Precious pets Vol 3, Issue 6 by PreciousPets

Precious Pets www.preciouspets.ca VOLUME 3

ISSUE 6 u FEBRUARY 26, 2016

Photo © Sven Hoppe

3 NULMAN ANNOUNCES A NEW JOINT PROJECT WITH THE EMSB

5 ZOE TAKES A “PAWWS” TO REFLECT ON THE KILLING FLOOR OF BERGER BLANC

7 POMPEII, 08-24-79 AD: OH WHAT A NIGHT (AND DAY)! See story, page 4

GREGORY LOOKS AT POLITICAL INEPTITUDE REGARDING ANIMAL WELFARE

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

A tale of two cities... and one dog.... Barking Bram with Bram Eisenthal

So, another Valentine’s Day, huh? For me, however, not just the “same old same old,” because one year ago this past February 14, I received a call from my cousin, whom I had been close to for almost 70 years. She was calling to tell me that her husband of 40 years had passed away five weeks earlier, the belated victim of a heart attack suffered six years prior. Sometimes a day dedicated to love can signify love unrequited... or love lost. It is not always a happy occasion, filled with chocolates and champagne. That day was not a good one for me, especially since my beloved cousin passed away two days later. Cruel fate to be sure. Which brings us to our cover story: The image you see is one of the most famous and photographed dogs in history. This poor animal was a domesticated house dog that was the companion to a Roman family residing in Pompeii, which thrived in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, a rumbling, active volcano near the city of Naples. The canine had the misfortune to be tied near the front door of the house when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, condemning many of the residents of Pompeii and neighbouring Herculaneum to a scalding, ash-ridden and quite speedy death. It was a most spectacular death, I suppose... Now, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is mounting an exhibition featuring art from Pompeii, allowing you to literally stroll back into time. Fear not: The walk will be completely ash-free and therefore safe for those even half as fascinated with the story of Pompeii as I am. So, although a sad tale, this cover story (and its accompanying photo) is an homage to the love that existed

for domesticated pets, dating back as far as Ancient Rome... and before that, too. This dog perished with its human companions, against its will, certainly... but had it not been tied, who’s to say it would have had things any other way? We all know – and we all should remember, on Valentine’s Day and any day, that our pets are the most loyal living beings of all. There is no reason we cannot be the same towards them, at the very least.... Habs brain trust has lost our trust As far as I am concerned, the current version of the Habs brain trust, which is made up of: Owner/Managing Partner Geoff Molson, GM Marc Bergevin and coach Michel Therrien, has obliterated my faith and any slack I was previously willing to cut them. The despicable treatment they have bestowed upon their fans has nothing to do with love and EVERYTHING to do with greed. In order to keep you buying tickets in record numbers – for what, I don’t quite know, because I can hardly claim the team has been anything near awesome for the bulk of the season - and in your seats, they have lied to us about the status of world-star goalie Carey Price for months now, knowing full well he would not play again this season. What’s worse is that GM Bergevin has done nothing to seriously improve his team since taking over. There is no accountability on what has to be the most poorly managed Habs team in history. This is effectively the most incapably-managed team in history. So, what do you do to protest? Nothing. You still attend games, which is your one remaining ace-in-the-hole that Molson gives a damn about. Shame

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their companions Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Media Group Inc. Volume 3, Issue 6, February 2016. Copyright 2016. 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 Media Group Inc.

