In our previous post we talked about Boston Terriers, I must have seen at least two this past week! It’s like when you talk about orange cars, suddenly they are everywhere! Have you considered getting a Boston Terrier?

There are several ways to go about this. People think that finding Boston terrier dogs for sale should be a very easy task. However, people need to know that there’s more to finding Boston terrier dogs for sale than looking in the phone book or in the classified ads. For one thing, the breeder often reflects the quality of the pet.

Today, many of the Boston terrier dogs for sale are bred by “puppy farms” which exist solely to breed and sell pet dogs. These “puppy farms” are profit-oriented and are therefore natural breeding grounds for animal cruelty. It is often the case that the puppies born in these farms are taken away from their mothers as soon as they are big enough to sell. They are often malnourished as a result of the cost-cutting methods of these farms.

When you are trying to find Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a breeder who genuinely cares for the animals. This will assure you that the animal is well taken care of and will survive more than a few weeks in your care.

Another reason to look for this type of Boston terrier dogs for sale is genetics. When you buy from a puppy farm, all the owner cares about is the profits. As long as a puppy looks good enough to be sold, it is sold. A great dog breeder, however, knows that breeding goes far beyond determining the appearance of a dog. When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a breeder who knows that breeding also determines the temperament of a dog.

When you go looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a pet that would suit your temperament. While a low-class breeder would tell you to buy a dog because the puppy looks cute, a great dog breeder would tell you to buy a specific dog because it fits your personality.

When looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a seller who does not ask you how much you are willing to pay but asks you what your qualifications are. When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a breeder who will not push the dog towards you but will truly take the time to know if you are fit to own a dog.

When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a seller who would be willing to take back the dog if you somehow neglect it. Do not go for sellers who will exchange the puppy for cash and then walk away. A great breeder will leave you with a way to contact him or her in case you change your mind.

Another way to find the best kinds of Boston terrier dogs for sale is to look for the proper documentation. Often, true breeders will be able to provide pedigrees that can trace back the lineage of a puppy. Through this, you know that you are buying the best.

Looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale may seem like a daunting task at first, but with the right attitude and information, you should be able to get the best puppy for you and your family. By following the tips in this article, you can make hunting for Boston terrier dogs for sale the best thing you have ever done.

Finally, the very best solution to getting a Boston Terrier is to rescue one!  This helps with over breeding which leads to incredible cruelty. There are many Boston Terrier rescues all over the country such as Southern California Boston Terrier Rescue and Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston.

You can find also pure breeds in shelters, believe it or not. Be sure to check them out in addition.

Men and Cats

There is a down-low secret out there that I am going to blow the cover off, Men Love Cats! Yes, real men actually do love cats as well as dogs. I don’t know when and how it became unfashionable or unmanly for men to acknowledge that fact.

Years ago I got a book by the late Cleveland Amory, he was a great author, TV Guide critic and humanitarian, called The Best Cat Ever. The book is about his relationship with his beloved cat Polar Bear. I discovered that Cleveland Amory had also written The Cat Who Came for Christmas and The Cat and the Curmudgeon about life with Polar Bear. These books really opened my eyes to man-cat relations.

The focus right now is about puppy mills and various other atrocities done to dogs; well cats get a raw deal too. I recently read an article about an incredible man, Craig Grant. It seems that his son moved away left him with what they thought was a male cat. Craig didn’t particularly like cats but felt sorry for it. They discovered that “he” was a “she” who soon delivered five kittens! When does like turn to love? From this humble beginning, Craig went on to buy a 25 Acre spread in Florida. Here’s what he writes:

Caboodle Ranch is now a permanent sanctuary for cats who have been kicked around by heartless people. There are many sad stories between all the cats I’ve taken in. Some almost starved to death, some of them wounded strays. I’ve seen many locked in cages for months in animal shelters and have taken in some of those too.
Cats should be able to roam free, and at Caboodle Ranch, that’s what they do. We are in the middle of 100 acres of wildlife. The cats follow me through the nature trails that I put in and maintain, they climb in tree forts that I’ve built and hide in underground dens I’ve dug for them.
All cats have been spayed or neutered, all shots are kept up to date and I keep regular visits to the vet for each of them. I travel the 250 miles round-trip many times a week to work and back again to keep a safe haven for them to live. Every one of my expenses have come out of my own pocket and I do with very little so I can give them a happy life, but it isn’t always easy.

Lucky cats, incredible man! You can go to his website www.caboodleranch.com, look around, and if you feel so moved, make a donation.

There are several websites devoted to men who love cats such as www.menandcats.com, they are not too hard to find. As a self proclaimed crazy cat lady, I’ll attest to the fact that cats are the greatest; who couldn’t love them?

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

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I was listening to the Stephanie Miller radio show yesterday and heard a lively debate about pet names. We were sad to hear last month that her dog Puff died on April 23. She recently adopted a new dog; good for her! The controversy started because of the fact that she had changed her new dog’s name to Oliver from the one it had when she adopted him. Some callers didn’t see anything wrong with that and others did. That started a whole firestorm about the how and why of naming dogs and cats.

