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Greetings, Readers, and HAPPY SPRING!!!
Ask the Whollistic Scientist by Margaret Auld-Louie
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Its been a while since we here at Dogs and Cats, Colorado Style have climbed on a soap box, but there is finally some news that is so important, news that gives us so much new hope, we just have to share it with you!
New Laws Proposed for Pet Food Industry
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Do Pets Go To Heaven? By Ptolemy Tompkins
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Furry Scurry Wash Park May 3
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On October 25, 2013 the FDA issued a set of proposed laws to govern the manufacture of all food intended for animals, including PET FOOD. These are just proposed laws right now, and are sure to be met with opposition from some quarters of the pet food industry, but we are confident that they will be passed into law.
Lost Dog Saves a Life by Elisha Hartwig
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Your Pet Parade
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Kids Page
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Easter Hug by Lene Mumaugh
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This is HUGE, because it’s the first time any laws like this will have exsisted. Yes, there are certain regulations in place, but they are reactive...and inadequate. There was a petfood recall on the average of every 11 days in 2013, proof positive of what many of us have known for years... there needs to be a more pro-active approach to regulating production of pet food.
Can You Save an Elephant? By Dr. Youkey
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Correction/retraction: in our December issue, we inadvertently listed “Ask the Wholistic Vet” in our table of contents...it should have read “Ask the Wholistic Scientist.” We regret any problems that may have arisen as a result of this error, and we apologize to Mr. Russell Louie profusely. ~Editors
That is the main focus of the new proposals. They will require the companies who take our hard earned dollars, and feed our beloved pets, to put processes into place to monitor the quality of their product. They will have to test, re-test, analyze, and be accountable to the FDA. They will be required to continually re-evaluate their testing procedures. The old days of “oops, we’re sorry, we shouldn’t have used that ingredient, sorry your pet died, we’ll recall it” are on their way out.
Publishers
Joe Cefalu Pam Dreeszen Scott L. Simpson Contributing Writers Dr. Linda Dugger
There are, of course, pet food companies who are already actively doing this, and much more, because they have pets of their own, and they CARE. Some of them are right here in Denver, and we are proud to be associated with them. This is also another reason Denver is one of the very best places for pets to live...and no, we don’t think we are biased at all!
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Pam Dreeszen Joe Cefalu Dogs & Cats, Colorado Style PO Box 27662 Denver, CO 80227
Margaret Auld-Louie Russell Louie Lene’ Mumaugh Dr. Youkey
720-279-4PET BRINDA (720-279-4738)
It’s up to all of us to make sure the “proposed” regulations become the law. There is more information starting on page 10. Be informed, and advocate for your pets!!
~ED Complaints, Requests, Advertising Inquiries, Subscription Information ... Please call us direct at 720279-4PET. If you want to see your pet on our pet gallery or if you would be interested in writing an interesting article for us, or, for any other reason, you may E-mail us at: JRC@dogsandcatscostyle.com Once again... we thank everyone for their help…both readers and advertisers. Thank you all so much!
Dogs and Cats, Colorado Style is published quarterly, copyright January, 2002. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission. Dogs and Cats does not recommend or endorse any products or services advertised in this publication. Unsolicited articles are invited, but the editor reserves the right to edit any and all materials. All materials submitted to Dogs and Cats are considered to be Dogs and Cats property and unconditionally assigned to us for publication and copyright purposes. No liability is assumed with respect to t he accuracy or completeness of the information provided or from any loss or injury incurred from the use of this publication.