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016

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on you, Habs. Your only redeeming move would be winning a 25th Stanley Cup. Will that happen? Probably not again in my lifetime.... Update: I wrote Geoff Molson a letter a week ago, but I do not expect that he will respond. I really believe it is the time for a protest movement to arise, one where you will abdicate games in favour of telling Habs management their behaviour is unacceptable. I learned from an article in The McGill Daily recently that London FC, one of the most famous football (soccer) clubs in history, was the victim of similar action in the not-too-distant past. During a game, some 10,000 attendees simply got up in protest and LEFT! Now, rather than merely booing after you have paid Molson his money, THAT would make a statement, wouldn’t it? A half-empty Bell Centre? Other than simply not going at all, I can think of nothing more suit-

able. Believe me, Messieurs Molson, Bergevin and Therrien need to be taught a lesson... and soon! The trade deadline approaches in a few days. If not now, then when? New project with the EMSB I got together with my colleague Mike Cohen, at the English Montreal School Board, and we came up with a great way to both stimulate young minds and raise awareness of animals, as well. From now on... or at least “till the cows come home”.... schools and various grades under the EMSB banner will submit material based on questions I ask, with the said material collected by seasoned writer/reporter Stuart Nulman. We will call this project Of Mice (and other species) and Men and it starts in our March 2016 issue. Thanks, Mike... I think it will be a successful joint endeavour.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

EMSB

Precious Pets to launch new series in conjunction with EMSB with

Stuart Nulman u Exclusive to Precious Pets

photo credit Stuart Nulman

Stuart Nulman

Photographed from left to right at the “cat colony,” located at the SPCA Annex are: Alex Kuczyk, a teacher at Focus School; Anne Marie De Silva, EMSB Educational Consultant; Tya Collins, Head Teacher at Focus; and Colleen Ovenden, from the SPCA…

In his best-selling memoir Marley and Me, author John Grogan wrote: “Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”

morguefile.com photo

No matter what age you are, owning and caring for a pet not only teaches us how to be responsible individuals, but also offers something therapeutic, as it gives us a sense of respite from everyday problems and pressures, as well as developing our sense of loving and nurturing. “Owning a pet is one of the best ways to develop empathy and compassion for all living things,” said Anne Marie De Silva, an educational consultant with the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) of Montreal. “Sometimes if a person is disengaged from society or feels embittered towards humankind, caring for an animal can reawaken their sense of empathy and reconnect them to the world. The unconditional love that a pet offers can inspire humans to love one another more deeply.” And developing that sense of unconditional love that comes with owning a pet can start at an early age. And with that in mind, Precious Pets will be launching a new regular feature starting in March called “Of Mice (and oth-

er animal species) and Men … What the students of the EMSB’s schools think.” I, a long-time freelance journalist, will be visiting several EMSB schools every month and will talk to the students who are pet owners. I will get their unique perspective on what it’s like to own a pet, how their understanding of animals and the world has changed as a result of owning a pet, the treatment of animals in society, and discuss such notions as whether animals really do have souls.

As well, the EMSB is involved with other animal and pet-related projects. One of them is called the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP), which is being done with the SPCA and Focus School in NDG, where students go to the SPCA’s headquarters on Jean Talon St. and directly work with the animals there. The Youth Ambassador Program is looking to expand to several more EMSB schools for either the end of the school year or for the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. The SPCA’s Colleen Ovenden has recently developed a lesson plan involving animal welfare, which will help make the program a more formal and educational experience for students who will be involved in the future. Also, the EMSB’s BASE Daycare Program also conducts several programs that are related to animals and pet ownership.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

COVER STORY

Pompeii, 08-24-79 AD:

Oh what a night (and day)! Story and photos by Bram Eisenthal u Exclusive to Precious Pets

For a very brief time only, the people of the ancient Roman colony of Pompeii had heard the rumblings of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano in 79 AD (as it is today, hovering menacingly over thriving Naples and last erupting in 1944), yet had not remembered the times it had erupted in the distant past and the city had been challenged by other ecological tragedies: In 64 A.D. for instance,

an earthquake had reduced Pompeii to rubble. But just as latter-day humans can get used to just about any annoyance, they started thinking nothing of it. Then, quite spectacularly on August 24 after some 19 hours of frenzied activity, Vesuvius literally blew its top, sending many tonnes of glassine ash rumbling through fairly affluent Pompeii and across the bay into neighbouring Her-

