expo will encompass over 235,000 square feet, over 360 vendors, three full days of exotics, dogs, cats, small animals, birds and aquatics. Special CPE exclusive events will include Canada’s Largest Cat Show, Canada’s Largest Small Animal Show, as well as CPE’s quest to mount the largest pet Rabbit, WoofJocks, Birds of Prey, Dock Diving etc. It’s truly a pet show that should not be missed.” As for whether reptiles make good pets, Crossman replied to my questions without hesitation. “Dogs and cats will always be the first in popularity, due mainly to old school pet thoughts and the differing levels of social interaction that both mammals and reptiles offer,” he told me. “Reptiles are currently surpassing the interest levels of birds, small animals and even aquatics. The

interest lies in both financial return, interest in a piece of oddity, natural habitat aqua-scapes and the nocturnal factor that reptiles represent.” Are reptiles intelligent, I wanted to know? “Reptiles are social creatures of habit: They will recognize feeding elements, handling elements etc. I have had clients and pet owners in the past tell me that their lizards will respond to their names or to certain other sounds, for instance.” This coming November, following a regional show in Toronto on October 26, 2014, Montreal will play host to another of Grant Crossman’s local reptile expos. The one held here this past summer opened our eyes to the popularity of reptiles in the pet community and even though the show here is small, we highly recommend that you drop by. This coming April 3-5, 2015, the Crossmans will begin mounting the general Canadian Pet Expo – “a true pet lover’s and pet family experience focusing on promoting responsible pet ownership, with interactive events, demonstrations, vendor support and workshops” - starting with the show at the International Centre in Mississauga. You can view the full calendar of events at and can obtain even more information at http://www.reptileexpo.ca as the event draws closer.

Where nighTmares are born

Photo Credit Bram D. Eisenthal

Bangor, Maine’s got some gorgeous architectural holdings. Here, dating back to the 1700s, is the rather spooktacular William Arnold House, its cobwebbed black iron fences placed there by none other than its owner, literary horrormeister Stephen King.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Pets can help generate a Happy Samhain There are old-fashioned traditions that we have celebrated since our forefathers immigrated here, to settle the New Land. So we respect the old ways and follow in celebration – with our pets. All Hallow’s Eve, or All Souls Day, is actually a Celtic tradition brought over to North America by the early settlers. Children, and the poor, would go door to door (known as “soulers”), singing and saying prayers for the dead, in exchange for cake. Each cake eaten would signify a soul freed and safely cross over to heaven. For the mystically inclined, Samhain is the festival where the veil between the worlds is the thinnest, as both night and day are equal. A candle is placed in the west, to safely guide the spirits to the Sum-

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merland. This is why the words in the Rede say: When the wind blows from the west, “departed spirits have no rest”. Particularly celebrated in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos, emphasises family gatherings where marigolds and candy skulls decorate an altar with bright candles to honour the spirits of the ancestors. Scholars have traced the origins back hundreds of years to an Aztec Festival dedicated to the goddess: Mictecacihuatl. Similar traditions are observed by many cultures at Halloween. It was through Miss Katie, a black Scottish terrier, that we got to know our friends Bill and Diane. Miss Katie would sit on the porch and when we walked by with our dogs, she would curl her lip and literally say “hi.” This is how the friendship started between us neighbours. We would enjoy talking, while dog walking. There were more of us out dog walking in the evening, and as such, we would greet each other as our dogs would do likewise. We learned the dog’s names before we knew each other’s names. Our pack grew in size. John’s kids labelled us the “Dog Parade.” By this time we walked with Zsa Zsa the French Poodle, Kea the Rottweiler, Bailey the Maltese mix, Roggie and Fauzie, Channel, Fergusson, also referred to as Fur-Guy, Macho the Yorkie, Jane the Sheltie…. Now you see why the kids referred to us as the Dog Parade? It’s from our precious pets, who first initiated contact with each other on our routine walks, that we became familiar with each other. Our pets changed the neighbourhood group dynamic amongst us. They instigated our wonderful sense of community spirit, opening the door to laughter, camaraderie, and our own traditions celebrated today. Last October, the day before Halloween, also known as “Mad Night,” we all paused at the dog park. We sat together at the picnic table sipping Earl Grey tea (infused with fragrant bergamot). We were grateful for the warm glow of a lovely autumn’s evening, enhanced by a full moon. Our dogs ran, rolled in the grass, played with each other, and engaged in what we call “human bowling.” The pack chases the leader, sneaks up on their human from behind, knocking them face down to the ground like a bowling ball hitting a strike of pins. We share stories together about how our animals amuse us, cuddle with us, sometimes annoy us, and we sometimes recall mysterious