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t the heart of the ZEROREZ® revolutionary cleaning technology, is its ability to clean without the use of high-residue soaps, detergents, shampoos or chemicals. ZEROREZ® cleaning services are based on its unique EMPOWERED WATER™ technology. EMPOWERED WATER™ is enhanced water that is electrolyzed and oxidized to create a powerful cleaning solution without harmful toxins or chemicals. Typical soft surface “steam-cleaning” used on carpets and upholstery mixes hot water with soaps. The mixture is then sprayed on the carpet or upholstery under pressure. Most of the liquefied soap, dirt, and water are removed with a vacuum. However, a significant portion of the mixture remains behind. As the soft surface dries and the water evaporates, soap and chemicals dry into the fibers and literally acts as dirt magnets. The remaining soap residue is the most common cause of accelerated re-soiling in carpets and upholstery. In addition, conventional hot water extraction has also been the primary cause of over-wetting while cleaning carpets causing a number of problems, including extended dry times. By contrast, the
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ZEROREZ® cleaning system does not use soaps, detergents or shampoos to clean, but instead uses our revolutionary EMPOWERED WATER™. ZEROREZ of Denver is owned locally by two brothers committed to providing the best services to those looking to clean and maintain the living surfaces in their homes. Most businesses just want to get the job done and get paid. ZEROREZ of Denver holds a higher standard than that of their competitors. They not only want to leave their customers satisfied with the job done, but they want to create what they call “Raving Fans” with their technology and threefold guarantee. * Raving Fan Guarantee: If an error occurs during service, it will be corrected or your money will be refunded. * Price Guarantee: No surprises or hidden charges. You approve all work and know the price before it is administered, or we’ll provide it free of charge. * On Time Guarantee: If we miss our arrival window, you will receive an additional area cleaned absolutely free. Let us earn your business! 5
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ASK THE WHOLISTIC SCIENTIST How to shop for holistic pet food
ents are in the food. If you are buying food for your cat, keep in mind that cats are obligate carnivores (must have meat to survive). They do not have any requirement for carbohydrates or vegetables. But most cat foods contain those ingredients to reduce the price or give the illusion that the food is healthy (people think vegetables are healthy for all animals). Pet foods often have grains added to reduce the cost, such as wheat, barley, corn, oats, rice or millet. Or soy may be added to foods to increase the protein percentage, though dogs and cats cannot digest it very well (and non-organic soy is GMO.) But even if the food is grain-free, it may be high in other starches such as peas, tapioca or potatoes. Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM, feline nutrition expert (www.LittleBigCat.com), states that peas are too starchy for cats and should be avoided. Look at the labels of most grain-free canned cat foods and you will usually see one of these alternative starches. The manufacturers add them to cut the cost of the product. To learn more about how to feed your pet for optimal health, read our e-Book below.
by Margaret Auld-Louie Question: Why don’t you offer pet food made with free-range chicken and all-organic ingredients? Answer: The term “free range” is just a marketing term when it comes to chicken. It does not mean the chicken is raised outdoors but some pet food companies use this term to make their product appear better. Also, 100% organic pet food is cost-prohibitive for most consumers so companies add starches and vegetables to reduce the cost. Instead, we offer pet food that contains organic chicken as the first ingredient and is free of unnecessary starches and vegetables not suitable for carnivores (dogs and cats). When you are shopping for pet food containing chicken, beware of the following terms used for marketing purposes only: Cage-free—no meat chickens anywhere are raised in cages. Only egg-laying chickens are raised in cages. However, companies may use the term “cage-free” on their meat chickens for marketing purposes. Free-range—“free-range” chickens are not raised outdoors. Almost all meat chickens are raised indoors in barns, sometimes as many as 20,000. Even organic chickens are densely packed into indoor barns. Unfortunately, “free-range” chicken claims only require a door to the outside, which typically is a tiny door leading to a concrete slab. There are no requirements for how long chickens need to be outdoors so they typically spend most, if not all, of their time indoors in crowded conditions. No Hormones—“hormone free” or “no hormones” is misleading since hormones are not permitted in raising chickens. Vegetarian Fed—chickens are omnivores, so while this may mean that the chickens are not eating low-quality animal byproducts, they cannot be optimally healthy on a vegetarian diet. They eat insects, larvae and small animals when out on pasture.
NEW Format: Submit holistic pet questions to info@OptimumChoices.com with a subject: “Ask the Wholistic Scientist.” If your question is published, we will e-mail you a free copy of our e-Book: Save Your Dog or Cat.
