NAMPA — Anyone seeking a new or a lost pet should call the Pet Haven Shelter at 466-1298 for information, or visit the shelter at 333 Orchard Ave.
Pet Haven’s shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and most holidays.
It costs $50 to adopt a cat. These charges include spaying or neutering the pet, deworming it, vaccination and a leukemia test.
Remember the low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the shelter. Call for times and dates.
All cats ready for adoption are spayed or neutered.
Find out more online at www.pethavenonline.org.
The Thrift Store at 619 Main St., Caldwell, helps fund the operating expenses of Pet Haven. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10-4:30 Saturday. For more information call 455-1303.

CALDWELL — The Canyon County Animal Shelter is at 5801 Graye Lane, behind the Larry Miller Auto Mall. For information about lost pets or adopting a companion animal, call 455-5920.
All dogs cost $65 for males or females, for neuter or spay, first...

If your younger dog always deferred to the older dog, but now they fight, one scenario may be that an older, previously dominant dog is challenged by a younger, more domineering dog. This may happen as the older dog ages, or as the younger dog reaches behavioral maturity at 12 to 36 months. This may be an attempt to alter the existing hierarchy but at other times the dog is being a “bully.” Sometimes the older dog will acquiesce and things are fine, but at other times the owners do not want the change and intervene. In some situations, the older dog will not relinquish the dominant role even though it cannot physically compete with the younger dog. This can result in severe, injurious fights.
Breaking up a fight can be a dangerous situation for people and dogs alike. Owners usually try to reach for the collar of the fighting dogs, or if one is small, pick it up. This can result in severe owner injury if the fighting is very intense. If both are wearing leashes, they can usually be pulled apart. If all else fails,...

Dogs fight for a variety of reasons. Usually there is a dominant and subordinate dog and the owner should not interfere with the relationship.
On other occasions, neither dog is willing to be subordinate. This could be due to a challenge to the hierarchy as a younger dog matures, as an older dog becomes sick or aged, when a new dog is introduced into the home or when one dog is not clearly dominant to the other. You should learn how to recognize canine body language and low-level threats such as eye contact, snarls or low growls. Keep records of threats, attacks or tension-producing situations. An owner must have excellent control over both dogs in order to succeed. To facilitate treatment, decrease the chances of injuries and increase owner control, a remote leash can be left attached to one or both dogs. Often the best form of owner control is to fit and train each dog with a head halter, and to leave a leash and head halter on each dog when they are together (under the owner’s supervision). In other cases,...

As the winter season settles in, the chill of the cold air often make
us more aware of our joint health problems- the same goes for your pet.
Though commonly bothersome in the winter, joint discomfort can be a year
round-pain that affects your pet’s quality of life.

“Joints are areas where bones come together,” explains Dr. Sharon
Kerwin, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “They are a combination of
bone, ligaments, cartilage, and the joint capsule and fluid. If anything
damages the cartilage or another structure in the joint then arthritis
or deterioration results.”

Unfortunately, at this point in time, there is no cure for arthritis.
Symptoms can be treated but arthritis is often progressive and gets
worse with time.

Though no cure has been found yet, there are ways to prevent or
postpone the onset of your pet’s joint problems.

“While genetics do play a role in the development of some joint
issues, weight control and proper diet are essential in both prevention<...

Sharing With your Pets is Bad… At Least When it Comes to Disease.

Many of us share just about everything with our pets. After all, they
are part of our families. We share our home, our food, even part of our
couch. While we are taught early in life that sharing is good, there
are definitely some things that we don’t want to share with our pets
and one of these is disease.

Diseases that can be transferred between humans and people are called
zoonotic diseases. Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery
Services at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, explains how these diseases can be transferred and how they
can be prevented.

“The good news is that if you are sick you are almost certainly not
going to give it to your pet,” reassures Stickney. “The only real
exception is that it is possible to spread the flu virus from people to
ferrets.”