Spiritual Seedlings with Juliana Pavelka stories. My husband and I had just returned from a trip, and our pet sitter, who was Miss Katie’s Diane, recounted how my boy Kuri proceeded to the foot of the garden, to the east corner by the Magnolia tree, and started to howl. Coincidentally that was the same time that my husband and I just exited the airport. Kuri knew we were home. Just the other day, when we had such strange weather, I could have sworrn I heard Kuri’s howling in the wind. Our former dog, Kano, was a foodie and he would gaze at you while you served dinner until something would surely fall to the floor. To this day when food falls to the floor my husband and I look at each other, smile and say “Kano’s here.” Unfortunately, our beloved Miss Katie became old and we lost her earlier this year. She was a foodie, too. Kano and Katie would sit patiently while we entertained our friends and Katie would nudge your feet to remind you she wanted table scraps. So, when we see a dog curl her lips as to say “hi,” you know who we all think of. It’s comforting to feel the spirit of your pets near. We all have a final destination, but the spirit lives free over the “Rainbow Bridge.” Therefore, at least once a year when the seasons turn, and the veil between the worlds are thinnest, be aware... because they visit. Halloween in our neighbourhood is fun, because we know each other. We look forward to the imagination

behind the costumes, the ghosts, the goblins, and ‘the things that go bump in the night.’ Once the candy is distributed and the kids go home, we humans gather with our pets by our side to raise a glass of cheer in the bonds of camaraderie. Our pets feel the good energy, also. Like our forefathers used to do when they arrived here, we adhere to traditions... and the inclusion of our pets during our rituals make them all the more meaningful for us as humans. Then when everyone leaves and the lights are dimmed, I put the bouquet on the table and focus upon my dearly departed. I think of my ancestors, my friends and my pets and, as I blow out the candle in the west, I say: “I love you, safe passage and peace - Blessed Be, merry we met, merry we parted, but merry shall we meet again.” Have a safe and happy Halloween! ED. NOTE. – Respected and hard-working pet advocate Juliana Pavelka is a follower of highly spiritual Pagan values and beliefs. Paganism, which includes Wiccans amongst its many adherents, has garnered a really bad rep through its negative, evil portrayal in the media and entertainment fields. We welcome Juliana’s valuable and oft-moving contributions to Precious Pets and thank her for her interest in our endeavour. Long live Wolfhounds... and Happy Samhain to all followers!

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Because you’ve spent the past year waiting for it, we bring you....

The Annual, Exclusive, Pernicious Pests

Creepy Literary Section! We all enjoy a good scare, any time of year. But at Halloween, it’s virtually “de rigeur” to invite goosebumps to crawl over your clammy skin. So, to make that happen for you, we have engaged the talents of several “professional spooksters” – (Actress Judy O’Dea and authors Joseph A. Citro and Nancy Kilpatrick - who have kindly submitted material to keep you wide awake through many a dark, chilly night. And if you hear wild howls and long, rancid nails scratching at your front door: Relax. I’s only your imagination.... werewolves don’t really exist... do they? Have fun! Bram D. Eisenthal - Editor

Exclusive Actress Judith O’Dea’s

ghost story (first appeared in the October 2010 issue of The Local Seeker, West End Montreal Edition) Pittsburgh-born actress Judith O’Dea, best known to horror fans for her starring role as Barbara in the 1968 George Romero classic, Night of the Living Dead, was asked to submit a story to our paper for the exclusive Hallowe’en enjoyment of our readers. Here is what Ms. O’Dea, an acting coach today, sent Bram personally: Mother told me that shortly after