culaneum, instantly slaughtering some 2,000 souls and at least one dog, unable to escape the intense heat and suffocating powder. The physical crescendo of gasses and fire was so potent, hot (between 300-400 degrees Celsius) and fast that anyone who had not attempted to flee was simply mowed down where they stood. Some Pompeiians tried escaping by boat to Herculaneum, where they joined residents on the beachfront and died. Many were encased in ash, their entombed bodies uncovered in the 18th and 19th centuries by Roman authorities. That famous dog was one of these, proving that men and women have loved domestic pet companions throughout history. But of the over 15,000 of local residents, many actually survived the deadly pyroclastic clouds, rock and ash that massacred people who tried hiding inside their homes and other places. Simply running away seemed to be quite the lifesaver, after all, as just over 1,500 corpses were found and it is presumed that some 2,000 people perished, this meant that over 13,000 residents still survived. The dog had no chance, as it was chained inside its family’s House of Orpheus atrium and its death anguish is clearly seen. We will hereafter refer to the dog as Fido Fidelta (pictured on our cover), as it perished in loyal service to its

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

ancient Roman family. We know many historic details of the death scene through the surviving, accurate descriptions of first century Roman general, traveller and, unfortunately, asthmatic Pliny the Elder. He died the day after the eruption, trying to rescue a friend from the nearby, equally-afflicted Stabiae, but his nephew Pliny the Younger related the tale of his uncle’s passing to his friend, the Roman Tacitus. The existence of Plaster of Paris cast replicas of people and the one dog found dead at the sites is the work of archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli, who poured the casting material into cavities in the ground left by the ash-encrusted remains of the dead bodies, on February 3, 1863. Fiorelli was quite startled by what he found, referring to his casting results as “Rapiti Alla Morte” or “Stolen from Death.” In 1710, Herculaneum became the first Vesuvian “death town” excavated by a local nobleman and, in 1748, excavations began at Pompeii, started by Bourbon kings. In 1771, the skeleton of a young girl was uncovered in the Villa of Diomedes, her shape

POMPEII Continues Page 10

A mosaic from the same house, showing that dogs were important to the family.

PROTEST

Challenging businesses like Berger Blanc is our responsibility A Pawws for Some R&R with Zoe Bennett

Le Berger Blanc, located in Laval, Quebec, is a place that claims to be a safe haven for animals BUT is anything except that. This is someplace we are expected to turn when finding a stray or injured animal and call for help, however, all is not what it appears to be. This institution is a lie, to pet lovers and people everywhere. The countless stories and accounts from peoples’ interactions with Le Berger Blanc is enough to shut them down, or should be anyways. They were brought to light initially five years ago by Radio-Canada, which

began an undercover investigation that uncovered a number of malpractices including: the euthanasia of perfectly healthy animals with no sedation whatsoever (ED. NOTE: Shades of the SEVEN Canada-based gassing pounds we are trying to shut down, to no avail so far!) The investigation did help in a number of ways allowing them to lose a sufficient amount of their clientele, including the City of Montreal, however we are now faced with some unsettling business: We were originally overjoyed when

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news broke about the city of Laval’s plans to invest in a new animal control centre, however, they announced that Le Berger Blanc would be the ones who take over this contract. This decision has left many stunned and outraged, as well as seeking answers as to why this is the case. In a short phone call to Le Berger Blanc to get more answers all we were given was a quick “no comment” and a hang up on the other end. It’s true that shelters get a bad name sometimes, however this takes the cake. Not only do they lie through their teeth, but they kill animals that are perfectly healthy and happy just solely to make a dollar. The animals of the City of Laval are in grave danger… they are the ones who will suffer most at the end of all this. It is devastating that this happens at all, let alone that we allow it to happen in our very own backyard. The deception that is at work here is heartbreaking and there are countless people trying to stop them in their tracks. We need to ask ourselves why it hasn’t been enough and what more can be done within the community to put an end to this once and for all. We are now faced with new obstacles regarding Le Berger Blanc, but the fact that this “shelter” is still up and running and will begin to grow is disheartening. Please visit the Facebook page I have created to gain awareness and knowledge on Le Berger Blanc. Share, Like and feel free to post your own comments on views on the matter. https://www.facebook.com/Le-Berger-Blanc-484323441770225/ ED. NOTE. – I am proud of you, Zoe.

