Precious Pets www.preciouspets.ca VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • MAY 22, 2015
SEASONED ‘PET WHISPERER’
MAY BRING YOU CLOSER TO YOUR COMPANION
INTRODUCING KIDS TO PETS
Story by Bram Eisenthal, page 4.
3 LES PYTHONS ROYALS
7 11 SPRING IS HERE! Photo Credit - Bram Eisenthal
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
A subject we’d rather not discuss... but that is a sad reality
Barking Bram with Bram D. Elsenthal
Photo - morguefile.com
Death. The subject is a daunting one, whether the focus is humans or animals. We all become extremely attached to living things, regardless of what form they take. The love they give us is irreplaceable and when that love is lost, through the death of the being, the pain we feel is the most heartfelt of all. I can juxtapose this quite succinctly: I just lost my dear cousin in New Jersey, a woman I have been close to for 45 years. She died a mere six weeks after the death of her husband of 40 years. I imagine her heart broke. And, quite recent-
ly, two women who have or are availing themselves of our monthly Little Bear Pet Grief Group have lost dogs through death. They are both devastated beyond belief and we are endeavouring to help them through it, though there may not be any solace for them ultimately. My partner here, Tina, lost her dog to the Grim Reaper almost one year ago. And she has her okay moments, but is inconsolable when she focuses on what joy Rocco brought to her life. Too many of us, when faced with the death of a beloved pet, hear the words “You’ll get over
it... get another pet right away.” Sounds very cold, I know, but as is the case with human death, most people simply do not know what to say. They mean well, but they do not realize that the LAST thing you want to do is replace this lost life, which is actually larger than life. You want to hold onto it a lot longer, cherish your memories and mourn in your own way. Mourning is okay. We at Precious Pets recently met a special woman who just may be able to help you mourn the death of your pet. Samara is a psychic – and I can hear many of you drop the paper at this point and crumple it up... because obviously many of you do not believe in psychics or think anyone who does is nuts. Be it as it may, what IF there is something to do and Samara can let you know that the soul of your deceased animal is okay? Would this knowledge help you at all, as you mourn? Samara can also talk to living animals and “translate” their “words” or actions into thoughts that humans can understand. She is sort of a pet whisperer and we thought this might make an interesting story. This may not be your cup of tea and if not, we understand. We had a column previously by a
young woman named Rita Fert that discussed this very subject and it was well received by many of our readers. I have a relatively open mind when it comes to what we call the paranormal, so it was my pleasure both speaking to Samara and photographing her and Fluffy, the pet companion of Cherif, one of my oldest and closest friends. Cherif allowed Samara to “talk” with Fluffy and swears to me that the results were uncanny. So, all I ask is that, whether you believe or not, have an open mind. Death is something we will only understand after we ourselves die and, unfortunately, there are a lot of charlatans out there who try to take advantage of some very sad people. The late magician Harry Houdini (a.k.a Erich Weiss) made his name not only by escaping from impossible shackles, but also from his hobby of debunking fraudulent psychics. There are still many of them out there, post-Houdini. But if we
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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 10, May 2015. Copyright 2015. 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 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015
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OUR CONTACT INFORMATION:
ADVERTISING AND CLASSIFIEDS: ........................................................438 E-MAIL: ......info@preciouspetscanada.com EDITORIAL:................. 514
www.preciouspets.ca
821-6769 975-7745
MAILING ADDRESS: ..............................................P.O. Box 66521, Cavendish Mall, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 3J6 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR:.....................................................................................................Bram D. Eisenthal SALES MANAGER:........................................................................................................................ Tina Di Salvia CREATIVE DESIGN:...............................................................................................................James McCafferty ART DIRECTOR: .............................................................................................................. ..............Marta Barnes ONTARIO DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA:...........................................................Janet Boiangiu
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
Introducing a child, part two Doggie Do with John Truss
Photo - morguefile.com
Two issues ago, I wrote a column explaining a few easy-to-incorporate things you can do to ease the stress involved with introducing a child into your household, when pets are involved. I would like to follow that up