I was born in 1945, she had made a quick trip back to the old family cemetery to visit her own mother’s grave. It was late afternoon. The sky was rapidly filling with swirling mist and threatening, angry rumbles of thunder. My grandmother had died when Mom was only 15 years old -- far too early for a mother to leave her daughter. Mom said it took a few extra minutes for her to find the right headstone. But finally it appeared out of the soup-thick fog that now blanketed the ground. She cleared away some loose leaves that had piled up against the stone, then sat opposite on a little bench. Lost in thought and memories, Mom didn’t hear the approach of

an elderly gentleman who had stopped just behind her. “She was a wonderful woman, your mother,” the old man said quietly. “I knew her well.” Mom glanced up with a start. The man had a very peaceful, kindly look about him that put her at ease. He had on a bowler hat and a funny looking bow tie. They were old looking, but suited him just fine. For the next few minutes, the two of them talked. The old man shared stories about my grandmother that my mother had never heard before. They made her laugh and soon replaced the sadness she had been feeling earlier with a lovely calm and joy. As Mother got up to leave, she asked the gentleman’s name and thanked him for sharing his wonderful stories. She couldn’t help but smile thinking that this old fellow had cared for her mother far more deeply than he had let on. He bowed slightly and said “I’m Roger Williams.” He then walked away and was quickly swallowed

into the fog. Mom gave a last, loving look at her mother’s grave before moving off among the markers. Just before reaching the path, her eye was drawn to a rather plain but well-tended grave stone. She knelt down to read the inscription. It was simple, just a name and two dates: ROGER WILLIAMS July 18, 1892 - September 4, 1937

The Fear Continues page

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Book recounts the Dead Ends of famous humans, pets Story by Bram D. Eisenthal Precious Pets Exclusive

Losing a pet is, as we all know, a horrendous and sad experience. But just as we treasure the memories of the pets we loved in life, there are pet celebrities, many long-gone, whose memories we cherish for the years of entertainment they accorded us. One of the best bathroom reading books ever is called Dead Ends: An Irreverent Field Guide to the Graves of the Famous, by David Cross and Robert Bent (softcover, Plume Books, 1991, with illustrations by the late, great author/illustrator Edward Gorey). In this tall, narrow, 304-page tome is found such fascinating information about deceased movie stars, politicians, criminals, and other assorted celebrities, including where their earthly remains are found, you will keep going back for more. At least as often as you visit the WC, I guess. But it’s the information on deceased, famous animals that have entertained us that I’d like to highlight, some of the more popular names... most of them, unfortunately, hailing from days in the distant past (and therefore of zero interest to a younger demographic), names like: Traveller, considered one of the heroes of the American Civil War, the

constant companion of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Buried at the Lee Chapel Museum, at Washington

& Lee University, Lexington, Virginia; Trigger, the horse that cowboy Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans

loved so very much that they had him stuffed, mounted and displayed where you will find him to this day, at their museum in Victoryville, California; Fala was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s little Scotty, who helped his powerful companion be re-elected. The Republicans started a false rumour that the Democratic President had inadvertently left his dog behind on a Pacific atoll while visiting troops during the War and that a destroyer had to be sent to rescue Fala, at taxpayers’ expense, of course. When the President exposed the lie on radio during one of his famous “fireside chats,” the Republicans, deservedly, took a dive in the polls. Fala is buried at the Roosevelt Library and Museum grounds in Hyde Park, New York, the Roosevelts’ popular country retreat; Racehorse Man O’War established five racing records and when he died, his owners had him embalmed, placed in a satin-lined casket and held a formal funeral for the equine, buried at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington; TV food commercial star Morris (“the finicky cat) was an orange tabby with culinary “snob appeal” and is buried at the home of his trainer in Chicago; Petey, the naturally pure white canine, was first made popular on the early TV series Our Gang and you can see him pop up on many shows and commercials of that era with a black circle initially painted around one eye and later over another. He’s buried at Hollywood Memorial Park in L.A.; Rin Tin Tin is well known to anyone alive (and older_, as his TV show dealt with the Alsatian Sheepdog’s heroic acts to save troubled souls, starring at first in silent films. The dog also apparently saved his studio from bankruptcy thanks to his fame. Buried at the home of his trainer in Los Angeles; Smokey the Bear actually existed, though he was an unknown animal found burned to death following a Montana forest fire. He is buried in

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Smokey Bear Historical State Park in Captin, Montana. “Remember: Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”; And, we end with a fitting homage to a man who was responsible for championing and saving the lives of untold numbers of birds - Robert Stroud. Portrayed exquisitely on celluloid by Burt Lancaster in the memorable The Birdman of Alcatraz, Stroud was a prisoner who became an expert on avians and their diseases while on The Rock. He is buried at Masonic Cemetery in Metropolis, Illinois, a logical enough venue because the miracle of flight was so important to him. “Up, up and away!”

