Various Photos

Virginia trumpet vine

Tessa, one of my clients

Storm front

Northern gannets

Apple Valley Bridge across the Big Thompson River

A couple of puppy clients

Abert's squirrel in Rocky Mountain National Park

Odd Adoptions

Amanda adopted four puppies with her three kittens

 

Kittens were adopted by this maternal dog

 

This miniature Sika elk was adopted without question

 

This mother dog dearly loves its pot-bellied piglet

Please Do NOT Give A Pet as a Gift...

My cousin Sarah just brought up the fact that she is seeing a lot of advertisements trying to get people to purchase animals for another person as a Holiday gift. Both of us beg you NOT to do so.  A lot of people out there buy gifts for friends and acquaintances, and for those they would like to impress favorably.  The majority of people, and kids, in the world today want to choose their own pet. Kittens, puppies, baby bunnies, etc. all look cute and act cute when they are young, but they also entail a lot of work and money.  If you think someone would like a pet added to the family, first ask.  Second, propose to pay the adoption fee for any critter the giftee would like from any Humane Society, Rescue Group, or any animal aid society.  There are thousands of wonderful animals languishing in shelters around the world, and/or being euthanized on a daily basis because someone could no longer care for the, or no longer wanted them.  Many pets that are given as Holiday gifts - for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa - end up at the animal shelter, on death row, for one reason or another.  And the reasons given are as numerous as the drops of water in all the oceans - someone in the household is allergic; food and/or veterinary care is too expensive; the new pet doesn't get along with older, established pets; the new owner says the new pet "just wasn't what he/she wanted;"  the puppy chews on things; the kitten climbs the curtains;  (I can continue ad infinitum) ....
Brand new pets are cute and cuddly and will usually be greeted with "ooohs" and "aaahs" of immediate appreciation.  Then reality sets in.  There are annual shots, spaying and neutering, training, licensing, food, kitty litter, toys, and all sorts of other expenses that raise their head.  If the new owner is conscientious, there is also the matter of time - one needs to bond with the new pet, and have the attachment grow.  With today's lifestyle, a lot of that is impossible.
Please, whatever you give as a Holiday gift, do NOT give a living creature.  Please ask the recipient prior to giving; and please adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue.  Don't be the cause of more suffering for the pets of our world!

Babies

I love kittens - especially those with speckled bellies

Puppies that are half Chinese Pug are smart and energetic

This Oldenburg filly is certainly full of energy!

Puppy Socialization; a Mousie Night

Some tips on teaching your puppy to be a social dog:
Socialization is a critical component of a healthy, well adjusted adult dog. This is especially important in breeds that are known for their protective or aggressive nature. The personality and behavior of a mature dog will be strongly affected by how he interacts with littermates, his mother, and other pets - as well as people. . . especially children, when he is young.
From puppyhood on, it is imperative that you make every effort to expand his environment and expose him to new things. At this stage of life, puppies should be around as many different people and animals as possible to help eliminate fear of the unknown.
Try some of these effective socialization methods with your pup:
Enroll in a puppy socialization or obedience class, run by a professional, where he will meet other dogs.
Take him with you on walks, when shopping, or even to work (where allowed). Gradually get him used to new sights and sounds.
Invite your friends, including men, women, children and seniors, over to your house at different times to meet your new puppy.
Involve him in as much of your daily activities as possible. Be sure to offer treats for good behavior.
Puppies that have been exposed to various groups of people and pets are less likely to be aggressive to those groups as they mature. And you will be well on your way to having an excellent companion for years to come.
***********************************************************

Last night was a wild and crazy one. I don't know if the kits caught the mouse outside and brought it in, or if it squeezed under the hallway door, having been brought to the complex by one of several of my new neighbors. It is a small, dark mouse - not even as large as the ball of my thumb - and the kits think it's the best thing ever! So far, it has avoided being captured - either by me or the cats. I first became aware of it near the hallway door, around 11 p.m.; the kits have been chasing it all night long, and both are currently stretched out, sound asleep.

The weather people say this is going to be a really HOT weekend - temps near 100, or above, and with low humidity. I'll probably end up turning the hose on myself while at Hila and Eliphalet Pease's house - Hila likes water, so she might enjoy a spray or two herself, and the chickens might like it to help cool them off, as well. I shall see and pass along the information!