If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

I know all I asked for in life was for me to never have to put you to sleep.. You hated the vets and that was the worst way I could imagine you having to die, with your last memory in a vets office. I know I should be grateful that I got my wish, and you died peacefully asleep in your bed. But none of that seems to make it hurt any less.. Will the burn ever go away? I feel like I'm in billions of pieces. I love you so much old girl, I wish there would have been something I could have done to save you. I know you would have never wanted to see me cry like this, but girl if you only knew how much pain I'm in. You gave me the most joy I've ever experienced, every single day, every time you licked my face, wagged your tail, jumped up on me and pinned me to the ground.. I miss you more than people could ever understand..
You got a huge chunk of my heart with you girl, I hope you know that.

This is when it really pisses me off to know that people can throw their dogs and cats away like they mean nothing, if only they knew I'd give my whole life for another one of my baby girl's slobbery kisses.

May You Rest In Peace, Kiara.
Hopefully I'll see you again someday..

Kiara Di-ann, my Pride and Joy.

I know your time has come my sweet sweet baby girl, but it's taking all my strength to hold together, my heart feels like it's in millions of tiny pieces and the stores are all out of crazy glue. People tell me to stay strong.. How am I supposed to when nothing will ever be the same?
When people think back upon their childhoods how far back can you remember? Me? I remember being 3 and begging tooth and nail for a dog. I wanted one so badly, then my parents gave in and they gave me you, one tiny little roll polly puppy, when I was 5, Because I was scared of everything and I mean everything. My parents told me that this puppy would be my protector, she would scare away the ghosts, fight off the monsters in my closet, she would make sure nothing happened to me when I was in the shower or no murderers were hiding downstairs in the basement because she would be right there by my side through it all. So I learned that no matter what, as long as I had her everything would always be okay. We've been through everything together, from licking me to death while I was sick, trying to make me feel better every time I cried, to barking super loud to tell on me and my brother whenever we escaped the fence as kids, to us getting in trouble with mom because I was in the pond and that freaked you out because you thought I was in danger so you would jump in with me and lets me real now.. You never could swim very well. Or in the winter how me and Jordan could never wear gloves for very long because you were one hell of a glove thief, took them off us faster than mom could put them back on. Remember that time you took off after a squirrel when we were on a walk.. Dragged me through the woods face down, oh you silly girl.
You're the one that I could always count on no matter what, I could do, or tell you anything and at the end of the day you would never judge me, you would never love me any less, even if everyone else in the world hated me, I'd always have you.
This is hands down, the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but you've been nothing but loyal to me, and your family and I know you don't deserve to suffer, I'd never want that.
Please know I'm trying to make you happy, and make your last days here with me the best I can, but instead here we are, you laying on top me licking me to death which I know is your way of trying to tell me everything will be okay and that you love me. I'll never forget you, you'll always be in my heart. I am so happy and lucky to have had the last 14 years I had with you. I wouldn't change them for anything, but I'd give the world to have you forever, but I know that can't happen.
Love you always baby girl.

My Experiences on a Dairy Farm

A lot of what gets you into vet school (other than your grades) is having lots of volunteer experience and experiences with all kinds of animals. Now I live in a small town where the chances for me to volunteer aren't as plentiful as for those city kids, which at first I thought to be a disadvantage because I wouldn't have as long of a list as they would.. However I found something much better, and have realized that it's not going to come down to who has the longer list of volunteer work, but who came out of it with the most experience.
I volunteer on a farm, with 11 jersey cows that are used for milking, and at first I'll admit that my first thoughts were "cool cows!" and thats about it. I was going to milk cows and that was all, I guess at first you can say I didn't understand what volunteering really truly meant, well that has since all changed. These 11 cows and the man that owns the farm has taught me more about animals in general, and how strong respect goes when it comes to animals and the importance of being the "pack leader" rather it be with a 5 pound dog, or a 1100 pound cow. The relationship between that man, and his cows is actually amazing, it inspires me and has taught me so much.
Before this, I often wondered if me heading into vet school was a good choice for me, like maybe a childhood dream was all it was meant to be, but now I see that no one is "born" to be a vet, vets are formed, shaped and made into the people they are by the experiences they have. I know this is only the beginning for a long long road with lots of more wonderful and I'm sure some not so great experiences.
One very important thing I have learned is that in the world of animals in order for them to respect you, and view you as a person of authority you need to always be calm, never fearful around them, they can sense emotions and what you are feeling and if you're feeling nervous, they'll feel nervous, making them react in ways they never would have had you have been calm and assertive. I learned this from experience because when I was nervous around them, they showed me that they were nervous about me by acting fidgety or anxious whenever I was near, however once I calmed and realized I couldn't judge a book by it's cover and that although they were 1100 pound cows that could crush me, they were gentle giants that wanted nothing more from me but a good ole chin scratch and to give me a few slobbery kisses. Now they get excited when they see me just like your dog when you come home from work, and I brush and scratch each one before milking. :)

Pets During The Cold Winter Months.

I actually hate that I feel the need to write a blog post about this topic.. Why? Because that means this is actually a problem, which angers me to no end.. After seeing this picture ->
on Facebook I knew it was time and I had to address this issue. So even though I do not believe in the concept of ever leaving a pet outside all the time and believe that at the very least every pet should have the right to spend nights in the house. However since I can't control that, and by law as long as your pet is provided food, water and adequate shelter it is not considered animal cruelty (I disagree completely) but what can you do? So if you are one of those people who choose to leave your poor innocent pet outside year around, at least have the decency to prepare your pet to be comfortable (as possible) during these cold winter months.
1. Proper Housing - if you are expecting your pet to live outside in these months, please don't be like the sick disturbed people who let snow gather on their dog like in the picture above, provide a proper house, with a sloped roof so snow will not crush the roof from gathering, and is insulated or if possible providing a heater, blankets are not always ideal unless you change them everyday as when the dog goes to sleep at night and the blankets become wet from the snow, if you leave them there they may freeze and will not help keep your pet warm, but actually colder.
2. Water - make sure you give fresh water everyday, to ensure your pets water has not frozen solid with the weather.
3. Food - if you are keeping your pet(s) outside all winter, remember in the cold the pet will need to be provided extra food because their bodies will be burning extra calories trying to keep themselves warm.
4. You don't need to worry about this if you just let your poor pet inside during the winter months at least for the night :)

Microchipping: Should You? Why?

Microchipping is something that is being done more and more widely everyday, I'm going to share a story that happened the other day and what has made up my mind about it's importance.. As I previously mentioned I have a bunch of pets, 10 currently to be precise, 4 being cats and 1 a dog, one of my cats, Myles a purebred rag doll whom I had intended to be an indoor cat as the breed should be, and also because I had read too many articles on stolen exotic breed cats. He managed to get out the door the other day while opening the door for one of the other 3 cats that are outdoor cats, and I couldn't find him, luckily a very nice neighbour called and said she had a cat on her property, (knowing we had cats) and asked if he belonged to us, so he's back home safe and sound and never allowed to escape again. But next vet trip, needless to say he will be microchipped.
Why? What is it you ask?
Microchipping is an identification tag, that is inserted under the skin on your pet, and is about the size of a grain of rice, this tiny device contains your (as the owner) information, so that you may be contacted if your pet is found, please note that this is not a GPS tracking device it can not find your lost pet, but it can help the pet find his/her way back to you if he/she is turned over to the SPCA or brought into a vet, the microchip will be scanned and you will be contacted. It isn't an expensive procedure, 25$-50$ depending on your vet and can help save the life of your pet, and reunite him/her with you again. To me, any chance I have of getting back a lost loved one, is worth it no matter the cost.
This is a great article to continue reading up on this topic as it is becoming widely used around the world (although it says "kitten" it could refer to a dog or adult cat all the same):
http://www.petmd.com/cat/centers/kitten/health/evr_ct_cat_microchips#.UnunDZH0DwJ

Small Dog Syndrome

I mentioned "Small Dog Syndrome" during my last post but never elaborated as to what Small Dog Syndrome actually is, so this post is for those who have never heard of it, or are just looking for more information on it.
This is what happens when your dog thinks he is the pack leader above you, the owner. This happens often to small dogs because people let them get away with behaviour you would never let your Mastiff (example) get away with. People often view smaller dogs as being humans, and treat them as such. Which causes behavioural issues, due to them thinking they are the pack leader over you. So actually with this being said, there is no difference in temperaments between small and large dog breeds, it's what you as the owner does differently that makes their temperaments something much less desirable. You don't realize you are doing it and often do not been to but it happens, but before you give up on your dog, read up on it online to try to reverse this problem it's not too late! And if that don't seem to work for you seek the help of a professional.
Here is a really good article on Small Dog Syndrome that you should check out!: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm
Another wonderful site for help and info is:
http://www.cesarsway.com along with all his DVDs, and books!

How To Pick The Right Dog Breed For You

If you're reading this then that may mean you are trying to find the perfect dog breed for you or your family, well I can't really give you that answer.. But I'm going to give you tips on how to come close! Now theres tons of "Dog Breed Quizzes" out there on the web but just because they tell you the dog is for you don't necessarily mean that is the only dog you should own. If you are dead set on having a certain breed of dog and it doesn't fit you, either change your habits to meet their needs or don't get one.. Sounds harsh but that is how breeds get bad reputations, from people getting a dog because they think it is cute, but don't understand the breed and their needs.
Meeting the needs of your dog is an important key to the success of a healthy and happy dog. Energy is important, there are high energy dogs, moderate and low. A high energy dog will not be a good pet for a couch potato, because this will cause behaviour issues among the dog, which is why doing your research before jumping into getting a breed is very important.
High energy dogs will require a lot more than just a stroll down the street, they will need vigorous exercise everyday, such a run/jog twice a day on top of tons of space to roam and have a game of fetch! Some examples of high energy dog breeds are:
1. Australian Cattle Dog - In the herding group. Although adorable, is very high energy, and does best when there is livestock to herd, because of this they may nip at the backs of feet to "herd their people" so not always the best choice for a family with small children.
2. Australian Shepherd (Aussie) - A great choice for high energy families, they are great with kids, and although are herding dogs they are gentle with humans, they are very protective though and don't do well when left alone. They are also highly intelligent making them easily trained.
3. Border Collie - A very intelligent dog, that do amazing in various pet sport competitions, these dogs do great with children and other dogs however they can not always be trusted with other pets, but there are Border Collies living happily with cats so with proper training and socialization this is possible. These dogs also have strong herding instincts and will need to be taught not to nip at heels same as all over dogs in the herding group.
4. Brittany Spaniel - A easily trained dog, used popularly for hunting, does okay with children if raised from puppyhood, but because of hunting instincts a fenced yard would be best as they like to roam. They adapt easily to any environment, and make a great companion dog.
5. Great Pyrenees - This is a very loyal, devoted dog to his/her family, willing to risk his own life, is a protector and wary of strangers. This dog does best with kids when raised from puppyhood, it will need a firm strong willed owner to be the pack leader, tends to be vocal.
6. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever - This is a particularly popular breed where I am from, these are devoted family dogs, great with kids, making excellent family dogs for anyone that can provide for their energetic needs. They are wonderful retrievers which makes them excellent ducking dogs, hence their name ;).
Those are just 6 of the many high energy level dog breeds, I was just giving examples and chose the most common in my area. If you wish to read more I get a lot of my information from the following site: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/exercisehigh.htm
Low energy dogs are dogs that still need exercise just not as much, 2 simple walks a day will do them just fine. Some examples of low energy gods are:
1. Bichon Frise - These are happy go lucky, all around intelligent, small dogs that are less yappy than other small breeds, happiest when part of a family.
2. Boston Terrier - Well rounded smaller dog breed, but if not properly trained may become high strung. Does well in an apartment.
3. Chihuahua - Socialization is important in this breed, they can be nervous of strangers and/or other animals if not. They tend to be a little more on the yappy side, and may not be best suited for apartment life because of their barking.
4. Mini Dachshund - Smaller than the dachshund being the pack leader of this breed is important to assure no behaviour issues such as but not limited to: small dog syndrome, and separation anxiety. They can make great family pets with great temperaments if worked with same as all smaller dog breeds.
5. French Bulldog - A well rounded, generally quite, smaller dog, that can make a great pet with proper leadership.
6. Havanese - A generally quiet, great companion dog, with a longer lifespan of 14-15 years, get for apartment life.
7. Italian Greyhound - A wonderful little companion, but without proper socialization it may become nervous around strangers and/or other animals, and this little dog can be difficult to housebreak making them not for everyone.
8. Maltese - Playful, loyal companion makes for a good small dog for families, loves to play outdoors.
9. Pug - A silly little dog, that is a loyal companion, and is likely to make you laugh, is good for apartments as is low energy however obesity is a rising issue amongst this breed of dog.
10. Shih-Tzu - Big things do come in small packages, describes this full of character loyal little dog.
11. Yorkshire Terrier - A little dog with a high prey drive, may not be the best suited for houses with other small animals (rodents), with this dog it is VERY important not to allow it to develop small dog syndrome.
Please keep in mind that all dogs need you as their owner to be the dominant "pack leader" to help reduce the chance of behaviour issues, and in little dogs "Small Dog Syndrome" (I'll do a post on this)
These are only 11 of the many low energy dogs, again I was giving examples of the breeds and general personality information, I find are most popular, and if you would like to read more go to: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/exerciselow.htm
Now just because the these breeds tend to be lower or higher in energy doesn't mean you won't find a lazy high energy dog, or a energetic lower energy dog, it all comes down to each dog as an individual. When picking a dog I hope you understand and are willing to make accommodations to your life for your dog.
Please don't forget you can find many of these dogs at your local SPCA or other animal rescues so don't forget to check them out before seeking a breeder!
another great site for information are: http://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds#.Unfpl5H0DwI
or you can take this fun little quiz: http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html

 

Why To Adopt From An Animal Shelter

There are so many reasons to buy from an animal shelter versus going to the various internet sites out there targeted to help you find a breeder, or a new addition to the family such as Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook or the many other sites that I failed to mention. There are so many other sites out there listing reasons as to why you should adopt from an animal shelter versus buying from a breeder, but I feel this is a very important topic that although has already been brought to your attention many times I still feel like people are just not getting it, therefore are still turning their heads when it comes to going out and adopting because they would rather have a "pure breed" (pure breeds end up in shelters too, you know) or just have it as a puppy because they feel the bond will be greater if they get it as a puppy, this however is wrong.
Others feel that shelter animals are "damaged goods" for say. Which hurts me to hear actually, because no single dog is perfect, every dog I'm sure if you look has it's flaws, however most the time the reasons that dogs, cats and other animals end up in a shelter is not a fault of the animals themselves, but rather a fault of the owners.
There are a lot of reasons for animals to end up in shelters from, the previous owners moving away and not able to take their animals with them (which drives me crazy, I would NEVER move to a place that wouldn't accept my babies), to the animals being found as stray.. Which is horrific and beyond sad because that means some people were low enough to actually just toss animals away to fend for themselves, and yes these animals will probably require more socialization training and obedience than animals surrendered from previous caring homes but that does not mean the outcome will be any less rewarding. To me I would think that to rescue a stray and show him love and trust would be more rewarding than any other way of owning an animal. Other reasons may be, their owner passes away or becomes ill and unable to properly care for the animal, maybe the person has run into money problems, maybe even bankruptcy and is unable to provide proper nutrition and vet care and has been forced to turn them into the animal shelter, there are countless situations and yes there will be the animals that will come in from abuse, neglect, or maybe the owners did not understand the needs of the dog so it was uncontrollable for them but may be a perfect fit for you? An example of that would be someone taking in a high energy puppy because they thought the puppy was cute, without looking into the breed or energy level and being a relatively low energy human, the dog will become restless and bored in this environment and may act out, that may include excessive barking, destroying furniture, tugging and being very unpredictable during walks due to excess energy. Which would be a perfect fit for an active family!
So reasons to adopt rather than buy:
1. You will probably save a life.. Most shelters are high-kill which means if they are not adopted within a set time frame the dog will be euthanized. If that right there isn't enough to change your mind, continue reading...
2. The average fee to adopt is around 250$ and this includes their vet check, spray/neuter (if old enough), shots, fleas, worms and tests for conditions. So now, not only are you saving a life, you're saving money too! Think about that before you go to fork out 1,000$ on your new pure breed puppy.
3. When buying from pet stores/breeders you are supporting the mass breeding and overpopulation of animals now because if the breeders/pet stores keep selling they will keep them in stock causing more and more breedings, when a percent of those puppies sold will someday turn up in a shelter or rescue.
4. Adopting an older pet can eliminate any "surprises" your pet will already have their personality predetermined, energy level, their size, fur, vet checked everything so there is less room for error when picking the right one for you!
5. Most importantly the unconditional love your new pet will show you will be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. :)
A good site to help assist you in finding the perfect rescue pet for your home in your area is www.petfinder.com. Be sure to stop by and visit your local SPCA and independent rescue groups.

My Thoughts On Buying From Pet Stores.

This is a very controversial topic when dealing with animal lovers as everyone has a different idea of rather or not people should buy from pet stores. This post is my thoughts on that touchy topic.
When asked if they should go to the pet store to buy a new pet I am always kind of unsure of what to tell them because I see this topic two ways..
On one side:
This is the same argument as my parents made to me growing up when I went through the whole "I don't want to eat meat, an animal has to die"and my parents would always say "The animal is dead, it didn't die because you wanted to eat it, and if you don't eat it now you're wasting it and it died for nothing" now it don't sound like that should be the same argument as buying pets from pet stores but; hear me out. If you are one of those people that believe buying an animal from a pet store supports the animal mills and mistreated animals then, I do agree with you because if people never bought them, they wouldn't keep bringing them into stock, however those animals that are there, are either going to be there until someone buys them, or they will die and rot in that store. So in my mind, buying a pet from the pet store almost feels like I'm rescuing said animal, from the poor conditions they were kept in. Including the small improper enclosures, improper use of bedding, cedar and pine wood shavings are not good for many animals, although pet stores use them because they are good at controlling the odor of the animals, as well as repelling unwanted bugs or insects. However these shavings have potential health risks involved with using them that a lot of pet owners aren't aware of because people assume "well they use them in pet stores, so they're good" but truth is they aren't especially when it comes to the respiratory problems, such as asthma, inflammatory, allergic reactions and these can develop into pneumonia, which can very often be fatal to your pet. As well as studies have shown that housing your pets in shavings can cause dramatic changes to the liver enzymes. So with so many other better methods out there like as I use for both my ferrets and rats, just plain laid out news paper, (which is also recycling ;)) there is no reason for people to be using shavings and exposing their pets to these risks. I will never discourage buying small animals from pet stores because I think of it as saving and rescuing, however when it comes to dogs, I won't discourage it so much as I will warn, these are mill dogs, and because of that they have not been properly socialized, they probably are not in good health, they are not dogs for just anyone, even though you think it is easy to just go to the pet store and buy a dog, make sure a task like that isn't for everyone and buying from a good well known breeder is a much better method for almost everyone, unless you have the proper training, time, money, and vet care that this animal may need after taking it from the pet store, because although I still view it as a rescue it will have it's disadvantages that can be avoided by buying from a breeder.
The other side:
Simple as this: They are mill animals, kept in cruel conditions and bred for quantity not quality, mass producing, inbreeding, and buying from them does support and empower pet store owners, and the companies.
If you choose to buy from a pet store be sure to know what you are looking for, this is very important in ensuring you pick the one in the best health:
1. Check the eyes, for discharge. Check the ears, making sure they are clean. Check the nose, making sure there is no red mucus (this is not blood, but mucus, a sign of respiratory infection).
2. Check teeth, mouth and gums, you want to see a nice pink colour.
3. Beware of bald spots, sometimes with rodents bald spots simply mean they are allergic to their bedding of horrible shavings but could be a symptom for bigger problems.
4. Watch for coughing, sneezing, or shaking of the head, these are obvious signs of there being something wrong, but again it may just be the result of horrible bedding, or bigger problems.

However instead of supporting animal mills and risking health risks and heartbreak, why not go to your local animal shelter and adopt a loving animal that is has already been health checked and is in need of a loving home?
:)

Henry & Max :)

I feel my first "real" page should be dedicated to my rat babies, Henry and Max. Their my inspiration for so much that I do in life. It's hard for people to really understand what they mean to me, I mean.. Their rats, people trap them, poison them, shoot them, anything they can do to kill them, and although everytime I tell people "I have rats" the response is always the same "EW" and then I'll follow with "no no, they aren't wild, their domesticated, and extremely clean and friendly" and people laugh, and never believe me, But seriously they are.

I got Henry May 9th 2013, he's a brown and white hooded dumbo rat, at the time I got him I also got a beige albino boy whom I named Bacon and lost only 8 days later after a very costly vet trip to find out he had pneumonia (an inflammatory condition of the lungs) which when it occurs in humans is not all that major but in pet rats it is almost always fatal unless caught in the early stages, however due to these being my first rats, inexperience caused me to not see the signs, although I was told he was sick when I bought him and at that point there was nothing I could have done for him I now know what to look for when buying a rat from a pet store to help ensure they are healthy. When I asked why my rat was sick the vet told me that when buying rats and many other animals from pet stores they are not kept properly, wood shavings are NOT good for rats and almost always result in a respiratory infection if kept there for too long. I will make a post to my thoughts on pet stores and buying animals from them later.

Rats always do best in pairs so a month later on June 7th 2013 I bought my 3rd rat Max, a black and white dumbo, so that Henry was not alone. I spend almost all day with my rats, I take them with me in the car (which they love), I take them to visit my family, they get on average 8-10 hours out of their cage running free each day (rats will need at least 1-2 hours to run free, mine are just spoiled rotten). 

Rats unlike hamsters, gerbils, mice have huge personalities. Both my boys are so different when it comes to their personalities it is so cute, Henry is very laid back, yet a huge momma's boy and is nervous around strangers, and will usually hide in my shirt when faced with a new environment. While Max is so friendly and loving towards everything and everyone, my other cats, and dog included. He will go to anyone and just loves to sit on your shoulder and give kisses. 

Rats are easily litter trained, both mine are almost flawlessly litter trained with very little messes outside the box, making cleaning their cage very easy to do everyday. I lay newspapers in the bottom of the cage for easy clean up, and use "Yesterday's News" litter for their box. I wipe out the whole cage with a lysol wipe everytime to kill the bacteria, then I wipe with water and then dry before laying new newspapers down (to ensure their is no cleaner in the cage for them to lick).

Rats also can be bathed, now.. Mine probably would tell you otherwise as they HATE it, so I try not to do it if that is possible, however I have seen rats on Youtube enjoy it.

Rats are VERY intelligent, they can even learn tricks just like your dog! (I will upload a video of my Max doing some tricks soon)

Rats are very clean, and spend just as much time a day grooming as your cat does. 

TL;DR? Rats are the best. Hands down. :D

I will be posting more posts devoted so some of the points I briefly mentioned above, but if there is anything you want to see a post on, leave me a comment below :)

Meet the girl, & her purpose

My name is Erica, I'm a small island girl living in Atlantic Canada. I'm 20 years old and a student 
aspiring to become a Doctor of Veterinarymedicine. I am an animal activist and the reason I want to make this blog happen is to help people understand animals, animal behaviour, and their pets.
As an activist I understand that when it comes to animals, it is not the animal itself but rather the owner of the animal that has a problem, for this reason I believe that some breeds are not suited for everyone, yes but no single breed is "bad" it has just been raised improperly, the owner was not the dominate one and able to control the animal therefore they acted out of dominance only trying to protect their pack (you, as the owner) and hurt someone or another animal or won't listen to you.
I also have 2 male rats, whom I love as if they were my own children. I also aspire to run a rescue rehoming and taking in rats because I feel they are so underestimated, so mistreated, so I plan to provide tons of information on having rats as pets on here, as well as by sharing pictures and videos of my rats.
I have tons of experience with animals, including owning a total of a dog, 7 cats, 3 ferrets, 4 geckos, countless fish, and 2 rats, and still having all but the geckos and 3 of the cats. I spend almost every day of my live devoted to my animals and my dream of being a DVM.
This blog will be a blog providing posts on all kinds of different animals, as well as my personal pets, but also a reflection of my journey to reaching my dream of becoming a DVM, rather that be reflecting on my studies to relieve stress from the pressure, or my findings during all my volunteer work I have been doing to help build a resume. Including a lot of work with dairy cattle.
If you ever have any questions, about anything don't hesitate to comment, or email me and I will do my best to help answer your questions :).