Editorial Board The Editorial Board of Precious Pets is comprised of individuals connected to the pet field in some manner, who are ready to advise the partners and/or staff when

asked for their opinions. They are:

Michael J. Cohen, Councilor, City of Cote Saint-Luc (Quebec) and founder of its Cats Committee Averil Robinson, owner of Pet Friends (Vaudreuil, Quebec) Gerdy Gouron, owner of Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions (Quebec) Dr. Wojciech Wybranowski – Veterinarian (Montreal’s West Island) Gaby Dufresne-St. Cyr – Owner of Dogueshop (Montreal) Suzanne VIlleneuve – President: Suzanne Villeneuve Associates Inc. & SVbiz Inc.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Spiders, snakes and spooks abounded at Toronto Reptile Breeders’ Expo Photos by Bram D. Eisenthal Precious Pets Exclusive

On the weekend of September 13/14, 2014, Precious Pets was Mississauga,Ontario’s International Centre for the impressive Reptile Breeders Expo, one of 20,000 attendees who were blown away by all the vendors, exhibits and their reptilian buddies... and, birds, too. We can’t forget our feathered friends. The show was not really scary – more interesting and fascinating than anything else – but look for the picture of Tina handling a snake (a python) for the first time if you want to see the most terrified individual in the room. Python courtesy Monarch Reptiles of Chateauguay, Quebec (450-844-8401... www.facebook.com/ monarchreptiles). Vendors came from across Canada and the U.S., but especially Ontario and Quebec. Our thanks to organizer Grant Crossman for the invitation and hospitality. Please see our cover story this Halloween issue for more details on this and upcoming events. on hand at

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

They Call Me Dr. W

Happy Halloween! But keep your pet safe with these tips... (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)

Halloween is fun but it can be dangerous and stressful to pets. We all know that chocolate is toxic to pets: The darker the chocolate (the less sugar it has), the more dangerous. There are, however, other dangers that lurk on the eve of Halloween and I am not referring to goblins and ghosts:

few days before just to see how he reacts and make sure it is safe. Avoid costumes that have buttons or snaps containing lead or zinc: If swallowed they can be toxic.

•If you own a black cat it would be better to keep him indoors on Halloween night as, tragically, some people would prefer to hurt them.

A well planned and thoughtout Halloween night may prove to be a lot of fun for the whole family, but just make sure it will be a safe one, as well!

•A constantly ringing doorbell by strangers, especially when they are all dressed up, may prove stressful. Some pets get very scared by all visitors, while other pets love them all. If your pet would be stressed by all these visits, place him in a room far away from the door that would minimize the noise he hears. Make sure all your pets have Id tags on; they may escape with the door being opened so often. •Besides chocolate other candies or sweets can be dangerous. An artificial sweetener, Xylitol, present in many candies today, is extremely toxic to pets causing low blood sugar and liver failure. Raisins and macadamia nuts are also very toxic, the first causing renal failure, the latter causing severe vomiting, weakness and joint pain.