Coming Up: NEXT ISSUE

FRIDAY. March 25, 2016

DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 info@preciouspetscanada.com

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

ANSWERS

Ask “The Cat Lady” With Suzanne Leveille

Q: Raw, canned, freeze-dried or kibble? Please rank them and state why... A. 1. My number one choice for proper nutrition is always a raw, balanced cat food. Raw is made up of mainly two things: Water and protein. Both of these are essential for animal nutrition. Firstly, the protein levels in raw meat are between 11-17 percent, which is much less than is found in most kibble. As cats are carnivores, having a moderate protein diet is important for their overall health. Cats do not have the digestive pathways to use grains or vegetation as energy: Instead they use animal protein for energy and cell regeneration and stock carbohydrates as fat. The second benefit from raw meat comes from water. The water content of raw meat is between 70-75 percent. In the wild, carnivores receive most of their required water directly through the raw meat that they consume. The same is true for your cat at home! There are a lot of obese, malnourished cats out there. Your cat craves animal protein to maintain health and thrive. But always remember: Not all raw food is created equal- Quality counts, too. A. 2. My second-best suggestion is well-rehydrated freezedried raw. Although the process of freeze-drying does destroy some nutrients and live enzymes, it is far better than kibble or canned food and has a similar nutritional profile as raw meat. An added bonus is that it is a convenient food when travelling, requiring no refrigeration. A. 3. My third suggestion is good, quality, canned food. My preference is for the all-meat and organ cans like Wild Calling chicken, turkey, duck and lamb. Hounds and Gatos is also an excellent canned food. Stay away from the fishy ones, but if you do use fishy ones, please only use them very infrequently! There are many good canned foods for your cat: Party Animal and Cocolicious, Wysong cans, Wellness Core. Again the protein and water levels are as close to raw food as you can get in a convenient package.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

A. 4. Kibble, it must be said, is the main reason cats visit veterinarian offices so often, with urinary tract problems, diabetes, kidney failure and dental issues. Therefore, kibble is not a suggested part of your cat’s diet. All of the above conditions are manmade and caused by inappropriate food. No, folks, eating a dry little cookie does not clean teeth... much to the contrary, it cakes on tartar day-after-day, until your kitty needs expensive dental cleaning. The protein count of some of the best grain-free kibble is staggeringly high at 37-40 percent. The water content at 10 percent is way too low and even the best kibble needs some starch to hold it together. Pea starch has no business in my cats’ bowls. Kibble takes a very long time for cats to digest: Combined with the protein level, I have little doubt that kidneys are taxed and pay a heavy price. My advice is feed kibble if you must, but give at least 1/2 of a 5 oz. can of good meat and organ. Kibble is to cats what Tang is to orange juice. Sure it’s convenient, but at what cost ? A. 5. Fish-based kibble is definitively last on my list. You cat is a CARNIVORE, while fish is an acquired taste that is difficult to break kitty away from. The incidence of urinary crystals and blockages go up on a fish diet, as well as thyroid problems (which has become epidemic in cats 10 years and older). Follow what nature provides for your cat ; Small rodents, full poultry, even red meat (the staple diet of their larger African cousins). Keep it simple and as close to nature as you can. The content of mercury as well as many other contaminants in fish is a big concern, by the way. I do not believe in intermittent feeding of fish (although admittedly some people do), as it only keeps the cat wanting more. If your child is addicted to junk food, you do not hang out there. And remember, you will never find a cat deep-seadiving for 600 lbs of tuna. Good food, a clean environment and lots of love are all you need to have a happy and healthy cat!