We suggest looking for the following in pet food chicken: Pastured—to get chickens that are raised outdoors, you must purchase “pastured” or “pasture-raised” chickens. Organic—if you cannot get pastured chicken, the next best is organic since they will be fed organic food (which means no GMO food) and cannot be given antibiotics starting with their first day (might be given antibiotics in the egg.) No GMO’s—if you cannot get organic chicken, then look for chicken marketed as “Non GMO Project Verified”, meaning the chickens have not been fed corn, soy or other grains containing GMOs (genetically modified organisms). ALL chicken in the USA that is not labeled as either “organic” or “No GMOs” is fed GMO feed, because almost all corn and soy raised in the USA is now genetically modified (GMO). This matters because GMOs most likely have adverse health effects. Learn more at: www.ResponsibleTechnology.org. No Antibiotics—if you cannot get organic chicken, at least look for antibiotic-free chickens raised without antibiotics including in the egg. Chickens are fed antibiotics to make them grow faster but this leads to the development of antibioticresistant bacteria (detrimental to people). When reading pet food labels, besides looking for the best quality chicken, what else should you look for? Look for what other ingredi7
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Should I Get My Cat Groomed? By Rachel Diller, CFMG, NCMG
I hear this often in my grooming salon while taking care of what seems to be neglected pets. Why does the thought of getting your cat groomed seem so odd? Our entire lives, we were told that cats groom themselves. Licking does not count as grooming. There is no soap, brushing or toe nail clipping involved. It is time to stop listening to the peanut gallery and start listening to your cat! Our cats love us, unconditionally. They trust us to take care of them, feed them, pet them and above all, love them back. What better way to show you care than having your cat groomed regularly? We recommend every 6-8 weeks for cats. People get their dogs groomed and pampered, is it so different to think that their other pet shouldn’t? In fifteen years of grooming, I have seen more shedding, matted, greasy cats than I have ever in canines. In those years, I have commonly seen the struggle for cat owners to understand that the needs for their beloved felines are quite similar to their dog counterparts. I am all for educating my clients, helping them understand what services their cat needs. Most groomers do not desire grooming cats. If they do, they are usually dog groomers that just offer cats as a service to their clients. These are two different animals with very different grooming needs. I pay a mechanic to maintain my vehicle, my dentist to clean my teeth. Why not this for my cat? Grooming is an unregulated field; one must have knowledge and training. To give you an idea, in this state, there are approximately 1900 shops catering to dogs (maybe cats), maybe 2 of those shops have trained cat groomers and only one is a cat exclusive salon – Urban Sophisticats. I groom a cat like all cats need to be groomed, in a calm environment free of distractions and barking dogs. Most cats do not need to be sedated for their grooming. Even an aggressive cat will calm down with a bath, if done properly. I am proud to say that I am a Certified Feline Master Groomer as well as a Nationally Certified Master (dog) Groomer. I have the right tools and knowledge to provide a service that most would deem dangerous. Above all, I love what I do and I love helping clients learn how to properly care for their feline friends. Take a look at your cat tonight, while they’re asleep on your pillow. Is their coat shiny and non-shedding? Are they free of matts and tangled hair? Are their toenails trimmed and their bottoms free of feces? If not, give us a call and see how we can help you.Urban Sophisticats is Colorado’s premier feline exclusive grooming salon. We offer superior cat grooming service so that you can focus on spoiling your cat! Urban Sophisticats │ 5788 S Rapp St. Littleton, CO 80120 │ 303-730-2102 │www.urbansophisticats.net
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Do Pets Go to Heaven? After a beloved pet rabbit dies, Guideposts senior contributing editor Ptolemy Tompkins finds himself asking: Do pets go to heaven? By Ptolemy Tompkins, New York, New York
At 24, on a whim, I became the owner of a netherlands dwarf bunny named Angus. He was about the size of a baseball. In terms of personality, however, he soon established himself as a giant. I moved around a lot in those days, and wherever I went, Angus went with me. Whether I was waiting tables in Massachusetts or working as an office temp in New York, Angus was always there when I got home, ready to cheer me up with his odd little repertoire of habits. When he was feeling feisty, he'd charge back and forth and thump his back feet on the floor. In a more relaxed frame of mind, he'd stretch himself out like a cat. I'd sometimes wake up from a nap with him perched alertly on my head. Then, the unthinkable. I came home to find a cloth draped over his cage. A note from my roommate lay on top. "I'm sorry," it read. "When I got home, Angus was no longer alive." I lifted the cloth, and there was my little ball of personality, stock-still. In all the time I'd had him, I'd never seen Angus asleep. Even at rest, he was partly on the alert. Now, for the first time ever, I saw him with his eyes shut. Angus's death was something I should have been prepared for. Dwarf bunnies don't have a long life expectancy. All the same, I was inconsolable. Just a rabbit? Forget about it. Angus's passing hurt. I found myself thumbing through my books on religion and mythology for references to animals and the afterlife. This is silly, I thought. But silly or not, I wanted to know what people over the centuries had to say on the matter. Plenty. Animals played a large role in most ancient peoples visions of the spiritual world. The mythologies of several ancient cultures claimed that when people passed on, their dogs were waiting to guide them to the land of the blessed. The Egyptians—cat people were especially emphatic in their belief that cats and other animals played a key part in the afterlife. One Native American legend states that when God set about to create the world, he brought his dog along with him.