Dr. Wybranowski and Willow

•Tinfoil or plastic wrapping, when swallowed by a dog, can cause chocking or intestinal blockage that may require surgery. •Glow sticks and glow-jewellery, appear to be a favourite toy for cats to chew on, but they contain chemicals that are very irritating to their mouths. •Candles can get knocked over by a wagging tail and start a fire, but they can also singe the moustache on a curious kitten. Electric cords for lights and decorations can often become something pets will chew on. Electrocution and burning of the mouth and tongue is not uncommon in these unfortunate, but preventable, cases. •If you want to dress up your pet in a costume, that’s fine. Just make sure the costume does not hinder his ability to see, to breathe and to move. Try it on a PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

Beautiful-but-toxic (part two) Last issue I brought to light information on some of the indoor and outdoor plants that are potentially poisonous to dogs and cats. In this article, I would like to focus on some of the foods that can harm your four-legged friends. Cats - and especially dogs can find their way into seemingly benign foods but ones that can nonetheless cause a good deal of damage to their organs and nervous systems. Pets should therefore be kept away from the following seven offenders: 1. Chocolate, which may be a great treat for humans but contains varying levels of fat, caffeine and methylxanthines that can make an animal ill. The darker the chocolate the more toxic. Ingesting chocolate may result in vomiting,

diarrhea, urination, heart arrhythmias, tremors and seizures. 2. Wild mushrooms can affect many organs including the liver, kidneys and brain. Ingestion can cause nervous system abnormalities, seizures, coma, and possibly even death. 3. Nuts should never be given to pets as they can cause obstruction in the throat and/ or intestinal tract. Macadamia nuts and mouldy walnuts can result in poisoning. Symptoms include loss of muscle control, lethargy and vomiting. 4. Raw eggs can possibly cause food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E.Coli. bacteria 5. Onions and garlic contain thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Onions can cause a condition known as he-

Mortifying Marilyn

Be honest now, whom do you prefer to play Marilyn Monroe: Bram, pictured here as Marilyn, or Marilyn herself, keeping in mind that her earthly remains have been decomposing for many decades now?

Pet Healer with Barbara Etcovitch

molytic anemia wherein the red blood cells circulating through the body can burst. Garlic, chives and leeks are all poisonous to dogs and cats. Garlic is extremely potent and can cause oxidative damage to red blood cells. Signs of anaemia such as lethargy, pale gums, increased respiratory rate and elevated heart rate are among the symptoms. 6. Raw fish and meat can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. “Fish Disease” can be caused by parasites found in sturgeon, salmon, trout and shad. The disease can be fatal within two weeks with the first signs being enlarged lymph nodes, fever and vomiting. 7. Salt ingested by a pet that swallows too much ocean salt water can result in neurological symptoms such as poor coordination, seizures and brain swelling. If your pet finds its way into any of these substances, call animal control for advice and immediately head to the vet. Homeopathic remedies will work well on the poisoning from these foods but need to be determined and administered by a trained homeopath.

Minister, freelance writer, and lecturer. She has a BA from Sir George Williams University, a MA in Literature from the University of Ottawa, and a diploma in Classical Homeopathy from the School of Homeopathy in Devon, England. She was ordained by the All Faiths Seminary International in New York City in 2004. She offers naming and funeral services for animals, grief counselling for guardians, and includes the treatment of animals in her homeopathic practices in Quebec and Ontario. Her services are available worldwide via Skype.

Peculiar Pumpkin

Photo Credit Bram D. Eisenthal

We carved a rather unique pumpkin

for you, dear readers, which creepily illustrates its take on this festival from

Barbara Etcovitch is a Classical Homeopath, Interfaith

a rather unique perspective...

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Horrormeister Timpone’s Top 5 fright flicks of all time Story by Bram D. Eisenthal - Exclusive to Precious Pets

We here at Precious Pets are not only pleased and proud to count as friends some accomplished individuals from the fields of literature and entertainment, but also the former editor of THE most influential horror magazine in the world, Fangoria, as a good friend. Having Anthony (Tony) Timpone’s input for this special annual issue is therefore impressive, all the more so because he is the Fantasia Film Festival’s Director of International Programming. So, when it comes to horror films, Tony’s “Da Man” and no one can state otherwise. We asked Tony for his Top Five list of scariest horror films of all time, to help you make up your mind what best to watch, hiding under the comforter, of course, and here are his choices... “Originals, no remakes,” he stressed in his e-mail direct from New York City: THE EXORCIST, HALLOWEEN, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, THE OMEN, THE HAUNTING Now, lest I dare offend my onetime editor of 20 years, I agree with his choices, although I might have offered