On the other hand, Stickney notes that it is much more common for
humans to catch diseases and/or illnesses from our pets.

“Our pets can actually give us...

NAMPA — Anyone seeking a new or a lost pet should call the Pet Haven Shelter at 466-1298 for information, or visit the shelter at 333 Orchard Ave.
Pet Haven’s shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and most holidays.
It costs $50 to adopt a cat. These charges include spaying or neutering the pet, deworming it, vaccination and a leukemia test.
Remember the low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the shelter. Call for times and dates.
All cats ready for adoption are spayed or neutered.
Find out more online at www.pethavenonline.org.
The Thrift Store at 619 Main St., Caldwell, helps fund the operating expenses of Pet Haven. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10-4:30 Saturday. For more information call 455-1303.
CALDWELL — The Canyon County Animal Shelter is at 5801 Graye Lane, behind the Larry Miller Auto Mall. For information about lost pets or adopting a companion animal, call 455-5920.
All dogs cost $65 for males or females, for neuter or spay, first...

As 2009 opens a year of promise, we all start pondering our New
Year’s resolutions. For many people the top of that list includes
weight loss and exercise. While most people could benefit from this
resolution, so could most pets.

Obesity occurs in up to 40 percent in our pet dogs and cats and it has
many causes, but inactivity is a major contributor.

“Animals require exercise to maintain a healthy weight just as people
do,” states J. David Sessum, registered veterinary technician at the
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M
University. “The difference between animals and people is that for the
most part it is easier for pets to lose weight because the owner is the
one who regulates their diet.”

Pets that have a recommended diet from a veterinary professional
usually maintain a healthy weight because they are fed the correct
amount of kilocalories in their diet that is suited for their level of
activity.

“I do believe that owners play a huge role in helping their pet lose
and maintain a healthy...

NAMPA — Anyone seeking a new or a lost pet should call the Pet Haven Shelter at 466-1298 for information, or visit the shelter at 333 Orchard Ave.
Pet Haven’s shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and most holidays.
It costs $50 to adopt a cat. These charges include spaying or neutering the pet, deworming it, vaccination and a leukemia test.
Remember the low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the shelter. Call for times and dates.
All cats ready for adoption are spayed or neutered.
Find out more online at www.pethavenonline.org.
The Thrift Store at 619 Main St., Caldwell, helps fund the operating expenses of Pet Haven. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10-4:30 Saturday. For more information call 455-1303.
CALDWELL — The Canyon County Animal Shelter is at 5801 Graye Lane, behind the Larry Miller Auto Mall. For information about lost pets or adopting a companion animal, call 455-5920.
All dogs cost $65 for males or females, for neuter or spay, first...

As the weather turns colder and the holidays approach, many pet owners
start thinking of the adorable Halloween costumes and cozy sweaters they
can put on their pets. While these outfits can be fun and festive, the
wrong outfit can cause harm to your animal.

Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery Services at the Texas
A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical
Teaching Hospital, shares some tips and insight on how to protect your
pet while celebrating the season.

While Dr. Stickney agrees that costumes and clothes are a fun way to
interact with your animals, he emphasizes that the most important thing
to remember when dressing your pet is to monitor them.

“Cute little costumes are fun to put on your animals while
trick-or-treating, but when you are not watching your animals, make sure
to take them off,” said Dr. Stickney.

He also stresses that this also goes for sweaters, jackets or any other
clothing you may put on your pet. While you may think your pets need
clothes to stay warm, they can...

Taking care of our pets is a year round commitment. However, caring for our animals is more than simply making sure they have food, water, and shelter each day. Making sure they visit their veterinarian for regular check-ups is vital to their well being as well.
October is National Pet Wellness Month. Sponsored by The American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health, National Pet Wellness month is intended to promote awareness about the pet aging process, disease prevention, and the importance of pet wellness exams.
Many people adopt the misguided belief that unless you pet is clearly ill or injured there is no reason to take them to the veterinarian. Just because your pet is not displaying discomfort, does not mean it is healthy. Visiting your veterinarian for wellness exams can potentially prevent health problems, lead to early detection of health issues that could become problematic, and find existing problems that may be
corrected.
“Make sure your pets see their veterinarian at least once...