Naming your dog or cat or accepting the name they come with is very important business. Some people choose a name by certain physical characteristics such as spots. I had cousins when I was growing up who actually named their dog Spot! Size; a large dog may be given a diminutive name like Tiny or a big name like Brute. Some name their dog according to a behavioral trait. If the dog is digging up the back yard, Digger might be chosen. A cat with lots of hair might be named Fluffy. There are lots of pet naming books and even free websites if you get stuck.

Here is a fun 21st century way to name your dog:

And then there are us folks who like to give our dogs and cats human names. I am in that crowd who wouldn’t do it any other way; it’s like naming a new baby! I think it started with one of my first dogs who was a pure breed Old English Sheepdog with AKC papers. As I looked at her linage on the papers I was struck with the awesome responsibility I had! She was given not one but three names, first,  middle and last name. Our now deceased cat was named after one of my all time heroes, Martin Luther King; he was named Martin Luther Kitty. Does it humanize them? You bet it does, right or wrong, many of us consider them as part of the family.

Finally there are people who rescue or adopt a pet that already has a name. Do you continue with that name or like Stephanie, change it? It might depend on the age of the cat or dog. If they are young like Stephanie’s new dog, they can probably adjust to a new name. For an older dog, it just might be too confusing for them and you’ll have to grow to love their name just as you grow to love them.

We have an excellent book in our eBay store with 3,000 pet names for dogs, cats, goldfish, hamsters and other kinds of pets

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Visit us at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Photo by regeniabraham Released under Creative Commons

Can You Find Me?

Why should I microchip my pet?

The first time I heard about implanting microchips in pets I thought the world had gone crazy! I had visions of scanning my cat like a grocery item at the supermarket, how crazy was that? I have come around to understanding how this is a great practice.

The American Humane Association says that only 17% of lost dogs and a sad 2% of lost cats are ever reunited with their owners! Because of that, a staggering four million pet are euthanized yearly. That is an awful statistic that doesn’t have to be. Try as you might to keep an eye on your cat or dog, sometimes they get away. Someone leaves the door or gate open by mistake. You have workman at the house or apartment and so many things are going on at once that your pet gets out. The stories are many and the result is another lost pet.

Tags and collars are good but they can come off. The only way to make sure your dog or cat always has identification on them is by microchipping them. What is a microchip anyway?

1. A microchip is a tiny computer chip the size of a grain of rice.
2. It is inserted by a hypodermic needle by someone qualified to do so such as a veterinarian.
3. It’s placed between the shoulder blades, it can’t be seen or felt.
4. Your dog or cat does not have to be sedated to get their microchip. The needle only hurts as much as any shot would, which is not too much.
5. The Microchip lasts approximately 25 years and is guaranteed for the life of your pet.
6. The Microchip does not give out signals or have a power supply. It has to be read by a scanner.

How does the scanning work?

When someone takes a dog or cat to the shelter, the first thing they do is scan to check for a microchip. If a chip is in place a number is displayed and they then call a national registry to get the owners information. Any medical concerns can also be included in that information. Vets are also equipped with scanners and can help in locating the owner as well.

Some cities have put in place ordinances requiring microchips which is not surprising when you take in consideration the cost of lost and stray animals. LA County offers free Microchipping and National registration thanks to a pledge from the Found Animal Foundation.

By all means make sure your dog or cat has on a collar with tags which will get them back to you even faster. Having said that, there is nothing like the assurance and peace of mind you’ll have by getting your pet microchipped.

Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Visit us at www.whiskerfeathers.com

16Th & 44Th Presidents

A Three-Legged Dog Named Baby

For many of us watching President elect  Obama’s acceptance speech the most touching moment was when he told his daughters in front of the world that they would be getting the puppy! This was big news in a world hungry for good news and it set off all sorts of speculation. He stated that he and one of his daughters had allergies so that had to be taken under consideration. People then sent in all sorts of suggestions from all over the world about what kind of dog would be best for them.

This promise has a story behind it; it did not come out of a vacuum. Behind the promise is a story of greed, cruelty and a world of misunderstanding.

When he was a new Senator he was approached by Jana Kohl regarding the inhumane treatment of dogs in puppy mills. Jana, a lifelong champion of social justice had herself become aware of this awful industry after she adopted a very special dog named Baby. You see, Baby is a survivor of one of these puppy mills. Just like a tattooed Holocaust survivor, Baby bares the #94 tattooed on her ear. Baby had her vocal cords cut to silence her cries to be let out of her cage. She had one leg amputated due to osteoporosis a common condition of breeding dogs!

Billions of dollars are spent each year on animal shelters where sadly the majority of dogs and cats are euthanized at a time that we don’t have billions to spend. If people would adopt these homeless cats and dogs instead of buying them from breeders it would solve two problems.

1. Without a market, the puppy mills would disappear.
2. Shelter animals would get permanent homes and thus save tax payers money!

Then-Senator Obama, other congressmen, celebrities, athletes and clergymen joined with  her in an effort to address this awful puppy mill atrocity. As a result, the 110Th Congress introduced HR 6949/S.3519 called the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act which was co-sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. It would mandate dogs be let out of their cages for 60 minutes a day!

Jana wrote a book called A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere. Jana and Baby have traveled all over the country speaking and has been on several TV shows to tell their story. See her video below:

The newly elected Senator Obama met and held Baby and heard her story. There have been many First Dogs in the White House but this time it’s a little different. This First Dog has the potential to inspire millions of people to rescue millions in need and by so doing stop a shameful practice that hold others in captivity.

I have wanted another dog for quite a while now and intended to rescue. This story firms up that intention, I’ll let you know just like the First Family when we adopt!

Visit us at www.whiskerFeathers.com

Lost Dog Flyer

About a month ago I stepped out of my back door to throw out the trash. There standing in the drizzle was a large dog. I could not have been more surprised. You see, my back yard is totally enclosed. This was not a small dog either it was pretty big! He or she stood there looking and me and I stood there looking back. I’m sure I would have greeted Martians about the same. Well, I took a deep breath and proceeded to the trash can, first things first. It didn’t run at me or bark, just stood. I was on my way to take a walk before this sighting so I got my jacket and umbrella and proceeded to walk while I thought this out.
 
I have to say that I love dogs and have been waiting for the time to be right when we can get one. That day was not the day! Having said that, in my mind I’d envisioned getting a small dog; say between 12 and 14 pounds. Here was a big dog and how the heck did it get in my backyard? When I got back to the house I went out to the back yard thinking maybe I had seen a vision but no, there it was. Again, no aggression, but ever the hostess I went into the garage and filled a bucket with water and set out some of my cat’s dry food. It was raining off and on that day and as the song goes, “It never rains in California”, wrong, it was that day! I left the garage door open so it could go in and stay dry.
 
I was obsessed by the question of how this big dog got into the yard. I checked all around the fencing and found not possible way. No digging, no broken bricks etc. So now what do I do? I have a senior cat inside and I know nothing about this dog that while not aggressive wasn’t particularly friendly either, actually was pretty shy.
 
I did some investigation and developed a plan of action. It came down to the following four steps:
 
1. If this was my dog I would want someone help find its way home. Step One is to Find the Owner. This not only moral but a legal obligation. Does it have a collar or tags? In my case, no. As much as I hate to say it, you legally must take it to a shelter. If you’re saying “NO WAY!” hang on I have some other options. Keep in mind that if you had lost your dog one of the first places you would go looking would be the shelter. The dog may not have a collar or tags and look a little shabby but that does not mean it didn’t get away from a loving home. The dog may also have a microchip.
 
   2. If you just can not bring yourself to go the shelter route, you can:
 
• Go around the neighborhood and ask if someone’s dog has gotten out. 
• Put up flyers in the neighborhood over a wide range. Remember dogs can travel far.
• Place ads in the newspapers they need to run over a 10-day period. You may find papers willing to do that for no cost or low cost. There’s a great book that has been out for some times called Sherlock Bones that gives directions on how to do this and other methods as well.
 
  3. You’ve been unable to find the owner what then? Because we certainly can’t keep all the strays you see, keeping it may not be the answer, so you’ll need to find a home for it. If the dog seems to be in good shape and socialized that’s good. If not you may need to get it some training and take care of medical issues such as spaying and neutering if necessary. In our store we have some books on training that has a lot of helpful information. People are more apt to adopt if going in there aren’t any problems. The main point is to get him or  her  adoptable. 

   4. Next you need to show the dog to potential owners. There are lots of adoption shows run by rescue groups who if contacted would probably let you come and show the dog. The people who come are looking for a pet to rescue. You may even want to place an ad in the newspaper saying you’re looking for a home. There is even a local TV station here in Los Angeles that features dogs and cats for adoption. Put up a flyer with a picture at veterinarians offices or even on websites. Ask your friends and neighbors do they or do they know anyone who wants a dog. Of course you’ll want to make sure that it’s going to a good home, screen potential owners very carefully. The following websites have some great information on just how to do that:
 
• http://www.petrescue.com/library/find-adopter.htm
• http://www.petrescue.com/dog-phone-screen.pdf
• http://www.petrescue.com/adoption/library-form1.pdf
 
It may take a while before you find a home so don’t get discouraged. You’ll be rewarded by a wonderful feeling of the good deed you’ve done.

If you live in the Los Angeles area please go to http://www.petorphans.org and you’ll find a wealth of valuable information such as phone numbers, rescue groups and websites. Even if you’re outside the area there is lots of information there that you might find helpful.
 
My story had a happy ending. I put two and two together, canvassed the neighborhood and found the dog’s owner; my neighbor next door. The best we could conclude is that he had climbed up on some tables near the fence and jumped over. For such a large dog it’s a wonder that he didn’t break a leg or worse. I didn’t have to go further than Step 1 but I was prepared!

Your New Friend is Counting on You!

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Photo by jaqian Released under Creative Commons