you a couple of alternates, as well. Of the films on Tony’s list, I did not find The Exorcist particularly scary, although this may be due to the fact I am not Catholic and therefore do not see the Devil in quite the same nasty light. Had him over for dinner the other evening and he was quite charming.... even asked me to autograph a piece of paper he carried around on him “for nostalgia,” he said. He would never lie to me, would he? But The Exorcist is very well done and extremely atmospheric, I agree. And the rest of the list is spot-on. Halloween, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, always makes my various Top 10 lists of seminal horror flicks and The Haunting is one of the best films I have ever seen, period. Thanks, Tony, for helping to disturb many, many people. I gotta know, though, as a pet paper person: Cujo didn’t impress you? The Saint-Bernard was too cute? Special effects foam dripping out of his mouth too fake-looking? You already have rabies? What, then?

CHILLING CARTOONS

Before he passed away at a ridiculously young age, West End Montreal resident Sheldon Cohen, a well-known career cartoonist, art teacher and a really good guy, sent this to Bram for use in his previous paper, The Local Herald. We’d like to pay homage to this kind and gentle soul, so Sheldon, this one’s for you...

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Creepy Literary Section!

ARE YOU scared yet Stories continued from page 5

DAGGS’ DEMON by

Joseph A. Citro

When I go looking for Hallowe’en scare stories, I generally confine my search to south of the border. John Robert Colombo keeps track of Canadian weirdness, and I have no desire to start camping in his woods. But I will name my favorite PQ haunt. Ghost? Poltergeist? Demon? You be the judge. September 1889. Shawville, Quebec Farmer George Dagg and his family were upset to discover some of their money was missing. An orphan in their care found it on the floor and returned it to Mr. Dagg. But it wasn’t all there. Suspicious, Mr. Dagg searched the boy’s room and found two more dollars.

Certain he’d found the culprit, the Daggs returned the protesting boy to the orphanage. But in his absence milk-pans emptied, butter vanished from the crocks, and sounds filled an empty, locked attic. Things escalated. Windows smashed. Fires started. Water appeared. Dinah, their daughter, felt something tug at her braided hair. Upon examination, the thick braid had been nearly severed. Unbelievably, things got stranger. A gruff, unfamiliar voice spoke within the Dagg home. The invisible entity’s language was English, the content coarse and ill-mannered. Word spread. A reporter from the Brockville Recorder arrived at the farm. He took young Dinah into a closed room where he asked, “Who are you?” “I am the devil,” it said. “Get out of this or I’ll break your neck.” But the reporter persisted; becoming convinced the speaker was neither the girl nor a concealed prankster. Seventeen witnesses signed his report, swearing they’d seen fires start spontaneously, stones thrown by invisible hands, a harmonica that played by itself; and a large somersaulting table. The mysterious voice kept chattering away, horrifying visitors with its knowledge of their private affairs. Once Mr. Dagg asked, “Why have you been bothering me and my family?”

“Just for fun.” “It was not very much fun when you threw a stone and struck little Mary.” “Poor wee Mary! I did not mean to hit her, I intended it for Dinah; but I did not let it hurt her.” “And if it was only for fun,” Mr. Dagg pressed, “why did you try to set the house on fire?” “I didn’t,” the voice said. “The fires came always in the daytime and where you could see them.” There is a good deal more to the Daggs’ story, and believe me, things got immeasurably weirder. But let’s save that for next Hallowe’en. Thank you, Joe, for enhancing our Halloween issue immensely. And, dear readers, if you are searching for literary frights any time of the year, one of Joseph A. (for Abominable, to be sure!) Citro’s many novels of blood-curdling fiction and non-fiction should do the trick (and treat) rather nicely. Citro also hosts a creepy show on Vermont Public Radio.