with a few things you can do to keep your home in balance moving forward. I can’t state how important keeping interactions positive is. If a dog is showing any signs of feeling nervous
TIDBITS Art from
around the child, then the dog must be moved away. A good solid place command should be practiced if it hasn’t been established already. This is a spot where your dog can go to relax and feel safe and comfortable. We don’t reprimand the dog for being nervous: We just calmly send them to their place. Just like when we are teaching a “come” command, if you have the ask the dog 50 times to come and he only comes on the 51st time, he’s still the best dog in the world. Routine is very important. In my previous column, I talked about preparation for the baby by slowly altering
your routine so as not to be as dogcentric. Infants occupy a lot of our time, with all the diaper changes, feeding and doctor appointments. Don’t forget about exercising your dog. If you must, hire a dog walker, take him to “doggie daycare” or leave him with a friend or relative for a few hours. This is always easier when there is more than one person helping you out. And, of course, it all depends
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Marta Barnes Marta Barnes is a graduate from the creative writing program at Concordia University and studied abroad in Australia for six months in 2011. At the moment she is an ESL teacher at an elementary school in South Korea, from whence her inky illustrations currently propagate. She loves food, tea, and most other things that a Hobbit might - including the occasional adventure. Follow her travel blog at www.downfromthedoor.com
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After many years of napping among the house plants, Pinky finally mastered photosynthesis.
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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Seasoned ‘Pet Whisperer’
may bring you closer to your companion Story and photos by Bram Eisenthal
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Precious Pets Exclusive
Photo - Bram Eisenthal
When I was a boy, I loved one show on TV in particular. It was probably the early 1960s and aside from The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Honeymooners and The Red Skelton Show, Mr. Ed thoroughly fascinated me. A talking horse? What could be better than that? So, now, just a few years later (or so it seems) I find myself face-to-face with the uni-monikered Samara, a psychic, and one of my oldest and closest friends, Cherif. Just a few months ago, Cherif was tasked with finding a way to provide medical assistance for his pride and joy, his “son,” as he refers to him: Fluffy. (Fluffy appeared in our first issue, almost two years ago, along with other pictures of local pets). The 11-year old Bichon-Maltaise mixed breed is like a son to him, as he and his former wife never had children and Fluffy has slid seamlessly right into that role. Cherif is a believer in psychic practitioners (there are many more believers in metaphysical subjects than sceptics, it seems) and once he was introduced to Samara, that
was it. I heard a plethora of stories about how she has “read” his dog perfectly, to the point that she actually converses with him and can tell Cherif what Fluffy is saying to him. “It is really unbelievable what Sama-
Photo - Bram Eisenthal
ra has told me about a wide variety of things,” Cherif told me. “This includes things she could not have possibly known, such as how he was hurt recently and what he thinks of the “parents” who raised him. It has brought me to tears on occasion.” The canine companion of Alexandria, Egypt-born Cherif, who was raised a Coptic Christian, is far from the only pet read by Samara, who says she has had abilities as a medium and clairvoyant for more than 20 years now. “I have developed a reputation as a Spirit Communicator and Empowerment Consultant dealing with human subjects,” she told me two weeks ago, during our photo shoot at Westmount Park, one of the prettiest and most photogenic backdrops in Montreal. But since I have taken on animals, including horses, not just dogs and cats, my (Native) spirit guides have a lot more material to work with.” Samara’s speciality is psychometry, through the power of touch and an extremely heightened sixth sense. “I possess a unique ability to telepathically identify the distinctive energy fields that surround personal objects, such as articles of clothing. With a generally high degree of accuracy, she can interpret the memories, events and situations attached to that object. For instance, she will ask you for your ring, or better yet, your car or house keys, which are frequently in contact with you many hours of any given day. Don’t worry... you will get them back. She will merely fondle them as she asks her spirit guides for assistance. In the case of a pet, whether living or deceased, a treasured artefact played with over the course of time will do the trick nicely. A photo is also helpful. Yes, Samara also says she can communicate with the spirit of a pet that has “moved on.” There is a lot she can do, she says. “I can analyze photos, images from cell phones, Ipads or computers” and she can also use her gift of extra-sensory perception on audio recordings
PRECIOUS PAWS HUDSON Luxury in-home boarding for dogs with 2 acres of enclosed land Telephone : 450-202-7556 www.facebook.com/preciouspawshudson
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
Photo - Bram Eisenthal