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What did the Bible have to say? On the surface at least, the Bible seems to say very little about the place of animals in the afterlife. Look up "dog" in a concordance, and you won't find any evidence that the people of biblical times valued the role dogs play in day-to-day life. When the writer of Psalm 22, for example, says, "For dogs have compassed me," he is not describing a pleasant situation. It doesn't get much better when one looks to traditional Christian authors beyond the Bible either. Eminent churchmen like St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas have left a number of very discouraging passages
about the place of pets, or any animals, in the world that waits beyond the borders of earthly life. Though I didn't know it then, this experience of losing a pet and coming up short on biblical consolation is one that many people have gone through. It's also one that many have tried to convince themselves they must simply accept. As Steve Wohlberg, author of the recent book Will My Pet Go to Heaven?, told himself when he lost his dog: "The central focus of the Bible is God, the people, and human salvation, not dogs and cats, right?" 14
Not so fast. Steve and a number of other writers argue that the question "Will I see my pet again?" isn't silly, and it isn't a question without an answer either. To discover as much, all one need do is take a closer look at the Bible. Okay, the question of whether there are pets in heaven is never answered straight-up in the Bible. But as M. Jean Holmes, author of Do Dogs Go to Heaven?, writes, "The pieces have to be patiently gathered, carefully laid side-by-side, then prayerfully interpreted." The Bible does indeed have an answer about whether we will see our furry loved ones again. Consider the story in Genesis of the very first covenant established between God and his people, made with Noah right after the flood. The clouds part and the world's first rainbow appears. God tells Noah that he is creating a covenant "with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth." God goes on to say that his covenant with "all flesh" shall never be "cut off"—a strong suggestion that animals will not be excluded from his dealings with the world. (This passage was an inspiration for "Rainbow Bridge," an anonymous poem that has become very popular on the internet. It describes how when people arrive at the gates of heaven, the first thing they will encounter is their deceased pets.) Then there's Luke 3:6. "All flesh shall see the salvation of God." Or Mark 16:15—a passage wellloved by that great friend of animals, Saint Francis of Assisi. The risen Jesus tells the Apostles to go into the world and "preach the Gospel to every creature." Jesus filled his teachings with references to animals. His promise in Matthew and Luke that not even a sparrow falls to earth without God's knowing it subtly but powerfully suggests what every grieving pet owner feels: God refuses to forget a single one of his creatures, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. What about the argument that runs: "Animals can't go to heaven because the (Continued on page 19)
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ability to communicate, and his fear of the outside world, improved with the introduction of a puppy. I have also had more than one client who, while undergoing chemotherapy for canI have always known from the time I was very little that the cer, told me that the pet was very sensitive to their frailty and pet in the family was an integral part of our family. Though I helped them cope with their depression and pain. We can feel have 3 siblings, I often hung out with the family dog. I am sad- very guilty burdening our family with our illness/depression or dened when I go to a home and the family tells me that now other needs, but a pet is a safe haven for our emotions. that they have had children, the dog is “just a dog”. I do understand, of course, that when it comes to financial considera- Parents should try to understand how important a pet is in a tions, the family’s human members must take precedence. child’s life. A pet teaches a child that he or she is loved by at However, I am concerned that some parents do not realize the least one living thing on this planet, just for being alive. Havimportant part the pet in the family plays in a child’s life. ing the child be responsible for feeding, brushing and cleaning
The Importance of A Pet to a Child
Many children who are now well adjusted adults owe this to the pet they grew up with. I have mentioned many times in my articles that pets give unconditional love, and I think many of us adults will admit that even parents can falter in this aspect, or perhaps a child can not accept that a parent’s love is unconditional. I recently overheard a parent tell a misbehaving child who was screaming, “You hate me” over something the parent was not allowing her to do say “I do not hate you, but I love you more when you behave”. I’m not saying the parent was wrong, but a dog or cat will never indicate this to a child, because the animal isn’t the disciplinarian. He’s just a quiet companion that accepts the child when he/she is bad, grouchy, unpopular, shy or going through a difficult time such as a parental divorce. To a pet, children with emotional, developmental or physical impairments are no different from anyone else – to the pet, the child is considered normal. One of my clients, whose child is autistic, was thrilled when the child’s
