PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

PetLvr.com - [The Blog] Is 1-Year Old Today!

Here are some songs that you can play while you are reading this post … There’s something for everybody!

* The Arrogant Worms - The Happy Birthday Song

* The Beatles - Birthday

* Patsy Cline - Happy Birthday, Baby

* Sugarcubes - Birthday

* Uriah Heep - The Magician’s Birthday

NOTE: If you have a Wordpress blog and wish to include this neat little mp3 player inside YOUR blog, go get the Audio-Player Plugin from Martin Laine

New Feature Added To [The Blog]

I have added to the code in our sidebar and template that displays POSTS that were made here at PetLvr.com - [The Blog] one year ago in our archives .. now that there is a year’s worth of posts!

Actually, this entry is Post #1449 so we have averaged approximately 4.12 posts a day, or 120.75 posts per month.

According to my records, the next comment at this particular moment in history, will be Comment #4394 … although, readers tend to NOT leave comments here in this blog, as much as I hope there is some communication with our readers. I think there might be about 100-200 valid comments around these pages .. and the rest of the sequence of comment numbers were used when I received SPAM comments. I deleted these comments, and have installed two plugins to help beat these spam comments, but occassionally a few get through.

As for our “Time Capsule” of posted entries 1-year ago .. I have also included the code in our main template, and you will see the same posts lingering on and on after each day of entries in our blog. At this time, I’m not really sure if ALL of them will remain to be the same list of posts 1-year from the current date .. or, if they will remain and archive with the newer posts as time goes by. It’s hard to tell - without history prior to May 31, 2005.

NOTE: If you have a Wordpress blog and wish to include this neat little archive tool inside YOUR blog, go get the Time Capsule Plugin created by Aaron Brazell on behalf of ProBlogger.net

And Speaking Of History …

My first post is .. www.petlvr.com/blog/2005/05/greetings-earthlings/ … on May 31, 2005 … where I said ..

It is May 31, 2005 and I’ve finally decided to add a Blog to our website. From my past experience of blogs, I can honestly say I have not been a fan of them. I can’t understand why people have them. I can’t understand why people read them. And I can’t understand why businesses would want to include them in their websites!

But, I have decided that it is now time to change the world as we know it. I will create not only the most unique Blog in the world, it will also be the most creative, funny and yet, informative Blog ever achieved in existence!
“First ze internet .. zen ze vorld!!

This week was a sad week for us. While we celebrate one year anniversary of this blog (and my blogging in general), there was a death in the family on Friday May 26, 2006 (my wife’s mother passed away). As such, I have yet to analyze how or what this blog has accomplished over the last year, or pieced together the statistics. I will try to do that later this month in my other blog .. 1-800-HART… I know that I might need a little update soon, but pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about blogging and this blog in particular, can be found in our “ABOUT” page, which can be accessed at the top left. In the meantime, I have one more day of duties and will be back full-time around the blogs on Friday - For Sure!

I started with this blog on May 31, 2005 using Blogger … the address was PetLvr.blogspot.com/ … but migrated to my own servers on July 8, 2005 to our current address. While it was mostly for our two Papillons and pets, I moved all the pictures out and kept the pet pictures separate in its own blog .. PapillonLvr.com - Blog.

I also started a few other sites, and also created my “quote” Business Blog “unquote” at 1-800-HART. It’s kind of a weird site, as I was using it as my personal blog and trying not to let my business client’s find out about it. (Oh! The irony!) It’s more for letting me give back to the world some of the stuff I know how to do well, and branch out from my off-line business to possible new online businesses. I’ve been fortunate, that my offline businesses has been keeping me quite busy, so sometimes that blog might seem all over the place. One thing is for sure .. I hope to get all my friggin bookmarks over under the HART’s Bookmarks Category! (lots of neat things .. check it out!)

Naturally, since my wedding and family website has been online since our marriage, I converted that site into a blog as well over at HARTandYVONNE.com, and made it even bigger than it ever was! There are almost 1100 pictures online (including 100% of our wedding pictures), and about 500 MB of video files (a lot from our wedding). We were married in a Medieval Themed wedding ceremony on August 31, 2002 - but, I hope to keep the site for everything we do personally together in our life, besides reminiscing of times gone past .. like, our major Condo renovations, our Vacations, and stuff like that!

This blog was created in the format of a “Group” Blog, meaning that I was hoping there would be continuous contributions of articles from co-contributors of content. It was going well in the early months, but pretty much after last summer of 2005, with the generally wide acceptance of wordpress, and blogging in general .. everybody and anybody could start their own blog. I just guess that it is not that appealing to co-write a blog anymore .. without asking .. “What’s in it for me?”.

I have always believed (having dogs all my life) .. that nobody knows everything about animals. If someone says they do - they’re lying! That was the basis of how this blog was built. I wanted an “Encyclopedia” type of database, where, besides the current blogging and discussions and mention of items in the news .. anybody can search our archives and look for information with ease. If you wanted to find information about stopping dogs from barking - I want you to find at least ten different ways and techniques and suggestions how to stop your dog from barking! Maybe one will help you find what you are looking for. Maybe not. There are a lot of articles posted in here that are free articles from guest writers, who genuinely want to help people and provide free information. They usually request that links back to their sites are done in the free articles, and I encourage you to click on them to further your quest for information about animals that you cannot find here at PetLvr.com.

I have tried to create a community growth spirit with this site, and I probably should advertise or promote these a little more, because .. well, not many people know that:

* Yes - we have a Forum!
* Yes - you can send FREE Greeting E-Cards from here!
* Yes - You can upload pictures and toss it into our Pet Gallery!
* Yes - everybody is free to add ANY PET RELATED EVENT into our Pet Calendar for all to see!
* And More!

If you are still listening to the music .. How was it? I hope you enjoyed some of the songs … I think, before I close that I should take this opportunity to add:

* If you want to join our team and Co-Contribute articles about pet related articles, please get in touch with me … hart (at) PetLvr (dot) com .. and read our “WANTED” button at the top of the page. Pretty much all you have to do is write the occassional pet related article, or news story and you have the run of this blog to place links back to your site in each post .. plus I’ll add some links around the sidebar and in our Links page.

* If you want to join the HART-Empire Network of blogs, please refer to the website linked. Pretty much, all you have to do is place the entire Network code in your sidebar.

Roxy, 62615

Roxy was brought in with another K9 as her owner was moving. 5 years old, Roxy likes cats as well as other dogs, and is a very gentle girl. She was pretty traumatized being surrendered here and has come a long way in the chaotic shelter environment. Roxy listens very well & knows many commands. She is an indoor dog who loves belly rubs & going for walks. Roxy walks well on leash. Roxy’s photo doesn’t do her justice, you must see her in person to appreciate how great she is! $159.00 adoption fee includes her vet exam, microchip, pet insurance & more!

Moogles, 120730

Moogles is a purrfect pick for an adults-only home as he was not good with the infant in his previous home. Moogles is declawed and must be an indoors-only cat. He is a very friendly, curious kitty with great big beautiful eyes. Moogles is an independent fellow- enjoys some cuddling on his terms! $79.00 adoption fee includes his vet exam, microchip, ownership handbook & more!

Fees include vet exam, vaccine, pet insurance, microchip & much more!

If you would like to adopt one of these pets, please contact:

Chantal Young,
Adoption Coordinator
Phone: (204) 982-3558
Email: chantaly@humanesociety.mb.ca

The Winnipeg Humane Society
5 Kent Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R2L 1X3
Phone: (204) 982-2021
Fax: (204) 982-2047

www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca

Where every adoptable dog finds a home and cats get a second chance at life!

Temporary Notice …

Due to a death in the immediate family, I will not be posting any articles in here or anywhere around my HART-Empire Network of blogs.

I hope you continue to keep Our RSS Feed in your Bloglines or in your Feed Reader of Choice, and not remove the subscription .. as I should be back on track on or shortly after Friday June 2, 2006.

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Dog Care: Keeping Your Dog Safe From Fleas And Ticks

By Lisa Pallardy

March 1 marks the “official” beginning of flea and tick season. Are you prepared?

Fleas are the most common external parasites that affect our dogs and, although they prefer dog blood, fleas are quite happy to dine on our ankles as well. And although ticks are not as common, they are potentially more dangerous, to us and to our dogs, because they can transmit such diseases as Lyme and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fleas and ticks thrive whenever and wherever the humidity is above 50 percent and the temperature is over 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Diagnosing a possible flea infestation is relatively simple…your dog will scratch. Additionally, you can usually actually see the little critters, or see white and black grains, about the size of sand grains, in your dog’s coat (these are the eggs and feces of fleas). Tick infestation can only be detected by finding one or more ticks on your dog’s skin, so it’s a good idea to check for these parasites when you groom your dog several times a week. To remove a tick, use tweezers to grasp it as close as possible to your dog’s skin, and then pull it out slowly. After removing the tick, clean the bite area with an antiseptic.

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Max E Million, 121267

“Max” is a very bright, peppy small-medium sized dog who loves to play. Only 7 months old, he needs the direction all puppies require- and he’s not getting what he needs in a shelter environment despite our best efforts. Due to the fact he’s still learning his manners, we think he’s best suited to kids 16 years+. Max is a happy bouncy puppy who needs an owner to love, and to love him. If you are a dog-savvy individual and can keep up with our little Max, come & visit him! $159.00 includes neuter, vaccine, pet insurance & much more.

Morty, 120601

Spring is here and so are the cats! The WHS is again filling up with homeless cats who have no where else to go. Morty is wonderful fella, friendly & outgoing, found on Home Street March 24. He’s only about 1 year old and has been good with all of our staff & volunteers during his stay. Let’s get Morty adopted so another homeless cat has a safe place to come. $79.00 adoption fee includes his microchip, vet exam, 14 days of after care & more!

Fees include vet exam, vaccine, pet insurance, microchip & much more!

If you would like to adopt one of these pets, please contact:

Chantal Young,
Adoption Coordinator
Phone: (204) 982-3558
Email: chantaly@humanesociety.mb.ca

The Winnipeg Humane Society
5 Kent Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R2L 1X3
Phone: (204) 982-2021
Fax: (204) 982-2047

www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca

Where every adoptable dog finds a home and cats get a second chance at life!

Let’s Talk Ticks

By Doug Gelbert

Let’s talk ticks. There are three things - OK, more than three thing - that I find people won’t believe, even after you prove it to them:

1) Warming up your car on cold mornings is a waste of gas - just get in and drive, staying under 35 mph for a mile or two;

2) Gas is gas - buying high octane gas is a waste of money unless your car is one of the select few that specifically demands it; and

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Animal Care: Pet Pests Are Back!

By Bill Knell

While most Garden Buffs can hardly wait for spring and summer to arrive, many pet owners fear this lovely time of year. They know it’s the beginning of flea and tick season. While the exact time when these tiny pests appear en masse to torture pets and humans alike may vary, a wise Pet Owner starts to prepare for their arrival as the snow melts, flowers bloom or the temperatures start to climb.

Preparation can help avoid infestation. Flea and ticks may seem like super-pests that are able to thwart even professional efforts to get and keep them out, but they are not as tough as you might think. In most cases, people actually invite these pests on to their property and into their homes by their action or inaction. They do this by creating a flea and tick friendly environment.

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Can Your Dog or Cat Catch Babesiosis?

By Rob Lester

Babesiosis, also called piroplasmosis, is a type of anemia caused by parasites that can be transmitted to dogs or cats by ticks. It can also be transmitted by direct blood contact, such as when dogs fight with each other, and it can be transmitted from a mother to pups or kittens. Anemia, or a shortage of red blood cells, leads to other symptoms such as fever, low energy levels, and in severe cases, shock and death. If your cat or dog develops intermittent fever, anorexia, or loses energy rapidly, and especially if you live in an area where ticks are common, you should consider the possibility that your pet has babesiosis.

The disease is spread to dogs by two different species of ticks and to cats by several species. It is found in North and South American as well as Africa and Asia. Young dogs and cats are more likely to be infected than older animals, since some immunity can develop as cats and dogs mature. However, infections in older animals are more likely to be fatal. The most severe cases tend to occur in uninfected older animals who are brought into an area in which the disease occurs after living in a disease-free area previously. Babesiosis is especially common in Pit Bull terriers and in any dogs or cats with a history of fighting.

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Ticks – A Very Serious Threat To Your Dog’s Health

By Randy Jones

Ticks are not insects like fleas, but arachnids like mites, spiders, and scorpions. A tick has a one piece body, harpoon like barbs around its mouth to attach to a host for feeding, crablike legs and a sticky secretion to help hold itself to the host. The United States has about 200 tick species whose habitats include woods, beach grass, lawns, forests, and even in some urban areas.

They have a four stage life cycle, egg, larvae, nymphs, and adult. Depending on its species, a tick may take less than a year or up to several years to go through its four stage life cycle. Adult females of some species lay about 100 eggs at a time. Others lay 3,000 to 6,000 eggs per batch.

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First Aid: Tick Removal

Below is ‘removal instructions’ according to Wikipedia … Personally, I just like to grasp the tick as close as I can to the base of the body, then pull it out slowly in one motion. Regardless of how you remove ticks, be sure to DOUBLE CHECK that the head is still attached to the tick. I like to either CUT the tick in half, or burn it in an ashtray, and then flush it down the toilet. I mostly cut the new and smaller ones into pieces, and burn the fat ones with blood that has been overlooked for longer periods of time. (less messy)

Before I continue, I also recommend that you check out the “Related Articles” at the end of each article for similar stories posted earlier about Ticks, and the removal of Ticks … or try our Search Engine here, in our Sidebar.

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