and to analyze handwriting. She adds that she specializes in the latter, as well as energies given off by legal contracts, business cards, pertinent medical records, personal gifts, jewellery and, again, the scanning of personal clothing and other objects of individuals and pets that have passed on. While addressing each client’s concern on an individual basis- and I have witnessed how serious she can get if her concentration or her contact with her guides is broken – Samara is extremely compassionate. “My favourite and most rewarding experiences are the conversations I have with loved ones who have passed on,” she tells me. “A natural or unexpected passing may involve a request for me to engage in a session with resulting messages of support, protection and reassurance.” In other words, you may still miss your beloved person or let that has moved on, but your experiences with Samara may be the panacea you have been looking for to help soothe your aching heart. And ain’t heartache a b—ch, no matter what the cause? I wonder if there was ever en episode of Mr. Ed dealing with that subject... To reach Samara, she has requested that you contact Precious Pets and set up a consultation through us. We take no legal responsibility for the resulting experiences, as we are simply the instrument of contact on these occasions.
COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
Little Bear Pet Grief Group to meet at the end of May Our Little Bear Pet Grief Group, restricted to those who have lost pet companions within the past year, will be meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. sharp, at veterinary hospital Animal 911, 11400 Gouin Blvd. W, in Roxboro on Montreal’s West Island. This unique English-language group, moderated by grief councillor Kit Racette, warmly welcomes anyone who is grieving the death of a pet and mourners find the atmosphere warm and comforting. Attendees are asked to bring a photo of their deceased pet and living animals are not permitted. Cost is $10 per person and coffee will be served. To RSVP, which is necessary, call Bram at 514-975-7745, where a message can be left. Or e-mail us at info@preciouspetscanada.com, at least 24 hours prior to the date. Also, the next issue of the paper will be out on Friday, June 26, 2015 with the strict deadline for submisisons Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at 5 p.m. Any material received after the deadline will be saved for the following issue.
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 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
Saying goodbye to the pets we love Homeopathic Healer with Barbara Etcovitch
Photo - morguefile.com
We never know exactly how long our four-legged companions will walk this Earth with us. Some will be with us through the best and happiest years of our lives. Some will share only our grief and sorrow. Some will remain healthy for most of their lives. Some will exhibit fragile health throughout. We can never predict what kind of a
lifetime we will share, but we know for certain that one day our companions will leave us. And we need to accept that we must let go and say goodbye. Letting go is one of the most important things we need to do for our companions... otherwise an animal ready to make its transition will be bound to this Earth beyond its time. Our friends
instinctively know that it is OK to pass on to a new existence, but they will remain unnecessarily attached if they sense their guardian is not ready to live without them. Talking to your pet and letting it know that its time to pass is approaching is a good way for guardians to start their separation process. Express how much you have loved having your pet in your life and that it will be missed, but that you understand that it is time to say goodbye. Some animals will pass on their own, while others will be require professional intervention. For guardians who wish to keep their animals at home for the transition, a quiet and serene environment is essential. Animals will attempt to hide in readiness for the transition, so be careful not to lose sight of them. Once again, Homeopathy can offer assistance with an animal’s transition that may be accompanied by pain, fear, anxiety or restlessness. The remedy you will need is Arsenicum Album in the 30ch potency. Arsenicum Album has much to offer for an animal ready to leave this plane. It will assist with the anxiety and restlessness your pet many be experiencing by calming and relaxing it without drugging. It is an excellent remedy for pain, especially the pains accompanying cancers. It has a strong affinity for the liver which very often is affected at the last stages and
so has been noted to relieve much of the pain associated with problems in that organ. Pills can be crushed and placed on the tongue or crushed and put in distilled water and then administered. If your pet is still drinking water, the remedy can - in addition - be placed in a bowl of distilled water. Say goodbye by honouring your pet with candlelight and prayers once it has made its transition and consider a funeral or memorial ceremony that will help with closure. Do both yourself and your companion the ultimate service by letting go and saying the appropriate goodbye. Barbara Etcovitch is a Classical Homeopath, Interfaith Minister, freelance writer and lecturer. She has a B.A. from Sir George Williams University, a M.A. 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.