up after the pet also teaches the child the valuable lesson of caring for another life. This is an important lesson for them as future parents, spouses, and even for certain caretaking careers. Children are taught that other creatures have value, and that they also feel pain, playfulness, happiness and are sometimes sad as well. The pet is never too busy for the child – or the parents, for that matter. They should be cared for as an important, valuable member of the family. Dr. Linda Dugger Rocky Mountain Mobile Veterinary Clinic, PC
(303) 257-0202
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(Continued from page 14)
Bible says they don't have souls"? Norm Phelps points out in his book, The Dominion of Love that the Hebrew term repeatedly used to describe animals in the Old Testament is nephesh chayah. Chayah means "living," while nephesh is the Hebrew term for the force that animates the body—what Phelps describes as "the whatever-it-is that makes a person or an animal a conscious, sentient individual." A funny thing happened when this term was translated into English. In most English versions of the Bible, different words are used to translate nephesh chayah depending on whether animals or people are being discussed. In Genesis 1:21 and 24, for example, Phelps points out that nephesh chayah is translated as "living creature." But in Genesis 2:7, where the term refers to people, not animals, it's translated as "living soul." The use of two different terms in the English translation completely blurs the fact that in the original Hebrew, no such distinction exists. Why did the Bible's english translators take such pains to use different terms for the souls of animals and people, when the Hebrew of the Old Testament repeatedly uses just one? Probably because they were concerned not to contradict Genesis teaching that humans alone are created in God's image. But to acknowledge that animals have souls isn't to usurp the unique place of humans in God's creation—as the original Hebrew makes clear enough. Of all the biblical passages that I ultimately discovered I could turn to for consolation, the most moving and compelling is the Old Testament's single greatest passage prefiguring the Christian heaven—Isaiah's vision of the Peaceable Kingdom: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." Why, when Isaiah wanted to paint the ultimate picture of heavenly fulfillment, did he choose to make such rich use of animals? Because he knew what every pet owner knows: A world without animals is a barren one. And clearly, a heaven without our pets would be less heavenly.
LOST DOG SAVES A LIFE By Elisha Hartwig
Yolanda Sevogia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door one morning asking if she could keep an eye on a lost terrier she found roaming around the local elementary school.
As soon as she opened the door, RaeLee sprinted into the boys' room where Yolanda found Christian in the middle of a violent seizure. RaeLee ran over to Christian, but as soon as Yolanda bent over to help him the dog went silent.
Yolanda agreed to watch the dog, but told Stacey it would only be for the day. The two women took photos of the dog and printed off 4,000 FOUND fliers, stuffed them in mailboxes and also placed an ad on Craigslist.
"If he hadn't come to get me, the neurologist said Christian would have choked on his own blood and died," Yolanda reported to the Tampa Bay Times. At this point, no one had called to claim the dog so Yolanda decided to keep him.
In the meantime, Yolanda went to the dollar store and bought some pet supplies, warning her two sons not to fall in love with the dog. At the time Yolanda's son Azaiah was 10 years old, and Christian was 21 years old. Christian has Down syndrome and an assortment of other ailments, and had recently undergone heart and kidney surgeries.
The next morning Stacey got a call; a man named Randy recognized his lost dog and called the number on the flier. Stacey started crying, and told him, "That dog saved my friend's son." Randy drove to Yolanda's house to pick up his dog, and saw Azaiah crying on the porch and Christian in the window. After a few moments Randy said, "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you, maybe you should keep him."
Four days later Yolanda was still looking after the dog, who they had started to call RaeLee (pronounced Riley). When she arrived home from work, the dog flung himself against the screen door and barked madly at her. 19
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Bailey is one of those dogs you’ve seen on the 6 o’clock news, because she fell through the ice in Washington Park, and was rescued by the fire department and taken to an animal hospital, where she was treated for her hypothermia. She lives the good life now, adopted by Debbie of Highlands Ranch, and takes Debbie for walks in the park WITH a leash and a collar!
Micky’s furry children...Sweat Pea (top) Lucky Kitty, (left) and Mama Kitty. Mama Kitty used to have a name, but after she adopted a little stray (Lucky) she became known forever more as Mama Kitty.
Sweet Maggie May, left, was adopted from a shelter. Her new mom, Sage, takes her to play with her best friend, Ruby (above) at Berkley Park, an off-leash park near Sheridan and I-70.
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Vincent, with his adopted-from-theshelter pal, Prince. The family has a total of three dogs that were adopted from the Dumb Friends League.
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CAT’S EYE TRIVIA Cats cannot see directly beneath their noses. You can test this by offering your kitty a treat, such as Pounce. He can smell it, but if you drop it directly beneath his nose, he'll have to root around a bit before finding it. Rumors aside, cats are not colorblind. Their ability to see color is not as enhanced as ours, but they can see some colors. If normal human vision is 20/20, then that of the cat is 20/100. He has keen vision for objects far away, but things up close may appear fuzzy or blurred. Perhaps this is why cats do the sniff test when greeting friends. Most (but not all) white blue-eyed cats are deaf. A white cat with odd-eyes (one blue and one green or gold) will most often be deaf on the side with the blue eye. Cats "Kiss" with their Eyes. Have you ever noticed your cat gazing at you for a long moment and then slowly blinking his eyes? That's the kitty equivalent of a kiss, and you should feel very flattered. Of course, a nip on the nose is also their way of giving a kiss. If you want to show your cat you love him, give him a kitty kiss right back. No, not on the nose. Just give him that long stare and slow blink and see what happens. 24
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MY CAT PANTHER I was in the bathroom, brushing my teeth. The door was closed, and so was the window. Just then, I heard a loud cry. At first I thought it was my imagination, until I walked out of the bathroom and saw my mom holding a little black kitten! She must've found her outside, sitting in the rain. My big cat, Bridget, was staring at her, her eyes big and black. I walked over, staring at the young kitten, while Bridget was hissing. I picked up the little black cat. At first she tried to get away, but then she settled down and started purring. We fed her two cans of cat food, and she gobbled them both up quickly. We realised that she had worms. About two weeks later, we brought her to the vet to kill them. Now, she is the happiest kitten you would ever see! Bridget, well she isn't too fond of her, but she isn't that bothered anymore. By Lyndsey White, age 12, Greenwood Village, CO
Toby The Dog By Ellie, 6, Bailey, CO He barks in the morning when the sun comes up and howls in the evening when stars come out he loves me and my brother Ally The End.
Puppy Attack! By Kate, 10 and a half, Denver, CO I asked for a dog for my birthday last year I thought he'd bring our family cheer Instead he's always a mess He sheds and licks my mom's new dress And that's not the worst of it- no! He barged in at the school talent show
Do you like to write stories about your pets? Send them to us, and we’ll print them for you! You’ll be famous! Our address is on page 4!
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Easter Hug By Lene Mumaugh
The sun peeked over the horizon. The colors of blue and pink reflected in the clouds. The air carried a chill from the patches of snow which lie where the sun couldn’t reach. Samantha eyes peeked open. It was Sunday. She could sleep in. This Sunday was special. It was Easter Sunday! Out of bed; she bounced. She pulled up the comforter and peeked under her bed. Not one egg, not even a piece of candy. The Easter egg hunt was on! “Momma,” Samantha called down the stairs. “Ready or not, here I come!” She hopped down the stairs. A pink and lime green basket filled with candy and a few small toys was displayed in the middle of the breakfast table. “Oh,” Samantha said. “Momma, my basket is beautiful. Just like every other year.” Samantha scurried throughout the house looking for hidden eggs. Her basket over flowed, each egg different from the next. “Time to get ready for church service,” Samantha’s dad said. “Today, we celebrate a special day.” Her dad said those same words every year. Samantha put on her new light pink dress with two pastel blue flowers near the neckline. She placed a hat over her blonde curls. It was white with a floppy brim; a strand of light green satin wrapped smoothly around the center. A long line of people stood quietly outside the small church. Sunday best was the outfit of the day. Ladies dressed in pastel colors, men suited up in blacks and browns. Samantha focused on the shoes in line, each pair seemed to shine. She caught the pastor’s eye as she settled into her pew. His yellow carnation stuffed into his lapel spoke of Easter. Samantha loved all the pretty colors of Easter. They were the same colors Jesus wore in the picture; the picture that hung in the long hallway of the church.
