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Every day thousands of dogs are ‘put to sleep’, which is a kind way to saying that they are euthanized.  Many of these are simply unwanted animals that have been abandoned by their owners.  They are not sick.  They are not unadoptable or aggressive.  They have simply been pushed into the ‘unwanted’ garbage bin.

Here is the story of ‘Red’, a lovely Chow dog that was hanging onto its life by a thread.  Red was an unwanted dog that some careless owner had abandoned.  Red ended up as a stray and was finally picked up by the SPCA in North Carolina.  He was somewhat thin, but really a wonderful dog that would thrive in a loving home.  Since shelters only have so much room and resources, dogs brought to them can only be with them for so long.  After the required time period is up and the dog is not adopted, then the animal is euthanized.  Red was in that situation.  His time was literally ‘up’.  He only had hours to live.

Red was lucky though.  Volunteers and animal lovers came together to try to find Red a second chance for life.  What volunteers did when they found out Red’s situation was to post Red’s picture and information on blogs and websites.  Finally a dog rescue in Texas responded to one of the notices.  Red was dragged from the death table with moments to spare.  He was saved from being gassed (which they do in North Carolina—instead of the more humane needle euthanasia method).

The above is a true story and Red was given his second chance for life. Through the Texas dog rescue and the efforts of many volunteers, Red now has a chance for a great home and a long life with a loving family. 

Here is another story of poor unwanted Chiquita, a little long-haired Chihuahua.  Chiquita was only about a year old when her owners no longer wanted her.  She was also on death-row.  Again, volunteers came to her rescue as they posted her picture (Chiquita completely and lovingly cute in a little pink dress) on the web.  Their efforts saved Chiquita from death as well, and she has now been placed with a family that will appreciate what her little soul is worth.

Red and Chiquita were both lucky, but many other dogs are not.  It takes a lot of effort, time, commitment and caring on the part of many volunteers to save these poor unwanted dogs. 

What can you do to help? 

• Volunteers are needed to accept lists of animals about to be euthanized, and who can then cross-post the details to various dog rescues that may be able to take these animals in. You can contact animalcareservices@greenvillecounty.org (email address) to get up-dated lists.
• You can post the list to blogs or your own websites to gain as much exposure to the animal’s situation as possible.
• Volunteers are also need to help transport the animals from one place to another.  You don’t have to take them through the whole route if the dog is being placed in a faraway location—simply a leg of the route, say from one city to another.
• Of course, money is always helpful. Contact dog rescues in your area to find out what is needed.

If you are a dog lover and can’t sleep nights wondering about what will happen to these poor unwanted dogs, maybe you can help too.  Think of Red and Chiquita and how volunteers willing to put in a little effort to save a dog helped saved their lives.  Maybe that can be you.

Most people get a Maltese because there are things about this particular breed that they desire and believe that this is the breed that will suit them as a pet. Perhaps they like the idea of the small, longhaired, attractive, white pet that loves to have a lot of attention. They have (hopefully) done their research and made their decision. On the other hand, perhaps a person or a family is enamored of dog shows and is interested in having a show dog. Of course, they will have observed that show dogs are properly groomed, and well behaved which speaks to continuous care and dedicated training. If you are one of those people who is considering showing your dog, there is information that you should know.

It is true that many Maltese dogs look very much alike. However, looks are not the only factor involved in a decision to "show" a dog. Your Maltese will need to display a temperament that will successfully respond to the intensive training required for show dogs. Training isn't always the easiest thing in the world to do because there is a lot for the Maltese to learn. The dog needs to have well balanced demeanor and be responsive to the myriad of training directives like "sit, down, jog, preen and others that must be flawlessly executed during trials and shows. If your Maltese has the "show" attitude and you are not both going crazy with training, then maybe you have an award winning competitor.