NAMPA — Anyone seeking a new or a lost pet should call the Pet Haven Shelter at 466-1298 for information, or visit the shelter at 333 Orchard Ave.
Pet Haven’s shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday noon to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and most holidays.
It costs $50 to adopt a cat. These charges include spaying or neutering the pet, deworming it, vaccination and a leukemia test.
Remember the low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the shelter. Call for times and dates.
All cats ready for adoption are spayed or neutered.
Find out more online at www.pethavenonline.org.
The Thrift Store at 619 Main St., Caldwell, helps fund the operating expenses of Pet Haven. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10-4:30 Saturday. For more information call 455-1303.

CALDWELL — The Canyon County Animal Shelter is at 5801 Graye Lane, behind the Larry Miller Auto Mall. For information about lost pets or adopting a companion animal, call 455-5920.
All dogs cost $65 for males or females, for neuter or spay, first...

By MARTHA RAFFAELE
Associated Press Writer
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sammy, a Shetland sheepdog, wouldn't touch his food, retreating to a corner of the yard and devouring mouthfuls of dirt — behavioral oddities his owner later learned came from a lifetime of abuse as a "stud" in a large puppy mill.

The 10 years of caged confinement Sammy endured would have been illegal under a bill signed late Thursday by Gov. Ed Rendell. The governor, who owns two rescued golden retrievers, and other dog advocates hope the new law will help Pennsylvania shed its reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East.

The Humane Society of the United States has counted Pennsylvania among a handful of states where lucrative, largely unregulated puppy mills are concentrated.

The issue caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey after a suburban Philadelphia rescue organization put up a billboard in Chicago begging her to do a show on dog breeder abuse. The movement took on new momentum when, in August, operators of two eastern Pennsylvania kennels shot...

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) _ A man whose dog rescued him from a house fire in Trinidad says the animal died after running back into the burning building.

Trinidad & Tobago Express newspaper quotes Anderson Marcano as saying that he woke up because the dog kept barking and tugging at his pants. Marcano says he smelled the smoke and was shocked to find his house on fire.

The story published Friday did not say why the dog ran back in. Marcano said no one else was inside the house at the time.

Marcano did not immediately return a call for comment.

He said firefighters on Wednesday found the body of his dog, "Rebel," as well as the remains of the family's pet parrot.

Now available in elementary schools everywhere
New two-week curriculum puts the compassion of kids to work,
by helping them help the handicapped pets of America

LOS ANGELES, CA — Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” While far from Gandhi’s India, Kathy Barton, a 4th grade school teacher in Velma, Oklahoma has being doing her part to spread these kind teachings. What started in 2004 as a way of teaching her young students compassion is now available as a two-week curriculum for elementary schools across the country to share, How Do You Teach Compassion? You Show It; Working With Handicapped Pets: A Manual for Teachers and Youth Leaders.
Designed from the successful program Barton has used in her own classroom for the last five years and developed in conjunction with handicappedpets.com, this curriculum is about compassion; it’s about learning to care in a world that doesn’t always stress the importance of reaching out to those less...

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) _ A BBC documentary claiming that decades of inbreeding has led to serious health problems in some pedigree dogs prompted a riposte Wednesday from the organizer of Britain's biggest dog show, which complained to television regulators.

The program "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" claimed a breeding process that focused on beauty rather than health had resulted in high levels of deformity and genetic illnesses. The show prompted two major animal charities to withdraw their support for the Crufts dog show.

The Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, insisted animal welfare was its top concern, and said it might cut ties with the BBC over what it called the network's unfair reporting.

Kennel Club spokeswoman Caroline Kisko said the program "was highly biased against us."

"The program did not give The Kennel Club's work anything like the profile it gave to the counter view," she said. "It maintained that pedigree dogs are riddled with ill health, which is clearly untrue."

The BBC show,...

STURGIS, S.D. (AP) _ Sturgis officials have given preliminary approval to an ordinance that would regulate the owners of pit bulls.
Several people lined up to testify in favor and against the measure.

If enacted by city officials, the ordinance will force pit bull owners to carry liability insurance. They also will have to register their dogs and keep them restrained at all times.

Sturgis Animal Control Officer Curt Nulle says there has been an increase in local pit bull attacks and complaints about them.

Melissa Foxworth of the Humane Society of the Black Hills says other dogs also can be aggressive, adding that owners should be held responsible — no matter what the breed.

By CYNTHIA HUBERT

Sacramento Bee
On many an afternoon in Citrus Heights, Calif., Muffin Wichert lounges on the patio at a restaurant, resplendent in one of her favorite outfits. Weekends find her wandering the aisles of Capital Nursery, trotting through the neighborhood Lowe's or visiting the video store.
"If it wasn't illegal, I'd take her everywhere," Sally Wichert says. After all, she says, Muffin the Maltese is a model of good behavior.
The same cannot be said of every beloved dog or, for that matter, their human companions.
When people and their pets leave the house, certain rules of etiquette apply.
Or "petiquette," if you prefer.
"Your dog's behavior affects everyone around you," says Charlotte Reed, who has been called the Emily Post of the pet set. Reed, who trains and shows dogs, has written the bible of canine etiquette, "Miss Fido Manners" (Adams Media, 224 pages).
As the owner of a pet-care business in New York City, Reed grew tired of hearing about disastrous interactions between dogs and people.
"What...

Our mini-Australian Shepherd is hyper, to say the least. When we leave him outside, he digs at the edges of our lawn all day long. He's actually doing quite a bit of damage despite only weighing 8 lbs.! I don't want to put him in a kennel all day and scolding him when we get home doesn't seem to help. I really don't want to make him afraid of me. Any suggestions?

For all of you dog lovers out there, I found a great site that has about every topic imaginable for your friendly canine. It also has online shopping available with everything from leashes and collars to dog houses and outdoor kennels. Some of the cool things that I have enjoyed are:
* Dog Encyclopedia
* Dog Nutrition
* Dog Obedience & Training Manual
* Caring for Old Dogs
* Dog Health Guide
* Dog Food Recipes

I urge all of you to check it out. It's a pretty cool site.

http://www.seefido.com/

I have a dog about a year old and she loves to swallow things whole yep she does not even chew them... :)
My vet told me to start giving her frozen veggies to chew on to distract her but she eats those in 5 seconds we call her the vacuum at home she can eat anything in less than a min.
Any ideas?

Wow! I cannot believe the stuff they have for pets now. I was recently at the Boise Farmers Market and saw a little Yorkie with sunglasses! How adorable... come to find out they are pretty popular and called Doggles. There are 2 really great specialty stores in the Treasure Valley where you can spoil your furry little friends. One is on 8th in Downtown Boise called World of Charleys. They carry clothing, collars, leads and more from designer lines such as Kate Spade and Juicy Couture! Northwest Pets in Eagle also has an array of accessories for your babys but they also carry a great selection of food & treats, not to mention the gourmet stuff!
For all of you animal lovers and haven't visited these stores, I suggest you take a little trip and spoil your pets!

http://www.worldofcharley.com
http://www.northwestpets.com

Before mom passed away, we discussed how her death would affect her little girl(her maltese poodle). She would never leave mom's side and was either on her lap, cuddled in bed with her, or at her feet as she moved about the house. As feared, she is not the same. I've taken her to my home to spend the night with my dog (her best bud), but she constantly roams the house whimpering and finally gives up and sits by our front door. It absolutely breaks my heart to see how sad she is. Does anyone have suggestions as to what I can do to help with mom's grieving dog.