Photo - morguefile.com
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
Les Pythons Royals Nos Animaux... en français, S.V.P... with Dawn and Yan
of Monarch Reptiles (Chateauguay, Quebec)
Les pythons royals… Maintenant on va démystifier cette espèce de la famille des «pythons» . Longueur, grosseur, alimentation, manipulation, comportement et habitat. Premièrement, l’ espèce des ‘pythons’ est un membre de la famille des ‘boidae’ qui inclue python et boa. Ils existent une très grandes variété de pythons, certains restent petit (moins de cinq pied) et d’autre font partie des serpents géant. Les pythons royals font partie des petits pythons. Les pythons sont des serpents ovovipare donc, feront des œufs. Les pythons royales maintenant sont pas mal tous née en captivité ici membre ou au Québec et partout à travers le canada. Les pythons royal communément appeler <<ball python,>> peuvent atteindre en moyenne environ cinq pieds. Ce qui est très petit pour un serpent. Les femelles deviennent légèrement plus longues et plus grosse. Un male va peser en moyenne 1200g a 1500g et pour la fe-
melles 2000g a 2500 g, certaines peuvent atteindre jusqu’à 3000 g. Les ball python sont hautement recommande pour les gens qui débute dans le merveilleux monde des reptiles. Ils sont probablement les serpents les plus calmes sur le marché reptiliens. Ils sont extrêmement calme lors de la manipulation, très rarement, ils seront porte a essayer de morde voir jamais. C’est un python qui est porte a rester en petite boule, après quelque minutes souvent commence a bouger un petit peu plus. Comme tous les serpent on nourrit 1 fois par semaines, avec un rongeur (rats ou souris) proportionnel a leur corps et non la grosseur de la tête. Les python royal peuvent être porte a faire un petit jeune durant la période hivernale. Ils sont des serpents qui aiment bien une zone relativement chaude. Au point chaude 28 a 30 degree. Il est important de lui fournir une plaque chauffante pour une meil-
Photo - morguefile.com
leure digestion. Nous pouvons leurs donner un habitat de au moins 36 pouces par 16 pouces de profonds, pour un ball de grandeur adulte. En conclusion, comme on peut voir, pas tout les pythons sont géants et dangereux. Un petit python royal
est un serpent très agréable à avoir à la maison, un serpent pour toute la famille, idéal pour les jeunes et les moins jeune. Bonne manipulation!
Photo - morguefile.com
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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Photo Courtesy - NASA
Rescues a
Space-Age concept Thanks to multi-faceted Astronaut Leland Melvin, the concept of rescuing pets has found its way into the cosmic mindset. The former NFL player, chemist and engineer recently had himself photographed with his two rescued pooches and we think this is awesome. I learned about this while perusing the latest issue (June 2015) of Astronomy magazine. No word yet whether NASA will allow him to take his pups into orbit. -Bram Eisenthal
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are helped by a practitioner of any craft, what’s the difference? It is all dependant on your level of faith. By the way, there are two other people I’d like you to know: One is Kit Racette, who organizes a monthly Death Cafe in Montreal’s West End. Kit moderates a group where people can discuss death in all its facets and it has become quite popular. Kit also generously moderates our grief group. You can e-mail Kit at kitracette@yahoo.com Another person extremely well-educated about death is Averil Robinson, a key advertiser for us, a true mentor and the operator of Pet Friends of Vaudreauil. Averil is involved in the process of helping your pet to pass painlessly on to the Other Side and she will take care of you and your family’s emotional needs at the same time. She has been described as an “angel” by none other than Tina, who used her services when it was time to have Rocco’s suffering ended. Look for the ad for Pet Friends in this and other issues. Little Bear is also an advertiser worth patronizing, as is veterinarian Dr. W. at Animals 911. All care deeply about animals, as do we. Death is ugly, it is cruel and it is
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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unthinkable. But whether we like it or not, it is going to happen. When it does, surrounding yourself with people who care is far better than suffering alone. That, dear readers, is what this issue is all about. Monkfruit now in Montreal Until the advent of the tasty, all-natural Monkfruit as a sugar substitute, we Type II Diabetics had to suffer with products containing potentially-carcinogenic aspartame, all-too-sugary Splenda or bitter-tasting Stevia if we wanted to add some sweetness to our coffee, tea, etc. I had been buying premium-priced Monkfruit-in-the-Raw via Ebay, because the English-only packaging made it prohibitive here in Canada. But thanks to the good and kind people at my local IGA (in the Cote St. Luc Shopping Centre), I now use one gram Monkfruit packages filled with all-natural product packaged by Krisda... with a box of 80 small-sized packs selling for about $7.50. If you have never tasted this product before and you suffer from Diabetes Type II, give it a whirl. I learned about Monkfruit from health consultant Jane Virgin in her recent best-selling book, Sugar Impact Diet.
ASK THE DOCTOR
They Call Me Dr. W
As we wake from winter dormancy… (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)
DNA evidence indicates that the dog and the modern wolf (above) are both descendents of an extinct wolf-like canid that lived in Europe (http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Origin_of_the_domestic_dog#/media/File:Canis_lupus_laying_in_ grass.jpg)
It seems everyone waits for the warm weather to arrive before taking their cat or dog to the vet. “Better late than never,” as they say, but why should you wait? People ask “Why should I take my dog to the vet?” After all, he seems fine, is always happily wagging his tail, always ready to play and has an incredible appetite. My cat? He never goes out, leads a sheltered life and therefore he is not in any danger. There are many reasons why you should take your pet for a health examination at least once a year, when he is under 7 years old and more often when he is over 7. Here are a few: Pets age much more rapidly than we do, as their metabolism is much faster - one year in a pet is like 5-10 of our years. If this were not true, dogs and cats would live to be 85 like us. Cats and dogs hide signs of disease. They can’t help it, as it is what nature taught them. It has been a long and cruel survival lesson. Showing signs of weakness in the wild has meant certain death: Either they would become someone’s lunch or the pack would not give them access to food. Dogs presumably have originated from wolves, whose ancestors have been on earth for 38 to 56 million years. This ability to hide disease has helped assure the survival of the species. The domestication of dogs is a relatively new phenomena dating only some 10,000-30,000 years. Cats have been domesticated for even less time. Unfortunately for us pet owners, dogs and cats have not had enough time to “unlearn” this hiding behaviour. Early detection of problems allows for a much better outcome. Finally, the most important reason to bring your pet to the vet is prevention. Prevention is the focus of pet care today. It is much easier to prevent disease than to cure it. Your
Photo - Courtesy of Dr. Wybranowski
veterinarian will take a careful history, examine your pet from nose to tail, assess your pet’s health risks and recommend a preventative health care program. That may include some testing, diet modifications, lifestyle changes, vaccinations or parasite control. Your Veterinary Health Care Team is the expert in your pet’s health-care regimen and has your pet’s best interests in mind. So, don’t drag your feet anymore and pick up the phone. Your pet will thank you with a longer, healthier and happier life. For a video demonstration of a complete health examination of a cat and dog go to our website at: www. animal911.ca and see the videos under ‘medical services.’
Photo - Courtesy of Dr. Wybranowski Polychrome cave painting of a wolf-like canid painted 17,000 years ago, Font-de-Gaume, France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_domestic_dog#/media/File:Men_of_the_old_stone_age_(1915)_Wolf.png)
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
When choosing a pet style from your groomer, consult with them first From the Groomer with Anna-Maria Ranieri
Spring has finally sprung and we are all so very grateful that this long winter is finally over! Time to get ready for summer and this also applies to our pets. Here at Pampered Pets West-
mount we see all sorts of dogs with different types of coats. Now, while a shorter puppy clip is the popular choice for warmer weather conditions, you might want to keep in mind the increasing U.V. factor. This means that you don’t want to go too short on your furry BFF. They need enough fur/hair to also protect them against harmful U.V. damage. This is why we recommend (especially for first time grooming) that you take the time to talk with your pet-grooming-professional to make sure you choose the right clip for your pet... for any season. We love this time of year, with so
many adorable pooches to makeover. There are a wide variety of cuts and styles to choose from, so have fun with your dog (ED. NOTE: And remember, readers, THEY cannot choose their own style, so they rely on their human companions to do it for them
Photo - morguefile.com
Photo - morguefile.com
Next Issue:
FRIDAY. June 26, 2015
DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2015 info@preciouspetscanada.com
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in as tasteful a manner as possible. I often wonder, when I see a ridiculous-looking pet, what both the companion and the groomer must have been thinking.). And remember, most importantly, when getting your dog professionally groomed: Ask lots of questions... after all, you are leaving your fur-kid with other people and you should always make sure that they are in the best of hands. A good groomer will always take the time to answer any questions or concerns. Look for the ad for Pampered Pets of Westmount in this issue. We have known Anna-Maria from the start of our publication onwards and we can vouch for her being one of the good guys!
acedogtrainingmontreal.com
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
Spring has sprung…
COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
and ‘tis a great time for bird-watching! Photo - morguefile.com
Birds of a Feather with Chantal Gargano
Finally, spring (and summer, too, it seems) is here! Because the light and weather changes are acting like hormonal triggers, this is the time of the year when our winter bird residents, such as Cardinals and House Sparrows, are getting spring fever. You certainly have already started to hear them sing their little lungs out in your gardens (ED. NOTE: For me, it is the repetitive and Owl-like call of the Mourning Dove that lets me know spring has sprung). Did you know that birds have photoreceptors in the bases of their brains that record the length of dark periods each day? Since our days are getting longer at a regular pace, the photoperiod (intervals are doled out in 24-hour periods, during which an organism or animal is exposed to light) is a very reliable tool with which birds assess the various seasons. As food supplies become more abundant in springtime, migratory birds return to their breeding areas between mid-February and the end of May (which is now, come to think of it). The first birds to return back to Canada in the spring are mainly the Red-Winged Blackbirds and the Common Grackles. To be honest, those are not my favorite birds. Grackles can be quite dominant and ferocious at the feed-
ers, pushing aside other birds. As for the Red-Winged Blackbirds, I learned quickly that they are strong defenders of their territory during breeding season. I can assure you that nothing will stop them from diving onto our heads to attack us if they feel we are getting too close to their nests. Even my big fluffy hair could not prevent them from charging me. Now that you are warned, be prepared if you are going to visit marshes and swampy areas and wear a hat! But, those bird species also have terrific qualities and fascinating behaviours. In order to establish his territory, for instance, the male RedWinged Blackbird arrives in mid-February, about three weeks before the female. These birds prefer to nest in wetlands and wooded areas. The female, with the input of the male, will choose the best nesting site and she will build the nest in dense grass-like vegetation. Males will spend most of the breeding season sitting on a high perch over their territory, enjoying life and chirping all day long… while the females will be collecting food or nest materials. Males will have many female mates (up to 15 in some cases!). Grackles will usually arrive 10 days after the male Red-Winged Blackbirds. Both males and females are all black with yellowish eyes and iridescent
plumage. They love to gather in noisy groups to eat. They are very resourceful (they can break open hard acorns) and opportunistic eaters. They will nest mainly in high trees or on power lines, often near water. One fascinating fact about them is that they love to take ‘’ant baths.’’ They will hunch over on the ground, spreading their wings and tails and letting ants crawl all over their bodies and feathers. This
strange behaviour is called ‘’anting.’’ Other bird species (like Crows and American Robins) will do this as well. The ants secrete formic acid (a chemical in their stings), which seems to help birds get rid of all the parasites in their feathers. As you prepare to view the varied avian action, remember that ‘’in order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” (Robert Lynd).
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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COLUMNS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
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on the age and energy level of your dog. Don’t assume that because he is sitting nicely obedient in the corner, he is not feeling some kind of anxi-
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ety. It’s a long standing debate in the dog world about what dogs actually experience. Can a dog feel jealous? I’m not sure, but I can say with certainty that they CAN experience a sense of fairness. If you have two dogs and you pay attention to only one, the other one will see that and notice a difference. How they choose to deal with that situation will depend on the dog. Take advantage of baby sleep times to give Rover some undivided attention. The next stage that we have to be careful about is when the baby starts to move. Be attentive to how your dog feels about this. A stationary, weird-smelling object is one thing, but a moving object is a different story. Movement can set off drives in dogs that we don’t want around children. Even though they are small babies,
Photo - morguefile.com
they can nonetheless move very fast... as I’m sure every mother reading this can attest to. We don’t want the baby invading the dog’s space without adult supervision. This is especially important if the dog is sleeping or eating. If you have any concerns I would strongly encourage you to seek the help of a qualified professional. This is not an area that we can afford to
make even a single mistake. Always remember, no matter how much you trust your dog, never leave them unattended with a baby. ED. NOTE: As usual, John Truss, owner of Bark Avenue on Cote De Liesse in Montreal, has given us all important information to think about. Thank you, John... and John (Jr.) for this.
Photo - morguefile.com
Photo - morguefile.com
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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NEWS FROM THE SPCA
Montreal SPCA inaugurates
Mittens-Montreal targeted sterilization clinic Story by Bram Eisenthal
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Precious Pets Exclusive
We are regrettably late with this news, but as it is important to animal lovers, we wanted to applaud the Montreal branch of the SPCA for its role in the late March inauguration of the Mittens-Montreal SPCA targeted permanent sterilization clinic (Dr Gabrielle Carrière: Chief Veterinarian). The clinic’s grand opening at the Montreal SPCA was held in the presence of a politician we value, Russell Copeman, Montreal City Councillor and the Borough Mayor for Côte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grace. It is with great disappointment, however, that we highlight the last-second cancellation of veteran MNA Pierre Arcand at this
event, adding to the mystery of why the Quebec Liberal government appears to have such indifference to the plight of animals in this province. Precious Pets has been trying to secure an interview with Quebec’s Minister of Agriculture, Pierre Paradis, also in charge of the animal welfare portfolio, with almost disdainful results from his office. Meanwhile, Quebec allows the continued existence of FOUR gassing pounds on our territory, resulting in the cruel, painful murders of dogs, cats and other animals by prolonged gassing. Where are you, Minister Paradis, while this is going on, we’d like to know? Kudos to the Montreal SPCA!
Cutline (left to right): Russell Copeman, Jayne Arden (Montreal SPCA Board Member), Nancy Breitman (Vice-President member of the board), and Nicholas Gilman (Executive Director, Montreal SPCA). Missing was Dr Lecomte (veterinarian - she works for the city of Montreal), also present at the event.
Puzzles
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca
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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 10 • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca