Yes, I Know...

Ok, I know I've been away for four and a half months... still in the same place, living on Prince Edward Island, Canada with four ornery cats and a loving, (patient) husband... lots has been happening over the past few months and today would not only have been my Dad's 89th birthday but its also the 3 year anniversary of his passing from this life in June of 2010, but the sense of loss was renewed. It was shortly after that I stopped writing my blog.

I have decided to come back and to offer more than just chat and pics of my cats to my readers. So you can look forward to a bunch of other things coming your way soon. Part of my plan is to honor my Dad, who was a prolific story teller (author), poet, song writer, painter, artist and my inspiration for my own writing; through my blog. He wasn't so much an animal lover in the sense that I am but, curious thing, animals were attracted to HIM!! Even the most dangerous sort of dog would be calm and well behaved in his presence... 

Be prepared for an wide array of different things to HIT THIS BLOG in the coming month! 

Hope you stick around --  Interesting things are on the way! I will get a few things ahead over the weekend but expect something Friday. I will also be making some changes to my blog page... hopefully I haven't forgotten everything about making changes but if the page looks 'wonky', you'll know why! 
So far, I got in successfully, have written this short blurb, saved, previewed and posted, added labels... Heck, I even remembered how to pop in a picture --

Thanks for stopping by.

Catspaw is BACK!

Priceless

I love my cats and any animal God created.They deserve our care and attention simply for being themselves and adding so much to our lives. 

Can you conceive of a world with no animals in it? Can you imagine your family without your pets?

What we consider a 'humble' animal; those that we raise for the purpose of killing for our tables, too often SHAME us with their own brand of compassion. 

Often they learn to get along better than we do...

Animals, of all species, add a grace to our lives that we would otherwise sorely lack. 

They grace us with their humor...

Their loyalty, love and companionship...

How DARE we treat them this way????

If we are SHAMED, we deserve what accompanies that shame!

Remember, this summer, to take extra special care of the animals ~ cats, dogs, cows... ~ and practice what YOU PREACH!

 Simple kindness to what we call 'dumb' animals is also simple compassion on our part. Do you lack that?

I find it extremely disquieting that in our day and age there are those among us who still need a whack upside the head as a reminder. What does this lack of compassion say about us?

Catspaw

The Fox Hunt, Part 2

Quarry animals are not limited to the red fox in a so-called fox hunt, they go after coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats and golden jackals as well. The red fox has been under this type of human siege for centuries in the name of sport killing. 

The little red fox is known by its scientific name Vulpes vulpes and is the normal prey animal of fox hunts in the States and across Europe. This humble animal is a small omnivorous predator that lives in underground burrows called earths and is mostly active in the twilight hours of the day making it a crepuscular  animal. Adult foxes have a range area of about 2 to 6 square miles in good terrain. In a poor area they can wander as far away as  7.7 square miles in search of food. This little guy can run up to 30 miles per hour for short bursts, mostly it trots everywhere it goes. Can you imagine the extreme stress of having to keep up this speed when running from dogs, horses and people who take joy in killing him for sport?

Foxes are variously known as a Tod, in old English. Reynard is the name of an anthropomorphic character in European literature from the 12 century and Charlie was named for the Whig politician Charles James Fox. All these silly names have been attributed to the little red foxes they are hunting into extinction. Now the American red foxes are somewhat larger than their European species but according to hunter's accounts they have less cunning, vigor and endurance in the chase compared to the European breed. Then why hunt them for sport in the first place? 

Is this the image you want your children to see when they ask you about the extinction of wildlife on earth?

I have to ask. How much of a hero do you think this man is? The dog doesn't know any better he does what his master teaches and commands him to do.Will the dog suffer if he doesn't obey?


Seems the choice of quarry depends on the country, the region and the numbers of available animals in the wild these hunters are licensed to take. Coyotes or Canis latrans are a significant choice for many Hunts in North America especially in the west and southwest where large open spaces offer more room for horses, men, women, children and dogs to chase down these animals and kill them. Coyotes are indigenous predators that you would not see east of the Mississippi until the last half of the 20th century. They are faster than a foxes running 40 mph with wider territories up to 109 square miles so a much larger hunt territory is needed to chase  down and kill them. 

Get This ~ in the cold opinions of the hunters that kill for sport: 
 'coyotes tend to be less challenging intellectually!'  Seems they only offer a 'straight line hunt' whereas a fox provides a more 'fun' convoluted route to the chase. Coyotes are very dangerous opponents for the dogs especially in physical confrontations when they finally corner them for their human masters to come in for the kill; despite a sometimes obvious size advantage of a larger dog and the danger they are in when involved in these hunts, coyotes are generally far more practiced in these types of hostile encounters where killing is the intention.