XXX In the Fullness of the Moon by

Nancy Kilpatrick

He told me he was a vampire. Maybe he said that because he knew I’d loved the Twilight books and movies. Maybe he said it just to play with my mind. Back then, I was young, romantically-inclined, and I didn’t believe him, of course. Mostly, I thought he was a regular guy, cute, nice, with a good line that more or less worked on me. Sometimes he’d nibble my neck but it was more of a hickey and my skin wasn’t pierced. At least not then. We dated for six months. I only saw him at night, never in the daytime, all the better to keep the

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca

vampire fantasy going. I guess I was naive. Maybe just stupid. I’d only had one boyfriend before him, in high school, and I’d never had sex. It’s not that I was saving myself for the right guy, I was more waiting until it felt right. It didn’t, until I met him. But he was old school, he said, and wanted us to be married. I kept thinking how different he was and that I’d never met a guy like him before. That was maybe my most accurate thought. I guess the courtship was normal, I don’t know. When I used to read women’s magazines, and they gave lists of how it should or shouldn’t be with a guy, everything seemed to fit together. I probably convinced myself it was all going great and didn’t really pay much attention to the wrong notes. So when he asked me to marry him, I said yes, and joked, “Do we have to get married at night?” “It would be better,” he said seriously. And to my mother’s horror, we had a midnight wedding, not in a church, outdoors, under a full moon, and left our few guests to the reception while we went off for our first night together. It’s very hard to convey what happened that night. My memory is clawed by the terror that thinking about my wedding night still evokes. We weren’t in a hotel but in a cabin in the woods he owned, far from everyone. Far from help. I remember standing at the door looking at the gorgeous round moon thinking how happy I was. How lucky. And then, everything changed. Details are hazy, but I know it all began in a normal way. We kissed and hugged in the darkness, just a few moon rays at the window offering a silvery glow, and it seemed so romantic. At first. Soon, he grew aggressive. He’d never been forceful with me before, just sweet and charming, like I said. I remember trembling as my fear escalated, afraid to say anything because I wasn’t really sure how it was supposed to be between a husband and wife. And then I noticed the smell. As if it had rained and the wet earth and dying leaves had taken on that mouldy scent reminiscent of death. At some point, I tried to push him away. And that’s when he snarled like an animal and I couldn’t budge

The Fear Continues page

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Creepy Literary Section!

ARE YOU scared yet Stories continued from page 5

him. His skin felt strange, cooler, hotter, then not like skin at all. In the shadowy room he seemed to be altering but I didn’t have time to investigate--he went for my throat. The deep bite hurt. I screamed and thrashed but his weight held me down and I felt blood draining out of me fast. At the same time, he tore into me in another way and that pain too rocked me. It’s funny what you don’t recall when you’ve suffered a trauma. I have no idea how long this went on, I just remember that the moonlight disappeared, leaving the room and my life in bleak darkness. I woke the next evening to find my pale husband lying beside me. Blood everywhere. Mine. My body was stiff. I dragged myself out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.

When I saw my reflection in the mirror, I was shocked. My throat had been almost torn open; I don’t know how I had survived such mutilation. My body trembled uncontrollably and I began to sob. Suddenly, he was behind me. His face seemed cold to me, inhuman. “What...what did you do to me?” I cried. “Made you mine,” he said. I shook my head as if trying to jar my brain into understanding. “You bit me. You are a vampire!” “Don’t be childish! Can’t you see me in the mirror?” I felt confused and could only stammer, “What...what...” “Lycanthrope,” he said. “Werewolf. As you are now. It’s only the full moon you have to worry about, but do as I tell you and you’ll be

alright.” That happened five years ago. Since then, there have been over sixty full moons where I’ve watched my husband change into a beast and have gone through the agony myself of morphing into something not at all human. Mating in this unholy state over sixty times. The only saving grace is that I can’t remember what I do when the moon is full, what he does to me; I don’t want to know. I’m now pregnant with my fifth litter. My days, living in the woods, isolated, surrounded by the feral children I must bear, are pure drudgery, work and nothing but. I don’t have a clear recollection of what my life was like before I met him, before he bit me;

most of it is a blur. All I really recall with the sharpness of knife-blade teeth cutting into my memory is that he told me he was a vampire. I wish I’d believed him. I wish I’d walked away. (ED. NOTE: Nancy is a local writing teacher, Goth, horror film aficionado and a helluva nice lady. We are honoured to feature a tiny slice of Nancy’s work in this Halloween issue, as she is also one of the premier writers and editors of horror fiction around. And if you adore vampires, you have likely read some of her fine work.)

Puzzles THIS WEEKS SOLUTION

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 • www.preciouspets.ca