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“Mom, may I go out to the hallway?” Samantha asked. “Are you going to look at the picture?” Mom smiled. Samantha smiled in return. “You do it every year on Easter,” Mom said. Mom patted Samantha softly on her back. She stared into His face. The hallway became quiet. Jesus walked out of the picture and kneeled beside her. “You’re not real, are you?” Samantha stammered. “Of course, I’m real,” said Jesus. “But, but, you’re not alive,” she said. “I’m alive in your heart,” Jesus spoke again. “As long as you keep me living in your heart, you can talk to me anytime you want.” Samantha touched the baby blue fabric of his sleeve. It felt smooth, like soft velvet. She wanted to hug Him. Jesus spread His arms open wide. “It’s what you want to do,” He said. Samantha wrapped her arms around Jesus’ neck. His return hug contained warmth and security. “Jesus, can you tell me what Easter means?” Samantha asked. “Easter is a very important day in my life,” Jesus replied. “You celebrate today because many years ago on this day I went to spend all eternity with my Father, God.” “Your dad is God?!” asked Samantha. “Yes, He is,” said Jesus. “Then why would your Dad let you die on the cross?” Samantha asked. “I died on the cross for you, for everyone,” Jesus replied. “It was the purpose of my life.” “You did that for me?” She cocked her head to one side. “Yes, I did,” He said. “But, you had so much to live for, your dad being God and all,” Samantha said. “Once my purpose was fulfilled, I was given the gift 26
of life in heaven through all eternity,” said Jesus. “That is the meaning of Easter, the resurrection of my life into heaven to be with my Father, er… my Dad, as you say it.” “Does everybody know that?” Samantha asked. “The Bible tells the story,” said Jesus. “Not only do I get to spend all eternity in heaven, but everyone else can if they believe in me.” “Oh, Jesus, I love you,” Samantha said. She wrapped her arms around Him one more time. “You better go,” Jesus said to Samantha. “Your parents are waiting for you.” Samantha looked where Jesus pointed. Her father held his hand out as he had so many times before. Jesus was back in the picture on the wall, but Samantha could still feel the warmth of His hug. “Mom, Dad, you’ll never believe what just happened,” said Samantha, running toward them. Jesus’ voice spoke from the picture, “They’ll believe you, sweet child. Happy Easter.”
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Its Called a Cat Nap for a Reason!! By Julia Layton of Animal Planet
Domesticated cats are seldom accused of overexertion. The life of a house cat basically consists of four activities: playing (perhaps patty-cake), ruining upholstered furniture, eating and sleeping — and that last activity takes up the most time by far. Cats are among the top sleepers in the animal kingdom, and for good reason: They are, in the wild at least, predators, and their prey doesn’t usually want to get caught. This means that cats have to do quite a bit of chasing, and that chasing (hopefully) culminates in a huge burst of energy for the final takedown. If they don’t have the energy for a successful hunt, they don’t get to eat. So they’ve evolved to sleep (or sometimes just rest) for most of the time they don’t spend hunting, saving up the strength to catch dinner. What they eat may contribute to their sleep time, as well. They live on protein, which packs a lot of energy into a relatively
small package. They needn’t spend endless hours grazing or foraging the way large herbivores do.
their lives asleep, they’re not “asleep” in quite the same way humans are. They do experience both non-REM and REM sleep, but for cats, “asleep” is not “off the clock.” Cats are always on the alert, even when they’re dozing. If a strange noise wakes them up, they’re almost instantly aware and fully operational. It’s an ability that cats (and wild animals in general) depend on to stay safe, and fed, in nature’s Darwinian existence. House cats, of course, have left “survival of the fittest” behind. They needn’t chase down their dinner. They are, on the contrary, served their meals, sometimes gourmet ones, in a timely fashion. But the instincts haven’t changed; house cats have the same genetic programming as feral cats.
So, just how much sleep does a wild cat get? Anywhere from 16 to 20 hours a day, typically. For very young and very old cats, it’s near the upper end of the range, and newborns sleep almost 24/7.
Domesticated felines, like their wild counterparts, sleep about 16 hours a day, on a pretty regular schedule, saving up their energy for the hunt. You never do know when the gourmet food’s going to run out!
While cats do spend at least two-thirds of
eyes droopy — is a reaction to the tantrum you are throwing now over the damage they did hours earlier.
He May Look Sorry, But He’s Not... LOS ANGELES — The next time you start shaking your finger and shouting "Shame on you!" because your dog chewed up your favorite fuzzy slippers, just remember that no matter how guilty your dog looks, it doesn't know what your rant is about.
"Just get over it and remind yourself not to put temptation in the way next time," said Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Taken from Animal Planet
Behaviorists insist dogs lack shame. The guilty look — head cowered, ears back,
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