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October-November 2011 Articles
A large, solitary figure approached me on my dark morning walk with our two dogs. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. As he drew closer he said, “Good morning.” John always greets me in this way, but he also always has his dog Sampson with him–a gorgeous, proud, large Akita. This morning, Sampson was not there....
During the fall, we clear the overgrown pasture fences of brush. Thorny briers and invasive bittersweet take over sections of the fences, weighing down boards and bending posts. My husband and I had planned to clear up the pile of branches in the afternoon, right after I ran into town to take care of some errands....
Hurricane Irene left behind downed trees, strewn branches and power outages. It disrupted our lives and caused great concern. She also created havoc of our wildlife.
We thought the Refuge was prepared. Some good soul had donated a generator. I had heating pads,...
Happily, the Dog Days of Summer are finally over. I’ve never understood this idiom, as my dogs have all–and in all ways–hated the summer season. Stifling heat and humidity, the...
In August 2010, my husband Roger and I retired to Virginia Beach from Ohio. It was a very tough decision to make. It meant giving up our home and leaving many good friends. But our son lives here with his family and it made sense to move closer to them. We had reached that stage in life when we have to depend on others for...
First time parrot owners often think all they have to do in order to feed their pets and keep them healthy is to grab a bag off the supermarket shelf, and fill up the cup in their bird’s cage every day. Unfortunately, just because pet food companies sell seeds, doesn’t mean that it is the best choice in food for your bird....
Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) is a disease which can affect the nervous system of birds, particularly parrot species. It was originally described in macaws in the late 1970’s and was dubbed macaw wasting syndrome due to the rapid weight loss these birds displayed. Since then, PDD has...
It’s tough out there, money is tight, jobs are a blessing and pets are becoming a luxury. It has become difficult for many people to care for their pets. For patients with serious and chronic health problems, veterinary bills can be a monumental challenge. Nevertheless, there are...
Fall is here and winter will soon be upon us. Following I review some picture books for children on animals and the seasons - plus one special review!
All the Seasons of the Year by Deborah Lee Rose is a charming rhyming...
Who are Willy and Chinkers? They are two fancy white rats that started life as squirmy pink babies with hopes of finding a warm home with lots of food and a person to love them. Their dreams came true when they were adopted and taken home to an apartment at the beach. Within a short time, Willy and Chinkers were hand trained...
It takes more than just food, water and shelter to keep your cat healthy and happy. It also requires exercise and mental stimulation. From the time they are kittens to the time they are considered senior felines, cats need toys! Especially now that it is wise to keep your cats indoors, play and interaction with people...
For the past 20 years, the Virginia Beach SPCA has been the only animal shelter in Virginia to remain open during hurricanes to receive companion animals for temporary care. Since these animals usually belong to first responders (i.e., police, fire, rescue, medical and emergency personnel) who must stay in the area to...
