07.26.09

Endangered Bird

Posted in Animal Center, Political Activism, The Sciences at 6:11 pm by admin

Gouldian Finches are approximately 130″140 mm long. Both sexes are brightly colored with black, green, yellow, red and other colors. The female Gouldian Finch tends to be less brightly colored. One major difference between the sexes is that the male’s chest is purple, while the female’s is a lighter mauve color.

Gouldian Finches’ heads may be red, black, or yellow. People used to think they were 3 different kinds of finches, but now it is acknowledged that they are color variants that exist in the wild. Selective breeding has also produced mutations (blue, yellow and silver instead of green back) in body color and breast color.

This bird is found in northern Australia: the Cape York Peninsula through north-west Queensland and the northern Northern Territory to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Their habitat is tropical savanna woodlands. Their nomadic within a comparatively tiny region approx 40 sq kilometers and only move when water or food grows scarce.

The Lady Gouldian Finch is declining in numbers rapid through the last 100 years with no mare than 2,500 mature adults found in thier natural habitat landing them on the endangered species list. Current efforts are underway to help bring back natural wild populations in remote parts of Australia. However, efforts to re-introduce the Gouldian Finch in the wild have been unsucessfull to this point.

Permalink Comments off

06.28.08

Providing Your Dog With Enough Toys

Posted in Animal Center at 11:24 am by admin

Variety is the spice of life. This holds no different when it comes to pet toys, particularly those of a dog. Like a child, having just one or two isn’t very stimulating or helpful to the animal. The dog should have a variety to help give a different range of playtimes. Of course, it’s not toys like a child where they are pressing all kinds of buttons and learning things. But each dog toy is still unique and provides a different experience for the animal.

My dog has four toys that she loves. She is a beagle, and is easily distracted by so many things, yet these four toys keep her occupied and happy. They promote play, chewing, and just feeling good about doing something. They can keep her from just sleeping and being down when the weather is sad or there is no one home. This is a beneficial view for all dog owners.

My dog’s favorite toy is the ball. It is a versatile toy, both for casual and more energetic play. She loves inside the house and outside the house. When she casually plays with it, she just holds it in her mouth, bites down on it a few times, and stuff like that. Sometimes she’ll drop it or toss it, watch it roll, and then pick it up again. Nothing much. When she really wants to play with it, she’ll have me throw it so she can chase it. It’s one of her two active toys.

The other toy that keeps her on the go is Kong. It’s a funny little toy that looks almost like a red snowman. It’s built to bounce when thrown and is great for the outside, especially for those with big yards or parks to play at. Not only can you throw it far, like a ball, but it has a great bounce to it and can go off in many directions. It keeps the dog on its toys and excited to play.

Her third toy is a red Nylabone that has been around for years. She just loves it and it is her favorite chew toy. It is probably the best chew toy she could have. It’s thick, strong, well-made, and still fun to chew on. This is great for dogs to keep their teeth strong and to give them something to chew on other than slippers and furniture.

Her fourth toy doesn’t last long and is constantly being replaced, but she loves it. It is a rope, another great chew toy, but for a different reason. It’s like a floss for dogs, helping keep their teeth and mouths clean and healthy. She goes to town on it, obsessed with ripping it apart in the first day. If it’s a small one, she’ll have it in threads all over the rug within an hour. But a nice thick, sturdy one will last for a while and keep her very happy.

These are my dogs four favorite toys, but they are not the only good toys out there for dogs. It depends on the dog’s personality and the size. Some toys are great for smaller dogs, some for larger, some for calmer dogs and some for more active. They can be squeaky toys, plush animals, rawhides, and other special bones. They come in numerous sizes, shapes, and designs to provide a great variety of entertainment.

The key is providing your dog with a variety of toys to enjoy. This not only makes sure they will last longer, but also keep your dog occupied. They won’t get bored fast with just one toy which can happen. Dogs, like all animals, need a variety of ways to have fun. We can’t always be there to play with them, to run around outside or give them the attention they need and deserve. When they are left alone or the owner is too sick or busy, having a nice variety of toys can go a long way and keep the dog happy and amused.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com which is a site for Pet Forums.

Jake Rose is an artist and an author from Massachusetts.

Permalink Comments off

04.28.08

Adding Essential Fatty Acids To Your Pets Diet

Posted in Animal Center at 2:22 pm by admin

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are a requirement in everyone’s diet, for both human and animal. However, the body cannot produce EFAs on its own, so it must be added to the diet each day. The two most commonly known fatty acids are omega 3 (linoleic acid) and omega 6 (alpha-linoleic acid). The diets of our pets, like people, tend to include more omega 6 fatty acids rather than omega 3. This is an imbalance that needs to be improved upon.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential as they help with the proper formation of cell membranes, cardiovascular functions, nourish the lining of the digestive tract, and work to keep your pet’s skin and coat smooth, soft and shiny. Another essential function of omega 3 fatty acids is that they work to reduce inflammatory problems in the body. If you find your pet’s coat is dull and brittle or if he/she tends to have dry skin and scratch a lot, it may be due to a lack of this particular fatty acid.

There are different types of essential fatty acid supplements that are available, however which kind you choose to supplement your dog or cat’s diet can be a bit of a dilemma.

Pure plant oils such as flax oil, evening primrose oil, safflower oil or a blend of plant oils is a good alternative to fish omega-3 fats. These should be “cold-pressed” oils, as opposed to oils that are typically extracted with chemical solvents. The problem with plant oils is that animals have a harder time converting the fatty acids to a form best used by the animal’s system.

Fish oils, such as salmon oil, halibut liver oil, or cod liver oil are more easily converted and used by an animal’s body. The downside is that fish oils often contain deadly toxins, including high levels of dangerous PCBs, dioxins and detectable levels of mercury. Farmed salmon is the worst for contamination and contains less omega 3 acids than wild salmon. At present nearly 30% of all fish are farmed, with salmon being in the 90% farmed range. As well, farmed salmon are often carriers of disease and parasites. When supplementing your pet’s diet with fish oils, choose oils that come from wild sources, not farmed.

There are also blended fish and plant oil supplements available. These often include a mixture of salmon or cod liver oil and flax, safflower or other such oils that provide a mixture of 3 to 4 parts omega 3 oils to 1 part omega 6 oils. Giving your animal a combination fish/plant supplement may be a good alternative to consider, as they should contain fewer toxins since they are not strictly fish oils, yet still should be better assimilated by the animal’s body than straight plant oils.

Permalink Comments off