Choosing a Snake as a Pet - A snake is a great exotic pet for someone who appreciates the unique lifestyle and requirements of the species. When acquiring any type of new pet, careful research and planning is necessary to ensure you make the best choice for both your family and the animal.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/06/30/choosing-a-snake-as-a-pet.aspx?np=true

URGENT!!!! I get a lot of reports of Dogs and cats are getting stolen in back yard even when you are home.This is happen in ever state please keep a eye on your dog or cat when they are outside.This is happen in ever neighborhood even the high class rich neighborhood

A Bunny That Refuses Food Is A Bunny In Crisis
There will be times in your bunny’s life when he rejects food or a favorite treat. What your bunny is telling you is that he feels sick. If you are not prepared to respond immediately, your bunny may be dead in as few as 12 hours. Routinely give your bunny the opportunity to tell you he is sick by offering a favorite food in the morning and evening.
Humans who feel sick can wait and see if they improve and, oftentimes, we will feel better later. That doesn’t work with bunnies. When a bunny refuses food, he has already entered a downward spiral. Muscles that push food through the intestines are slowing, bacteria are proliferating and emitting gas, pain is building, body temperature may be dropping, leading to shock and death.
When your bunny rejects food, you must:
1. Stabilize your bunny using the steps on the next page.
2. Take your bunny to a rabbit-expert vet as quickly as possible.
A veterinarian specializing in rabbits will take x-rays to identify the problem. X-rays are costly but necessary so your vet can see if your bunny has indigestion, gas, blockage, tooth spur that is cutting into the cheek or tongue, stones, or something else. Also, your vet can do things that you cannot do at home, such as giving fluids and prescription pain medication. You should try to stabilize your bunny until you get to the vet. To do so, you must have an emergency kit with the necessary tools.
Prepare your emergency kit now for the inevitable crisis. You should have: Electric heating pad or a microwaveable heating disc Infant gas drops (simethicone). Walmart’s Equate brand is fine. 1cc syringes (1cc is the same as 1ml) and 10cc feeding syringes Bayer orange-flavored, 81mg. aspirin (also called baby aspirin or low dose adult aspirin). Any brand is fine, but the Bayer orange flavor dissolves the best. Digital thermometer with a flexible tip (no glass) that will give you a quick reading of 10 seconds or under. Practice taking your bunny’s temperature now so you can manage it in a crisis. Come to any of our meetings and tell Joy, Marjorie Manahan, Bobbie Shewmaker or Pat Daly that you want to learn how to take a temperature and we will practice with you. Lubricant to apply to the tip of the thermometer. Use any alcohol-free lubricating jelly. Baby powder with cornstarch as the main ingredient (not talc). When your bunny tears a nail, apply dry cornstarch to stop the bleeding. Also good to knead into and dissolve fecal crust on a bunny butt. Avoid bathing a bunny butt unless absolutely necessary. Food to give only if your vet tells you to syringe-feed your bunny: baby food squash and a can of 100% pure pumpkin (not pie filling). Your vet may sell you a bag of Critical Care, an Oxbow food product. Whatever you feed, dilute it with water to a very runny state so it can be swallowed. A sick bunny won’t accept a chewy glob. A bunny with a low temp – under 100° - may not be able to eat. Do not force-feed a low-temp bunny. You could create a life-threatening situation.
Do All Of This Immediately When Your Bunny Refuses Food
1. Call your vet. Explain that you have an emergency, the symptoms, including temperature, and that your bunny needs to be seen immediately.
2. Temperature. Does your bunny feel cold? Take his temperature. Normal is 101° – 103°. A low temp (under 100°) can be deadly. If he is cold, put a heating pad or heating disc on your lap, cover it with a towel and hold your bunny until he gets fidgety and no longer wants heat. Use a low or medium setting because a bunny’s skin is delicate and will burn. If a heating pad is too hot to hold your hand on it for 30 seconds, it’s too hot for your bunny. In a pinch, you can heat towels in a microwave for several seconds to wrap up your bunny. When bunny has been warmed, you can proceed to steps 3,4,5. However, if your bunny’s temp was over 103°, suspect infection and ignore the following steps. You need a vet visit. If over 105° you have a major emergency; get to your vet immediately.
3. Gas relief. Fill a 1cc syringe from the bottle of gas drops. Insert tip in the side of bunny’s mouth and gradually empty the syringe. Gas drops will do no harm. You can give a dose every hour for 3 doses, then a dose every 3 to 8 hours.
4. Pain relief. For bunnies weighing 5 pounds and more, dissolve one tablet of Bayer orange-flavored, 81mg aspirin in 1cc water. Fill a 1cc syringe. Insert tip in the side of bunny’s mouth and gradually empty the syringe. For bunnies under 5 pounds, dissolve one-half tablet in 1cc water.
5. Water. Give water through syringe to hydrate bunny. Give as much as bunny will accept. If bunny is stressed, ignore this step.
DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING ORALLY TO AN UNCONSCIOUS OR SEMI-CONSCIOUS PET
These are rabbit-expert veterinarians you can call in a crisis:
Dr. Linda Beisswenger, Hope Animal Hospital, Fenton, MO: 636-349-0049
On nights and weekends, call Hope’s bunny emergency number 314-580-3123 and leave a recorded message. You will receive a return call and Dr. Linda may be able to meet you at the clinic (availability is according to her schedule.) www.hopeanimalhospital.com
If she is not available, use VSS Emergency Ctr., Manchester Rd. & Hwy.141, 636-227-9400.
Creve Coeur Animal Hospital, 12550 Olive Blvd., west of I-270: 314-434-4300
www.crevecoeurvets.com

More Symptoms Of A Pet Emergency
If a pet develops an emergency problem, care should not be delayed. Prompt veterinary care gives a pet the best chance of a successful recovery. Situations that demand immediate veterinary care for your rabbit include: Decreased Consciousness Unresponsiveness Inability to Urinate/Defecate Blue, Purple or Pale Gums Rabbit Exhibiting Open-Mouth Breathing Bleeding (more than just a scratch or torn nail) Profuse Diarrhea (not simply loose cecals) Breathing Difficulties Seizures Ingestion of Toxins (including poisonous plants) or Medications Rejection of food

If you see an animal without proper shelter, access to food and water, etc. report it. County: 314-615-1777 City: 314-771-6121 ext. 232 or 314-622-4800. You can report anonymously. Dogs or cats can't get out their cell phones and call 911 if they are in trouble. We are their advocates -- speak up!
People need to bring their pets indoors and that chaining 24/7 is not allowed.Pets cannot survive outdoors in bad  weather and to bring them inside.


To report animals without proper shelter, access to food and water, etc or chain dogs or cats that are chained up 24/7. Report it If you are in the city of St.Louis.MO, report it to the Citizen's Service Bureau. Call 314-622-4800 or go to to enter a report. They will forward the info to Stray Rescue.
http://stlcin.missouri.org/csb/admin/request-submit.cfm

DOG FIGHTING HOT LINE,1-877-847-4787. 
puppy mill report :1-877-MILL-TIP.Report abuse or neglect by phone: (314) 647-4400. Report Cockfighting 202-452-1100

If you see an animal without proper shelter, access to food and water, etc. report it. County: 314-615-1777 City: 314-771-6121 ext. 232 or 314-622-4800. You can report anonymously. Dogs or cats can't get out their cell phones and call 911 if they are in trouble. We are their advocates -- speak up!
People need to bring their pets indoors and that chaining 24/7 is not allowed.Pets cannot survive outdoors in bad  weather and to bring them inside.

Saint Louis County Launches New Animal Help Line: HEFFIE'S HELP LINE 314-615-1777

SPREAD THE WORD!! Heffie was a beloved Dogs Deserve Better rescue here in St. Louis who we lost to bloat in September. His legacy lives on in Heffie's Help Line, where he will continue to help other chained dogs. See the news story at:

http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-pet-hotline-abuse-heffie-102010,0,1131308.story

Saint Louis County Launches New Animal Help Line

(October 20, 2010) “Heffie’s Help Line” a free resource for area pet owners and pet advocates, was launched Wednesday by Saint Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Health Department Director Dr. Dolores J. Gunn.

“Anyone who calls 314-615-1777 can report cases of animal abuse that will be investigated within 48 hours,” Dooley said.

“You don’t have to identify yourself to get help for any animal that may be tethered in violation of county ordinances or suffering other forms of abuse,” Dooley said.

Callers can also get information on low cost spay/neuter programs including the Saint Louis County Animal Care and Control Voucher program as well as many other animal welfare related resources. The help line is available on a 24/7 basis.

The new service is part of an expansion of Animal Care and Control Services that includes opening a new facility next summer. The facility will double the county’s space for cats and dogs and will provide additional space for vector control offices.

“The new animal care and adoption center will be a state-of-the-art facility and will offer the best possible treatment for the animals in our care,” Dooley said.

The help line is in partnership with several animal welfare organizations, including the Animal Protective Association (APA); The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO); Operation Stop Pet Over Population Today (SPOT); Dogs Deserve Better, Benefitting Animals Through Responsibility and Compassion (BARC) and Metro Animal.

“Collaboration with other animal welfare ambassadors will be the key to the help line’s success as it allows us to reach out to more residents and offer more assistance,” Dr. Gunn said.

Other recorded information that can be accessed through the help line includes: pet adoption, lost and found, animal ordinances, and volunteering. Information will be mailed to those who do not have computer access.

The help line is named in honor of Heffie, a two-year-old pit bull who spent most of his life tied to a chain in an outside enclosure in violation of local tethering laws. The help line will allow citizens to report illegal tethering and abuse anonymously so that dogs like Heffie have a better chance at a safe environment. Heffie was rescued earlier this year but later died of natural causes.

More information can be found at:

www.stlouisco.com/doh/animals/animals.html

Halloween can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for pets. The following tips will help ensure that there are no scaredy cats, or other pets, at risk this Halloween.Don’t leave pets out in the yard on Halloween. We’ve all heard the real-life horror stories of malicious people who steal, tease, injure, torture and even kill pets on Halloween.If you don’t already bring your pets inside at dark, do so on this night.Know when to say “No!” Dogs and cats may beg for Halloween candy,but Trick-or-Treat goodies are not for pets. Most of us know that chocolate is poisonous to pets, but candies made with the sugar substitute xylitol are also dangerous. Candy wrappers can also pose a problem.Be sure to keep candy and wrappers out of paw’s reach.Look out for those flaming pumpkins!A Jack-O-Lantern with a real candle adds a wonderful, authentic touch to Halloween celebrations,but pets don’t know the danger of the small fire inside. Dogs, parparticularly enthusiastic tail-waggers,can easily knock over a pumpkin and cause a fire. Curious kittens run the risk of getting burned.Place Jack-O-Lanterns where they can’t be knocked over by as winging tail or a curious cat.Costumes – Yes or No? Think things through before putting your pet in a Halloween costume. Unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing discomfort and stress. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t obstruct your pet’s vision and isn’t uncomfortable or unsafe.Make it Safe Inside. If you’re having an indoor party, make sure that you put your pets in a room where they won’t be disturbed. Be sure to check on them and reassure them that everything is all right. They may not be prepared to take part in the Halloween fun, but they don’t want to be isolated and ignored, either.Are you having an adult party?Never feed alcoholic beverages to dogs, cats, birds and other animals.Keep a watchful eye on party guests; some may think it’s funny to give an animal alcohol, but it can kill a pet.Prevent “The Great Escape.” Be careful that cats or dogs don’t dart outside through an open door. Even if a pet enjoys visitors and is having a great time greeting guest sand little hobgoblins, a leash is a good idea. Once a pet is out the door, its familiar neighborhood can become unfamiliar and scary territory on Halloween. House and yard decorations, Trick-or-Treaters and increased traffic can panic an escaped pet. A panicked pet will often run too far from home to find its way back.Best wishes for a safe and happy Halloween! A howlin’ good time for you and your pets© PAWS

This a great thing to use for your dog that may pull when walking them, It works trust me on this. I tell all my client to get this for their dog, I will not walk dog that pulls without a Gentle Leader Head Collar. It makes the walk so much nicer try it yourself you will love it.

Laurie Chrisco  (Chrisco Pet Care & Animal Welfare Service)

The Gentle Leader Head Collar is a wonderful training tool and traditional collar alternative for most types of dogs.

Pros

• Clear, easy to follow instructions
• Naturally prevents dogs from pulling, jumping and lunging
• Will not cause pain, choking, gagging, or coughing
• Helpful in many forms of dog training
• Stays securely around back of head so dog cannot escape, even if fromt part is "pawed" off

Cons

• May take a while for dogs to get used to
• May not fit as well on some short nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds

Description

• Made of lightweight nylon material
• Designed to gently mimic the way a pack leader asserts dominance over subordinates
• Straps wrap over dog's nose and back of neck to control body movement from the head
• Available in 5 sizes
• Adjustable within specific size range
• Includes a training booklet and DVD
• Cost: approximately $19.99

Guide Review - Gentle Leader Head Collar

I first heard about the Gentle Leader Head Collar many years ago and have seen it work for many dogs in the past. I was recently able to test it out on a dog with a tendency to leash-pull and a habit of jumping up.

The Gentle Leader comes with a detailed instruction booklet as well as an informative DVD. It is essential to follow instructions for use of this product - especially those for fitting and acclimation techniques. Following the directions exactly makes success highly likely.

To some, the Gentle Leader looks like a muzzle, but it is not. The nylon material wraps over the nose and back of the neck. The design gently mimics the way a mother dog might correct her pup or a pack leader asserts dominance. A dog wearing the head collar can still eat, drink, pant, bark and carry toys. It is lightweight and should not cause pain, coughing, choking or gagging. Be aware that the product may not work as well on very short-nosed dog breeds. Though some dogs may be try to "back out" of the head collar or paw at it, the Gentle Leader (unlike some other head collars) remains secure around the back of the head if fitted properly.

After proper fitting, I began using the Gentle Leader on my "test dog." She seemed mildly confused and tried to rub the head collar off of her face. After spending a few minutes on the instructed acclimation procedures, we were ready for a walk. To my delight, my dog walked quite well. Each time she tried to pull or jump up, the light resistance on the head collar caused her to stop. After several walks, she had stopped pulling and jumping almost completely. She still occasionally paws at her face, but this is improving over time.

Though it may take some time and training for you and your dog to get used to the Gentle Leader, it is worth the effort. With some dedication, you can expect to see truly positive results.