guess we have the opportunity to hear some variation of fireworks Thursday night through Sunday—oh what joy.
Get out the Zanax for the dogs!
Lock the gates in your yard to assure the dog doesn’t bolt at the first neighborhood cherry bomb or local firework display!
Just a few of the many things to think of before enjoying the fireworks, comfort and protect your pet.
I have two dogs, one is scared to death of thunder and fireworks and the other one could not care less—why is that?
Actually Tahoe, the frightened dog should have been a meteorolgogist, he can forecast a storm coming much better than
the human meteorologists that have a 50/50 chance of accuracy.
Do your dog a favor, keep them indoors if they are frightened so they don’t bolt and become a LOST DOG poster victim all over
the neighborhood. And if you have an anti-anxiety medication for them, administer it early enough to give them some comfort.
]]>
distributed in the Sunday paper for further explanation and who knew?
A reader asks this question to Ask Marilyn: “I see fireflies in June, they they are gone. Where do they come from, and where do they go?”
Marilyn replies: “Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) spend a long time developing into adults who live only a few weeks.
Many adults don’t even eat. So what do they do with their limited time? Reproduce: females lay their eggs, and most larvae hatch within a month.
(The larvae is ofter called glow worms.) The larvae feed until fall, when they burrow underground for the winter.
(Some remain there for two to three years.) They surface in early spring, eat until late spring, and then go through their grand metamorphosis,
emerging as adults to light up your backyard for a short time in early summer.
Since today is the last day of June I thought it important to share this information on the so called June firefly lightning bugs!
This doesn’t really explain why there have been so few this month but it does provide some insight to the short life of a firefly,
appreciate them more next time you see one light the sky!
Although the arrival of lightning bugs is not an annual event I particularly eagerly await, I do take pause to wonder where they are this year.
My husband raised in Cleveland refers to them as June bugs - okay whatever you call them, it’s June and there are a lot of other bugs
including mosquitoes that have found their wings, my yard, and any unprotected skin, but very few June lightning bugs.
Could global warming and mans carbon footprint be the cause? Are lightning bugs going the way of frogs and bees?
I am aware this is not a significant topic that surfaces at cocktail parties or even outdoor bar-b-ques, but, if you do wonder why there are
fewer of these flying sensations adding that beautiful touch of yellow to the nights darkness, why do you think? What have you deduced?
And if you don’t call them lightning bugs or June bugs what do you call them and where are they this year? ]]>
giggle but in the area just above the elephants there were three camels. Camels in Baltimore you may ask, why yes!
And most importantly there I found yet another wee little one, Mocha.
Mocha is a two month old camel born weighing 35 lbs. and now a slight 60 lbs., and looking good with her long slim legs!
She enjoys her days in the shade of the trees and the larger two camels and loves munching on all the planted flowers!
Word is she enjoys grazing on the pretty flowers so much that camel owner and trainer, Chip Malchow asked for the budget to be a
bit larger for additional flowers, or should we say, delicious replacement flowers. Camel rides also available, but, not on baby Mocha.
Again, I encourage anyone that has not been to the Maryland Zoo to go this summer, it’s a fun treat. Check out my photos of Mocha!
The one of Mocha smelling and tasting the beautiful flowers looks a lot like the deer that graze on the plantings in my yard.
If you haven’t visited the zoo and seen Samson I would highly recommend it but go early, Samson is only out from 10-12.
Check out this link for photo and a recap of Samson;s accomplishments, http://www.marylandzoo.org/blogs/index.aspx?BlogED=3.
,
]]>Unlike my co-worker I did not include a photo, I wanted the DNA to test for itself and not have a photograph have any influence on the results (I was a little skeptical of the validity I have to admit). Four weeks after the cheek was swabbed and sent in for testing the results and certificate were in my mailbox, my excitement and anticipation was nothing less than waiting to see if I’d won the millions of dollars. Canine Heritage tests the swab for more than 38 recognized breeds; if the dog is a purebred or has a purebred parent it comes back (hopefully) as the Primary breed and their should be no other breeds listed—if others are listed you got ripped off and do not have a pure bred. Then the certificate breaks it down to the Secondary, and the third category is In the Mix found in the DNA.
Remember, I think Ryder for the past 11 years is a sheltie-poo but had been thinking he had a little beagle in him (amazingly guided by his nose) or corgi to explain the shorter legs. As you can see on the attached certificate Ryder’s DNA breaks down like this: secondary (which is where his begins since we know he is a mix) is Collie and Shetland Sheepdog, and the In the Mix identified was not beagle or corgi, it was Yorkshire terrier! I would have NEVER guessed that but it does explain the silky hair and the shorter legs. And NO poodle? It was amazing and well worth the $79. Since the time I did the DNA test on Ryder there have been several local TV news reports on using a DNA blood test which can be completed for about $200 by your vet.
See any yorkie in Ryder (Tahoe, left and Ryder, right)?
]]>Why would I be writing in a pet blog about Senator Kennedy and a brain tumor?
Well, not knowing much about him other than his political views and recognizing his strength as patriarch for the Kennedy clan, I have been touched this week in seeing more of his human side ... his wife, and his two beautiful Portuguese water dogs that he appears to take with him every opportunity he can. I’ve seen photos of the dogs with him at work, at home and of course, Ted’s and the dogs’ real passion, on the water, sailing.
I’m pleased to see a man, certainly with a history of personal success and far more than his share of tragedy, have such love and compassion for his dogs; I wish you well, Senator Kennedy!
Anyway, the theme from callers and the hosts was basically human vs. animal and human vs. PETA.
I came in as the discussion was in play and I’m assuming the unfortunate demise of Eight Belles last weekend sparked some of the dialogue but what I did hear Ed say that always upsets me was “a dog is just a dog.” I do understand the difference between a canine and a human but I have to say there are a lot of canines that have earned the right and respect of their owners and community to be treated as well as humans which is not something we can say about all humans. Ed also stated, “I love my dog, but if my dog bit my son the dog would be fertilizing my lawn,” really Ed? Under any circumstance, like maybe your son was mistreating the dog? I understand that animals can turn and become aggressive but that is generally not the choice they make on their own without some provoking - again, NOT the same with the human race. And why discuss human vs. animal; why not human and animal supporting each other?
Ed, please pick on O’Malley all you want, but give the animals a break.
]]>
If I needed help watching my boys and cat I would definitely call someone like Hope; her work is her passion, not just a job.
]]>It’s difficult to say whether Eight Belles was better off than Barbaro, who fought for his life for eight months before being euthanized. It’s absolutely not hard to say that it’s very sad.
]]>