POLITICS

Liberals, put your money where your mouth is and stop animal abuse

Animal Writes with Gregory Caltabanis

When the Liberal government rose to power this past election they promised to implement real change. In regards to animal abuse reforms, however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite all their talk, the public is yet to see action and are left wondering if the government actually plans on living up to their word. In fact, according to the World Animal Protection Index, Canada gets a grade of D in terms of their commitment to improving animal welfare. Countries like Malaysia and the Philippines are ahead of Canada in this respect, which is simply unacceptable. In addition, the country’s current federal animal cruelty law was draft-

ed in the Victorian Era in 1892 and has not yet been changed over a hundred years later. Under these laws, lawyers need to prove that the accused exercised willful neglect towards the animal. What this means is that they must show that the person intended to harm or kill his or her animals. Many times, this is difficult to prove and often leads to the dismissal of cases. While countries from all over the world have revised their outdated animal welfare practices and policies, Canada remains stuck in the past despite the Liberal government’s promise for change. This was further underlined with the lack of action towards a particular animal cruelty case in British Columbia

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recently. In 2014, the SPCA in B.C suggested that Chilliwack Cattle Sales be charged with animal cruelty after obtaining videos of cows being kicked and beaten with rods among other things. 19 months later and charges are yet to be laid against arguably one of the worst farm-animal cruelty cases in Canadian history. In essence, this is the crux of the problem: Offenders know they can escape animal abuse cases relatively unscathed. Sure, there are fines in place and they can serve light sentences in jail, but the truth is that only one-third of one per cent of animal abuse cases lead to criminal charges. When it comes to animal abuse across the provinces, Quebec’s reputation is among the worst in the country. In order to combat this negative label, they have recently adopted Bill 54, which acknowledges animals as sentient beings. The bill imposes stricter fines and harsher sentences for repeat offenders. Moreover, Tim Hortons and other notable food chains such as McDonald’s and Harvey’s pledged to support an industry-wide transition to cage-free egg production. There’s one important thing, however, to note in all of this. The pledge indicates that the transition will be completed by 2036. Yup, you read that right. Another 20 years. On the provincial level, it’s a good first step to stop animal abuse but not much is being done on a federal level. In the coming weeks a Liberal MP will propose a three-part animal welfare bill to the House of Commons that will look to improve current conditions and seek to implement the change that’s been promised. This bill would ultimately concern itself with banning the sale of dog and cat fur and would restrict the importation of shark fins into Canada. A similar ban was previously proposed in 2013 by Fin Donelly, an NDP MP, but his bill was defeated. In the past, amendments were proposed to existing laws, but were eventually rejected by the Senate at the final hurdle. Even if this bill goes through, it would only represent a fraction of what needs to be done moving forward. To this day, animals in zoos and circuses are still unprotected as there are no regulations in place to prevent harm. At the moment, animals can be transported up to 52 hours without receiving food, water or rest. Unfortunately, this doesn’t appear to be

changing anytime soon. As the months pass and the current policies and regulations, or lack thereof, remain in place under the current government, it leads one to wonder: Are the Liberals all talk when it comes to animal abuse or will they finally deliver on their many promises? Liberals and other members of government, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is and stop animal abuse once and for all. It’s the least you can do.

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ED. NOTE: Show me an honest politician and I will show you a miracle. In fact, I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the politicians I have known to be truly honest, during my lifetime. When it comes to animal rights, all of these clowns, federal and provincial, do not have the balls to stand up to their parties. They are too busy kissing up to someone to really notice. It is time we told our political leaders, from whichever rock they slithered out from under, to shove it. In fact, we will be compiling a “black list” of the politicians whose records in this area are shameful. Next election, keep this in mind when you are standing near the ballot box. Good call, Gregory! I can’t stand the federal Liberals anyhow. And as for the Quebec Liberals, maybe Mr. Paradis can show us SOMETHING when it comes to animal welfare…. or someone will… anyone got the courage?

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

COVER STORY

More images from the MMFA’s Pompeii exhibition Photos by Bram Eisenthal

Visitor paying homage to the famous Pompeiian pet.

The frescoes found were rather spectacular

The statues are more than realistic in their new environment

A willowy and winsome sign of the times

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

A bust of Livia, wife of Julius Caesar and a fashion motivator of her time

ASK THE DOCTOR

They Call Me Dr. W

Housebreaking your baby (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)

Once you have set on the task of socializing your new puppy as described in our last article your job is not finished. To be a good canine citizen there are a few more things your puppy needs to learn. Toilet training is one of them. This training will depend on where you want your pup to eliminate his waste in the future. If you want your dog to use your backyard, start there right away. If you want your dog to use litter, start now. It will be more confusing for a dog to learn proper elimination first on a peepee pad, then to expect him to continue using the backyard once spring arrives. It is much easier for the dog to learn going outside right away, as the difference between indoors and outdoors is greater than eliminating on the pad or next to it on the floor. A pup needs to urinate and defecate within a very short period of time after eating or drinking. A dog learns proper elimination by repetition and avoidance. Preventing accidents in the house and eliminating in the right place is how the pup learns. Depending on the age of the puppy you can estimate how long he can go without urination. The rule of thumb is that his age in months plus one hour is his expected maximum holding time. Thus if your pup is two months old he can hold his urine for three hours. Usually a pup will defecate within 30 minutes after every meal. If you want to teach your pup to use the great outdoors for elimination you have to go with him and tell him what you want. Bring him to the same spot all the time. If you have a backyard, choose a spot most suitable for you. The grass will not grow well there, so don’t choose an area that is in plain sight. Choose a corner or some other place, where bad turf will be less of a problem. I chose a corner of my garden not visible from any window and placed a snow fence at one side. The area was about 6 x10 feet. I would take my dog there and tell her to eliminate: Within a few weeks she learnt that this was her bathroom. After that, all I had to do was open the back door and she would run to her spot to eliminate. To prevent accidents in the house keep your puppy within view and confine him to the room you are in. Some people prefer to use a 6-10-foot-long leash that they attach

to both their waist and the puppy, called a umbilical cord. Accidents will occur at the beginning, but use these accidents as training. If you see your puppy eliminating in the house, make a loud noise like “AHH!“ Preferably do not use the word “NO” as we want to reserve that for other things. You need

to praise or reprimand your puppy within two seconds of any behaviour. Finding urine on the floor and scolding your puppy after will not help. It may just make him scared. If you see your puppy is about to eliminate, instantly scoop him up and bring him outside, he may dribble along the way, but if he produces at least one

drop of urine outside praise him. Positive reinforcement is more rewarding for you, creates a stronger bond with your best friend and is much more effective than punishment. But that will be the subject of our next discussion.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

COVER STORY

Like a hockey goalie clad in armour, the gladiator waits for the match to begin.

POMPEII Continued from Page 4 i

Even the Chimera of legend has its place by the side of its human companion

perfectly preserved by the ash crust that surrounded her. Many of these forms are on display at this local exhibition and are more fascinating than gruesome, as their stories are told by the artefacts all around us. When Vesuvius blew its top, the pyroclastic surge claimed many innocent lives, true. But it accorded us all a wealth of archaeological riches beyond belief. The exhibit Pompeii: Life and Art in a Roman Town, will be viewable at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts until September 5, 2016. The exhibit is laid out in such a way that you are made to feel transported back through time, to the ancient port city, which still exists as a modern

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

town with an ancient heritage. Of the more than 220 relics on display (including a stunning coloured mosaic of a guard dog), a good portion of them are original artifacts and the audio-visual presentations are the most spectacular facet of all. The exhibit is co-curated by MMFA curator and archaeologist Laura Vigo, is presented by the Royal Bank of Canada and is organized in partnership with Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum, in collaboration with Italy’s Archaeological Superintendence of Campania and the Special Superintendence of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. Paul Denis, assistant curator at the ROM, is the exhibition’s chief curator. Congratulations to the organizers: Our readers are all guaranteed a most memorable visit, based on our personal experience. Content Warning: There is some nudity on the ancient erotic frescoes that were found in some private homes. A personal thanks to publicist Elisabeth Butikofer for arranging media passes to the exhibition for us.