Along with the rigorous training, there will need to be something very distinctive about the grooming of your Maltese to distinguish him/her from the other competitors in that breed because, as stated before, Maltese do look very much alike. You will need to become acquainted with all the physical features of the Maltese which will be seriously scrutinized by the competition judges. Knowing these facts will assist you in developing a grooming plan for your particular dog. Preparing and keeping your Maltese "show" ready can involve some high maintenance. Your dog will constantly need to have its beauty treatment which will include keeping that gorgeous long hair flowing and silky to touch, eyes clean and clear, nails trimmed. In addition, there will need to be significant attention paid to the choice of just the right hair ornament and just the right placement of that ornament. After considering all the information regarding showing your Maltese, you should be able to make an appropriate decision for you and your pet.

While cleaning out the litter box is not a wonderful chore that anyone enjoys, it is a necessity for your cat. This is, after all, your cat’s bathroom area and cats have a tendency to be very fastidious.  If your cat suddenly starts having litter box problems and using the bathroom elsewhere, this might be a sign that you need to be cleaning that box more often. However, it can also be a sign of other problems, including serious medical conditions.

Reason #1: Busy Location

Cats are private animals. While a dog will do its business outside with everyone in the world watching and think nothing of it, cats have to relax in order to get the job done. If the litter box is located in an area where people are always coming and going, that’s going to be upsetting to your cat and he or she is likely to go elsewhere in the house, usually some place quiet like a corner.

Now, if you haven’t moved the litter box and if the traffic in the area hasn’t increased lately, but your cat has suddenly stopped using it, there’s probably another good reason.

Reason #2: Cat Preferences

Cats seem to be a lot pickier than dogs about everything from toys to food to sleeping locations. They are also sometimes very picky about their litter boxes. Many cats like certain types of litter better than others, possibly because of the way it feels on their paws. Other cats have litter box type preferences. While some love to have the covered boxes for more privacy, others prefer something that is a little more open so they can what is going on around them.

As with the first reason, if you haven’t made any changes that might upset your cat’s preference but he or she has suddenly stopped using the litter box, there is probably a different reason as the root cause.

Reason #3: Medical Problems

In some cases, a urinary infection or some other health problem can cause cats to have litter box problems. They may have a hard time going to the bathroom or may associate the litter box itself with discomfort which makes the box undesirable. If the sanitary reasons and the first two reasons don’t seem to explain the sudden change in your cat’s behavior, you should seek advice from a veterinarian immediately. Your cat might have a very serious health problem.

If you cat is defecating outside the litter box, he or she may have worms, gas, or other intestinal distress so a vet visit is definitely recommended. Remember that once your cat starts using the bathroom outside of the litter box, cleaning it with a solution that will destroy the enzymes in the urine or feces is essential. Otherwise your cat is going to continue to view that spot as an appropriate choice for going to the bathroom.

Reason #4: Behavioral Problems

If you’ve ruled out all of the other reasons, you’ll have to start thinking like your cat and trying to pinpoint what may be the real problem. Anxiety can be one reason. A cat that doesn’t like to be left alone may use the bathroom outside the litter box as a sign of separation anxiety. A cat that's angry because a new family member or pet has come into the picture may also start protesting by not using the litter box correctly.

When emotional issues are involved, you may find it harder to pinpoint the cause. However, you may be able to work with your vet on figuring out the best way to solve the problem so your cat can start using the litter box again and you can cut down on cleaning the carpet and other areas of your home.

Unfortunately, it's very hard to fix a behavioral problem if you don't know the exact cause. However, with patience and love, you might be able to find the cause and fix the problem. Sometimes medication can help. Do your research before taking any drastic measures. Always remember that no matter what he or she does,  it's not done to spite you. Cats are not capable of those 'humanoid' feelings. If your cat is having litter box problems, he doesn't deserve to be punished or God forbid, euthanized, just because we don't understand his reasons.

If you want to read more stories and find very useful information about your cats and dogs, please visit me at http://www.yourpetsuniverse.com

The chicken brooder plans are not that complicated. Considering the needs of the chicks is the only key to getting all the requirements right for that brooder. The 2 most important requirements of newly hatched chicks are space and warmth. Moreover, they also need a dry, safe, and well-ventilated place to be comfortable.

A chicken brooder is best way to provide your chicks with the proper care and attention they need at this very early stage of their lives. Chicks that are newly hatched need a special shelter that is warm, dry, secure from predators like dogs and foxes, and spacious with proper ventilation and insulation.

Just until the chicks lose their down or temporary feathers, they need to stay at the chicken brooder to finally get the full or real feathers to signal that they are ready for the outside world. By then, they can keep themselves protected from the elements.

The chicks need ample space, roughly at about half a square foot per head, just until they are four weeks old. Getting less than this would cram them together while having more than enough would mean that it will be harder to keep the brooder warm.

The chicks will need the necessary warmth so a source of heat is very essential for the first few weeks. The usual yet excellent source is a light bulb. In some cases, a better counterpart called a brooder bulb provides a better source. In addition, keep a thermometer to monitor the consistency of the temperature at around 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first weeks. Again, this is very important until they develop that full feathers to keep them warm and protected by themselves. One should acclimate or let them adjust to the cooler temperatures outside by lowering the brooder temperature to 90 degrees Fahrenheit after the first week.

Every week thereafter, slightly decrease the temperature by five degrees until the brooder temperature is the same with that of the outside temperature. Be very precise and observant when adjusting the brood temperature. A slightly cooler temperature than they can tolerate might get your chicks to develop diarrhea and get sick. Furthermore, if the chicks get cold while sleeping they could pile up on top of each other and might end up suffocating. On the other hand, if it gets too hot, the chicks cannot tolerate that and might die.

In a gist, you can tell if the chicks are comfortable in the brooder. Here are two simple tests: observe if they will roam throughout the brooder while awake and if they sleep side by side each other. If they are, your chicken brooder plan was a success.

You may get frustrated when you dog barks at everything that moves but it is good to know there are ways you can train them to stop barking. You have to remember that with pets most of them have reasons for doing certain things and if your pooch is barking too much then he might be telling you something. If you dog is barking say every time he sees a car pass by then he actually is trying to protect you because he thinks that the car is a threat so he chases after it and barks. You can teach him when the appropriate time to bark is and when it is not time to.

Get Them to: Stop Barking Now

You want to train your dog to understand that there are certain times it is ok for him to bark and he will get rewarded when he does. You want to have a word that he can recognize as a positive word such as "Speak". This will let him know that when you tell him to speak it is ok for him to bark. This is good for your dog to understand this because then he will know that you are not in danger every time a car passes or the mailman comes by.

How to: Train Your Dog

Remember that it can be easy to get your dog to stop barking at every little thing. You want to have a trigger word so he knows that when you say that word it is ok to bark. this is a good way for your dog to feel safe and be more obedient.

Pet care training is an important aspect of owning any type of pet, whether it is a dog, a cat or even a mouse, you must make sure that you are taking care of your pet and you can do this by pet care training. Most pets can be trained, and it is a fact that most pets need to be trained and cared for in order for both you and the animal to be happy. When it comes to training and taking care of your pet, you should take the most humane approach and remember, hitting and shouting are definite no no’s when it comes to pet care training.

An important tip in pet care training to remember is that animals respond well to praise and treats. So if you are training a dog or a cat to use a litter tray or a training mat, always make sure that you make a big fuss of your pet. This will not only please them, but it will let them know that they are receiving this kind of attention by doing something good which will encourage them to do it again. Another important tip when it comes to pet care training is that you should never punish your pet for doing something wrong. Never hit or shout at your pet because this will only make the animal scared and they will not understand why they have elicited such behaviour. So instead of scolding or hitting, simply ignore your pet if he does something wrong, and always make sure that you reward anything positive that he does.

When it comes to pet care training, there are plenty of classes that you can take your dog to. These classes help you to learn how to take care of your dog properly and how to train him in ways which will be effective and efficient. You should try to attend a class like this at least once a week with your dog and this will not only help you and your pet to bond, but it is an important part of taking care of your pet and training him at the same time.

In order for your pet to remain happy and healthy, you must make sure that you take him regularly to see the vet. Dogs and cats tend to need shots to protect them against diseases that they can pick up when they are out and about, and they also need to maintain healthy weights just like you and I. This is why visiting a vet regularly is important in your pet care training regime.

Discus fish are available to buy online, if you decide to get your discus fish online then you must make sure that you know everything that there is to know about discus fish and taking care of them before your order any discus fish online.

There are many fish owners who consider discus fish to be quite difficult to look after and they are not often recommended to inexperienced aquarists. Although discus fish are not particularly difficult to manage, they can often become susceptible to stress borne disease and can die if they are not kept in optimal conditions. Ammonia cause from fish waste and bad water temperatures are the main threats to the discus immune system, in their natural habitat they live in distilled water and the chemicals which are more often than not added to the municipal water supply can harm the fish. Many discus fish owners choose to change water using RO water, however if you do use RO water you must be sure to add minerals back into the water that it takes out.

Before you buy your discus fish online you should make sure that:

1  You have a tank large enough to contain your discus fish- 20 to 27 gallon tanks should be sufficient for your discus fish

2  Do your homework- make sure that you have read through discus fish care books that you know how to take care of them, what they eat, the water pH, temperature, breeding- there is a lot to know before you get started.

3  Make sure that you have all of the equipment that you need to keep discus fish- filters, food, ornaments for the fish to hide behind etc.

4  Make sure that you have a safe and quite place to keep your discus fish tank
Once you have considered all of the facts about discus fish, then you are ready to buy your discus fish online! But where can you find discus fish online? There are dozens of websites which offer links to stores where you can order discus fish- these vary in prices and shipping charges to you might want to do a little bit of research before you settle for your buyer. You should take into consideration; cost of fish, cost of shipping, shipping time and you should also consider whether or not you can trust the website to deliver your discus fish safely and in a healthy condition. If you want to find more information on where you can buy discus fish online, then do a quick internet search to find out everything that you need to know.

With the exception of a few true lovers of cats, Americans have always been less particular about the origins of their cats and their dogs. Cats are most commonly seen on farms and they worked to help keep the vermin population. As cats are becoming more of a companion of a firm hand, there was a growing interest cat breeds, their purity and pedigree. The Cat Fanciers' Association is dedicated to the preservation of race and race 39 recognized cat breeds. You will find below are some of these species as well as information on the characteristics of race and history.

Russian Blue - The Russian Blue is a nice, friendly chat with an appearance. These cats are dense, thick coats that are short in one color: blue. In agreement with the blue fur of cats have the bright green eyes and are known for their beautiful appearance as they are, for their modest provisions.

Cornish Rex - While the Cornish Rex is similar to images of ancient Egypt cats it is from Cornwall, England in 1950 where he was discovered in a barn cats littler. These cats are different in appearance with an egg-shaped head and size, large, erect ears, and enormous yellow-green eyes. This cat is very rare that the dress is soft, fine, very short, and grows in the waves. The Cornish Rex is affectionate, player, and keeps his kitten antics as throughout his life.

The Siamese-Siamese cat, originally from Thailand, is extremely intelligent and curious animal. It is thought to be the oldest anywhere. The Siamese cat is a people lover. It will be regularly tell his family how much he cares for them with his strong meow.

Maine Coon - The Maine Coon is a large cat, Native American longhair cat. He is venerated in hand to the mouse of his talent. The Maine Coon is a social animal that is particularly good for families with children or dogs.

Abyssinian-Although the name suggests that this cat is from Ethiopia (formerly Abyssinia), they are actually in India. The name "Abyssinian" came about when the cat was introduced in England by way of Abyssinia. Abyssinian is one of the most intelligent cats, and even if they are not "hug", they love their people, are curious and want to help you with what you are working.

American Wirehair - American Wirehair was seen in New York in 1966. The only cat was a spontaneous mutation in a litter of barn cats. Health is a relatively common genetic mutation, but the difference with the American Wirehair is because its characteristics have been organized in a unique way an effort was made to keep his blood and genetic model. Interestingly, this genetic mutation did not appear anywhere in the world other than the United States. The American Wirehair is docile and calm temperament and a great pet for a so-called "couch-potato."