This is what 'hunt' dogs are trained to do, if they are injured or killed they are easily replaced by the next dog victim

FYI: Did you know that Coyotes are considered LC on the World Endangered List?  LC meaning Least Concern and this gives people the right and license to hunt and kill them for sport. There are other terms; 
EX equals Extinct (we did our job of eradication well). 
EW, for instance, means Extinct in the Wild and 
CR means Critically Endangered while 
EN is simply Endangered and 
VU is Vulnerable 

~~ I haven't found out what NT stands for yet but can you just imagine the words that go with those two letters?  Here's some more you're very likely unaware of: 
GX - Presumed Extinct or we are destroying species native to earth so fast we can even categorize them all. 
How 'bout GH - Possibly Extinct 
Or G1 - Critically Imperiled 
G2 - Imperiled 
G3 - Vulnerable
I love this one: G4 - Apparently Secure!!!   Well now, isn't that reassuring. 

I can't help but wonder what the Lord and our Creator thinks of THAT one. 

G5 - Secure and 
plain old C - Captured or Cultivated Only - whatever that means.

I'm wondering if C doesn't mean this ~~

Sometime I deplore my own species! 

Catspaw

Cats and Dogs and Their Funny Sides

Grrrrrr

Its all about teamwork when your thirsty

He came over so the two of them could go on their daily walk...

The ultimate GLOW in the dark headlights!

Pretty much says it all about my Emerald when she hogs the bed at night!!

Catspaw

My New Attitude Towards Life

With Spring, comes change and these are mine:

I think that says it all, don't you?

Catspaw

~ They Are The Silliest Creatures!!! ~

I came across some of the silliest, most humorous pics when I was surfing, here are a few for your enjoyment and maybe a laugh or two.

Ok, so is this dog trying to impress, just really ambitious or does he/ she take 'fetch' way too seriously?!

Really working that doggy-paddle!

Yes, Great Danes are BIG dogs but what is bigger, their bodies or their legs? At least they know how to sleep comfortably on the sofa without hogging all the room.

'Whose idea was this?' 

Uhh, show dog... or what!  You have to admit, she is cute ~ utterly ridiculous, but cute.

This is one of my favorites. How many dog owners would not want a dog that does this? I ask you!

And I had to throw this in:

ME! ME! ME!

Catspaw

New Theme For The Coming Week

Ok, so cat litter is a decidedly uninteresting topic for most people unless they develop a problem with their cats not using it.  


This weeks theme is going to be anything funny about cats and dogs. Pictures, cartoons, stories... anything to do with silliness and humor. Now, since cats and birds kinda go together this theme will include birds of any feather. 


Looking forward to it...


Catspaw

Best Way to Adopt Your Next Pet

Considering pet adoption, I take my hat off to you! There are a few insights of note for you to reflect on while you are choosing both the place to adopt from and the pet you want to accept into your home.

Depending where you go to make your selection of a new cat, dog or bird some places start you off with a meet and greet program where you literally meet different animals and interact with them at the store, shelter or facility. The staff helps you decide using an application for adoption which includes a section that takes into account your lifestyle, current residence and experience with pets. Through this medium, they assist you in finding the best fit for you or you and your family. Understandably, they want 'forever' homes for the animals they allow to go to different people.

These new pets are either already spayed and neutered, including being given their shots or you can request it if the surgery has not already been preformed. Check with each place you visit as to their fees as they can range from $50 to $150; usually the cost is included on the animals paperwork. Its a good idea to phone ahead and get some information so you can choose which ones to pay a call to.

Inquire if the animal you are considering is sponsored through a program they offer like Furry Friends, it may be that the adoption fee has been pre-paid. The adoption of two pets can net you a discount for some 'bonded' pairs that the facility or store does not want to separate. Some pairs of animals are designated as bonded because they have already lived much of their lives together and therefore, must be adopted together at a special discount.

Ask also about what medical services are included in the adoption fee. Usually the spay/neuter is done prior to being taken by the new owner(s) but it might also include microchip registration, a preliminary vet check, vaccinations – some places provide at least one booster shot, a DA2PP for dogs and an RCP for cats. Request information about rabies vaccine and if they perform this or if you need your vet to administer it under your name. Other items that may be included are internal parasite treatment, a heartworm test for dogs at six months of age and FeLV/FIV tests for cats, flea medications.

A complete medial history of your new found friend with an itemized list of the regimen they have had is yours to take to your vet for a post adoptive exam and some shelters may provide a 30 day gift of insurance as well. Not a bad deal for them and for you, as the new master or mistress of a healthy animal and a happier home.

Catspaw

Kitty Klip Art

I selected this free cat clip art from a free use site, I hope you like it.

free cat clip art - Google search were my parameters. 

cat book

getting a talking to...

working on my degree

the well read cat

They call me Mr. Boo

 Catspaw