CATTY COMMENTARY

Our Readers Speak

Mirabel and the two Snowies: The owl and cat Story by Lori Bell

Let me tell you a story about one amazing cat, brought to us through the magic of an amazing breed of owl. As I enjoy nature photography (a hobby), my friend and I often visit Mirabel to observe and photograph the beautiful Snowy Owls that are usually there each winter. Well this year our expeditions

Editorial Board The Editorial Board of Precious Pets is comprised of individuals connected to the pet field in some manner,

took us on a different path: Around the end of November, we started our journey and, lo and behold, we saw our first Snowy Owl of the year. It was gorgeous! We also saw a black cat meowing non-stop while approaching us. My friend happened to have a can of sardines in her trunk, so we decided to feed it to this starving cat. He went wild! He devoured the food in no time. We were not sure if he belonged to someone nearby but we soon realized that, even if he did, he was not taken care of properly. We eventually left and prayed he would be ok. We could not stop thinking about him. Around December 7, we went back, hoping to see him again.... and we did! He remembered us and came running toward the car. This time, we brought cat food and again he devoured it in no

Photo - Lori Bell

time. He then proceeded to follow me and tried to block

who are ready to ad-

vise 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 Wy– Veterinarian (Montreal’s West Island) branowski

Suzanne Villeneuve – President: Suzanne Villeneuve Associates Inc. & SVbiz Inc.

my path. We brought him inside the car to warm up and then searched for his home. While he was following me, although I did nothing to provoke him, he bit my leg, just above the ankle. Because I needed a tetanus shot and a dose of antibiotics, we had to leave him again. Everybody told me he bit me because he did not want us to leave him behind. He actually followed the car for a short time when we left. Our return was delayed due to a huge snowstorm, during which time the temperature dropped to -28 Celsius. When we arrived, he was nowhere to be seen and we imagined the worst. Suddenly my friend yelled out ”What is that?” A closer look led us to find a gorgeous Himalayan cat, shivering in fear, another sad story. As we approached him/her, it ran off in a flash. We never saw the poor thing again. Undaunted, we returned and resumed our search for the Snowy Owls and Snowy the cat. I called him Snowy because of the Snowy Owls...and the snow.

i Photo - Lori Bell

CATTY

Continues Page 13

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

LOVING PETS

How to show your pets you love them

morguefile.com photo

Valentine’s Day! I never know how to celebrate it with my pets. So I really don’t do anything special

for my dogs. I will continue to build a better bond with my dogs, Jake and Oscar, and pay more attention to them. I always love going outside to run around with my dogs. They chase me (sometimes I get a little nip from behind) and then I chase them. It’s a lot of fun. Eventually my dogs get bored or tired of running around and want to go into the house. I can’t play ball with my dogs. Because whenever I throw the ball, they never return it and then I have to chase them to get it back. That’s kinda frustrating! Sometimes my brother and I play ball hockey or soccer in the back yard. Oscar (the Giant Schnauzer) decides to play with the ball we are using and we have to chase him to

Boyhood Buddy with Jovan Rohac

get the ball back so we can continue to play. Even though my dogs frustrate me sometimes, I will always love them. Sometimes the way they do things is really funny because they’re minds are simpler then our human mind. I find myself laughing at some of the things they do and I am lucky to have pets. Some kids I go to school with don’t have the opportunity to have pets because either they or one of their siblings is allergic or their parents don’t like pets too much. I feel bad for my friends because a pet is a friend. ED. NOTE: Very honest, Jovan. Thank you.

morguefile.com photo

TIDBITS Art from

Marta Barnes morguefile.com photo

“ Another Valentine’s Day and another year of Frank’s gift getting a stony reception. ”

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca