Monday, June 29, 2009

Insects Use Plants Like We Use The Net

"Dutch ecologist Roxina Soler and her colleagues from the Netherlands Institute for Ecology have discovered that subterranean and aboveground herbivorous insects can communicate with each other by using plants as telephones. [via Cellular News]

'Subterranean insects issue chemical warning signals via the leaves of the plant. This way, aboveground insects are alerted that the plant is already 'occupied’.

Aboveground, leaf-eating insects prefer plants that have not yet been occupied by subterranean root-eating insects. Subterranean insects emit chemical signals via the leaves of the plant, which warn the aboveground insects about their presence. This messaging enables spatially-separated insects to avoid each other, so that they do not unintentionally compete for the same plant.

... The communication between subterranean and aboveground insects has only been studied in a few systems. It is still not clear how widespread this phenomenon is.'"

Taken from: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2008/04/019899.htm

Thursday, June 18, 2009

My Grooming Rates

House Calls for grooming dogs. For my own safety, I only do house calls for families, and all women households. If you don't fall into either category, I will make arrangements to pick your dog up and groom in a different location :-)

Extra Small: Chi Hua Hua size
Small: Shih Tzu size
Medium: Cocker Spaniel size

Basic Groom: Nails, Ears, Ear fur, Belly, Paw pad, Anal gland, Bath, Dry
Extra Small: RM20
Small : RM40
Medium : RM60


Full Groom: All of the above plus Styling
Extra Small: RM40
Small : RM70
Medium : RM100


Add On:
Tick wash (Tick Killer)
Extra Small : Add RM5

Small : Add RM10
Medium : Add RM15


If you have diffuculty cleaning their ears or clipping their nails, email me at instingt@gmail.com for separate price.

My areas are Petaling Jaya, Damansara, Hartamas, Kinrara, Old Klang Road.

Animals Rescuing Others


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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

From Klinik Kembiri: Malaysia's Non-Profit Spay/Neuter Clinic

What is Spay/Neuter?

The term neutering refers to a minor operation to remove the reproductive organs of the male and female animal, while spaying is specific to female animals.

  1. Stray Animal Population Control

    Thousands of stray animals and unwanted litters face euthanasia or are suffering on the streets, please neuter your pets and help prevent this problem. Starting from 2 cats, you can end up with as many as 20,000 kittens and cats in a matter of 7 years.

    Do you have the means to care for them or to find them homes? The majority of strays cannot get sufficient food, are exposed to diseases and to the taunting and cruelty of heartless people; they often also end up maimed or dead from accidents. Don’t be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution.
  2. Heath Benefits
    • Females
      - Decreases the risk of mammary tumors (breast cancer)
      - Eliminates the risk of uterine infections (pyometra)
      - Reduces the risk of TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumour), a sexually transmitted cancer.
      - Avoid the risks of pregnancy and birth.
    • Males
      - Reduces the chances of TVT
      - Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
      - Markedly reduces the risk of prostrate cancer, anal gland cancer

  3. 1.Behaviour Benefits
    • Reduces stress
    • Prevents wandering and roaming in search of females, which can lead to:
      - road accidents
      - fighting leading to wounds and infections
      - spread of diseases such as TVT
    • Eliminates marking of territory by urine spraying and reduces odor
    • Reduces interdog aggression.
    • Avoid embarrassing moments where dogs like to 'mount' on peoples leg.
    • Eliminate the the frantic pacing and crying while in heat.
    • Spayed and neutered pets are more relaxed, and more homely

Fatwa from JAKIM:

We have referred to the "Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Islam Malaysia" regarding the neutering of pets. Below is the "fatwa" issued by JAKIM (July 2002):

"All pets like cats and dogs are allowed to be neutered or spayed in order to maintain the health and welfare of both the animals and the community."
"Bahawa mengembiri binatang kesayangan seperti kucing atau anjing hukumnya adalah diharuskan dengan sebab-sebab tertentu iaitu bagi menjaga muslahat ummah."
After studying the messages of the aforementioned "mazhab"s and the medical viewpoint of the SPCA animal experts, 'JAKIM' has decided that neutering of cats for reasons of 'maslahat' is acceptable. It is in agreement with 'qaedah' (way) Fiqhiyyah which states "To choose the lesser of two evils".


CATS



Female Spay RM 60

Pregnant RM 70
Male Castration RM 40




DOGS



Female Spay RM 90

Pregnant RM 100
Male Castration RM 60






Make an Appointment & Preparing your Pet for the Operation
  1. All spaying/neutering surgeries are by appointment only. Please call our clinic at 03-40243446 or 012-2581041 (Mr G R Krishnan).

  2. Please adhere to the following rules:

    • Your pet should be fasted from 8pm onwards the night before the surgery (applies to food and water).
    • Your pet must be in good health – sick pets will be rejected for the surgery. Please get your pet treated at a government or private clinic first.
    • Do inform us if your female pet is currently on heat or pregnant (on heat or pregnant pets will have higher risks during surgery).
    • Make sure your pet is clean– including getting the ticks/flea problem under control.
    • Cats should be brought to the clinic in carriers/cages and dogs should be leashed at all times.
    • This clinic is only for local or mixed breed pets, and the subsidized fees only apply to lower-income owners, animal rescuers and people caring for strays in their communities.

  3. On the day of surgery:

    • Come to the clinic early, preferably before noon. Although appointments are made for the day, it is a first-come first-serve basis on that particular day.
    • Register with the guard at the gate.
    • Make sure cat is secured in a carrier/cage and dog is on a leash. Dog is to be tied at the designated area.
    • Come into the Klinik Kembiri’s office area and fill in the required forms. Please inform us if your pet has been sick recently or if it is on heat/pregnant. You should clarify all enquiries before the surgery begins.
    • It is advisable to stay in the clinic area until your pet recovers from the anesthetics, before taking them home.

Post Operation Tips
  1. Take care while carrying your pet home, trying not to move or touch the operated area.
  2. Your pet may take anywhere from 1 – 3 hours before it starts to wake up from the anesthetic. During this time, it is important to place your pet in a safe, sheltered and quiet area for recovery, where it won’t not fall down and hurt itself (as your pet may not be able to balance itself yet).
  3. Place your pet on some bedding to keep them warm. Your pet may urinate/defecate while still anaesthetized, so be sure to keep them clean and dry.
  4. Offer your pet food and water only when your pet is up and able to walk properly (your pet may drown in the water bowl if it is still sleepy). Sometimes, your pet will only gain its appetite the day after the operation.
  5. During this recovery, some pets may vomit. Do not be alarmed, it is common for this occur.
  6. Confine your pet for 5-7 days after the day of surgery (if possible in a cage), to limit their activity and movement. This ensures proper healing of the wound.
  7. Check on the operated area at least once a day for the next 2 weeks. Make sure the area is always clean and dry, and the wound is not opened. If you notice any problems such as bloody discharge, pus, sudden swelling, foul smell, or opening of the wound, please contact a vet right away!
  8. Some pets may have a bandage over the operated area. You may leave it on for 3-4 days, as long as it is clean and dry. Your pet may lick the area a little, but do check that they do not lick and bite excessively.
  9. Do not bathe your pet for at least 7 days after the surgery. If your pet is dirty, wipe it with a damp towel. Please keep the incision site dry to prevent infections.
  10. You may come back to Klink Kembiri for a free post-operative check up about 2 weeks after the operation (please call us first to make sure we are open). Some pets that need their stitches removed can be done at this time.
  11. If any problem arises, please contact a vet as soon as possible.

Thank you for being a responsible pet owner!


Fasting your pet is important and your whole family should be informed and follow the rule...

My own experience:
I brought my cat to Klinik Kembiri, while waiting for my cat to be operated on, I got to know other pet owners there. One couple there, maybe in their 40s, have their 2 dogs in operation. While we were chatting, the vet came out and told them that one of their dogs had complications during surgery. The doctor asked them if anybody had fed the dog soup the night before. They denied, then the doctor continued that some of the fluids had gone into the dogs lungs, and the fluids looks and smells like Campbells mushroom soup. He went in again, and brought out part of a breathing appliance... That tube thinggie that goes down the throat to supply oxygen. True enough, it did look like mushroom soup and even had some solids there which he suspects are pieces of mushrooms. He told the couple that they doing the best they can to remove the fluids and solids... Thankfully, after about 30min of tensed waiting, the doctor came out again to say that their dog survived, but should be monitored more closely for the next 24hrs.

Feed your pet at around 7pm, then 8pm, remove all sources of food and water. This includes water from the toilet, pond, pool etc. Make sure that your children, parents, grandparents and neighbour knows that your pet is being fasted for an operation. Your pet, may beg and make pittyful sounds or behavior, but you and your family will just have to be strong. Safest way, is to isolate or confine your pet to prevent any accidents.


Map, address & contacts Link: http://www.spca.org.my/v51/klinikkembiri_location.php

Monday, June 15, 2009

Spay & Neuter

Below, Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer on spay & neutering:
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Below, I'm repeating this video to show how fast and simple a neutering can be done. Just make sure a blood test is taken first to see if the dog is healthy to be operated on. Blood test usually applies to dogs, and rarely on cats:
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Below, SpayPanama.org, slightly better than our Malaysian Klinik Kembiri:
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Below, is a video on a female cat getting spayed . Warning: VIEWERS DISCRETION... it's a surgical operation video with explanations by the vet while she does the procedure, and even though there's minimal blood, some people just don't like seeing the insides of an animal:
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Below, a female dog getting spayed. Warning: VIEWERS DISCRETION... it's a surgical operation video, if could not handle the above cat spaying video, then don't watch this.
Spaying female dogs are usually very bloody operation. This is the least bloody of the videos. I think the vet reduced the bloodiness by stuffing a gauze under the skin. The dog is sedated, and probably breathing from an oxygen mask. Spaying a female dog, is probably the messiest of the 4 videos shown here.
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Below, a male cat being neutered. Warning: VIEWERS DISCRETION... it's a surgical operation video. Although there's really no drop of blood at all! If you're just afraid of blood, but you're fine with looking at organs, then you can watch this :-) This is probably the fastest,easiest, cleanest procedure of the 4 procedures shown here
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Below, a male dog being neutered. Warning: VIEWERS DISCRETION... it's a surgical operation video. Although there's really no drop of blood at all! If you're just afraid of blood, but you're fine with looking at organs, then you can watch this :-)
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Spay is for females, and neuter is for males ;-)

Vets, please comment on the videos above and tell us what you think

Suzanne Lee the Photographer: Animals

Suzanne Lee and her traveling Pomeranian, Machida




Her Sugar Glider when it was a baby



One of Suzanne Lee's Sugar Glider



Suzanne Lee took this photo for her friend who has a picture collection of goats.



Suzanne Lee will be in Malaysia in December '09 and January '10.
(During that time, she will also be available for work in countries around Malaysia)
If you would like to view more of her work, or hire her, visit her website
http://www.suzanne-lee.com

http://suzannelee.smugmug.com (older site)


Saturday, June 13, 2009

Identify a Responsible Breeder

How to know if your pup is from a responsible breeder?

  1. The breeder should be accessible throughout the puppy’s 15 years of life, by phone or email.
  2. You are welcomed to the breeding ground before purchasing the pup. The breeding ground may be the breeder’s home, or a land out of the city. Note: Most breeders only entertain serious buyers, as they are busy people, and do not equate themselves to pet shops or shelters. So understand if he will only make an appointment with you when you are very close to making a decision.
  3. When you meet the breeder his first instinct is to show you the male, female dogs and where the litter is kept. He will bring you to the dogs, and not the other way around… since he has nothing to hide. If he doesn’t do that say something like “I don’t mind going with you to get the dogs” then, judge his body language and decide if you should be suspicious or not. Maybe it’s feeding time, or they’re doing some construction, or the litter is in his bedroom etc.
  4. Don’t start telling the breeder about you, he should be curious and concern of where his pups are going to end up. His big question in his mind should be “are my pups going to be safe with these people?” … And so expect to be questioned by the breeder. If they don’t seem bothered, then something’s wrong.

Expected questions

Examples of questions the breeder is expected to ask you may vary, some will ask more, some will ask less. These questions will give the breeder an idea of the kind of owner you are going to be. They also give you an idea if this breeder is breeding because he loves the dogs, or breeding for money.
  1. Where do you stay? What kind of house?
  2. Who’s going to be part of the pup’s family?
  3. What’s your working schedule like?
  4. Who is home all the time? Who goes to school? Who works?
  5. Where will the dog sleep?
  6. Other animals in the house?
  7. Had a dog before?
  8. What’s your occupation?
  9. Who is going to be the direct owner of the dog, the alpha dog, the one fully responsible?
  10. They may want your address and contact details and ask if they could visit the dog occasionally.

A good breeder may later, confiscate the dog if they discover that the new owners are ill treating the dog. Responsible breeders feel that the puppy is still part of their family even after they have sold the pup to you. They may still address the pup as “my boy/girl”. That tells you that they do not treat the pup as a man made ‘thing’ like a car or house.


Examples of questions you should be asking the breeder.

These questions will lead to an easier relationship between you and your puppy. They will also help you assess the breeder. You only want to support good, responsible and passionate breeders. The breeder will also expect you to ask these questions:

  1. What food and play schedule, is the pup and mom following currently?
  2. Can you contact the breeder anytime for help? If your puppy/dog develops some personality or health problems at age 5, for example, can you call the breeder and find out if your dog’s parents had the same problem? If so, how did the breeder handle the situation? Good breeders should be generous with suggestions, or recommend you to someone who can help you. He should never avoid you.
  3. Who is the current vet? Address and contact numbers should be given to you. You should keep the original vaccination card.
  4. Any documentation or certificates of the puppy’s family tree? Can you have a photocopy of them so that you can trace your pup’s history?
  5. Can you take the pup at 4 months? This is the safest age, where the puppy would have learnt basic (human & doggy) social skills.
  6. If long coated dogs, who is their regular groomer? Get the address and contacts.

Information of the puppy's vet and groomer will be very helpful for you to learn more about the puppy and the breeder. These 2 professionals, would have knowledge of your pup's history. They would know the character, quirks, or behavior of the pup's parents. Playfullness, coat condition, medical condition, minor skin irritations etc... Just chat with them, and get frequent consultations...

Puppy Factory vs. Responsible Breeder



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Ok, so you've seen some videos. Yes, there are more videos and pictures. Just search the web, or ask around. Yes, these are in the United States of America, but it doesn't mean that there are none here, in your own country. The only reason you don't find videos of puppy factories in your own country, is because nobody has videoed it. No press has been notified. No groups or bodies have made strong enough hoo-hah over it.

In Malaysia, these puppy factories are located in shabby communities, in abandoned houses, in shop lots that have no neighbors. Or even in small warehouses where their neighbors are car workshops or bulk printers, with machines running continuously and garbage all over the place to drown out the barking and stench.

So how do puppy factories affect you & your dog directly?

Well, for starters, your puppy was removed from its parents at 4 weeks, maybe even earlier. A puppy begins its socialization lessons at 6 weeks. By then, the puppy is sitting in a lonely cubical at some pet shop with other blur puppies as neighbors.

Socialization and behavior ethics are learnt in the pack, where there are pack leaders. The mother dog, acts as the pack leader, and the puppy’s siblings are its pack members. Here, they learn about boundaries. Boundaries like acceptable play area and where they can roam, and where is too far. When they play with each other, they learn their strength, and learn what is considered ‘playing too rough’ and what is acceptable. They learn how to read another dog’s body language. Certain body language calls for play, some body language says ‘stop playing’, body language that says ‘bad mood’, ‘going to pick a fight’ etc, etc. With their mom, they will learn the acceptable way of greeting each other. Dining etiquette like who eats first, what’s the acceptable way to approach food, the acceptable way to share food, the acceptable way to behave, when food is around etc, etc, etc. It is at this age that they also learn how to ‘fall into’ the hierarchy system. Humans at the top, mother dog, other dominant dogs, your pup, and other submissive dogs. Yes, this may surprise you… These behaviors do not come naturally. They are taught, or conditioned.

Similar with humans, we need to be toilet trained, we are taught that when someone is working, don’t disturb. We learn certain body language that says ‘hostility’, or ‘friendly’,’ approachable’, ‘upset’ etc. We are also conditioned to dining and behaviors. How to greet a peer, and older person, a younger person or a stranger. What’s considered rude, and what’s acceptable.

You might have gotten your pup at a considerably low financial price. The process of purchasing the puppy might have been easy. No appointments were made, nobody questioned you, nobody assessed your answers and told you to go home and think about it. No complicated documents, and name transfers. And, after bringing your pup home, no spot checks, or phone calls asking how the pup is doing, yada, yada, yada. All you had to do was walk into any pet shop, pickup a pup, pay money and it’s all yours to do with as you please. Come to think of it, it’s easier to buy a breathing, loving dog with feelings than to buy a car.

What a lot of people have to discover many months later, is going to cost them a lot. Lots of money in medical bills, and lots of energy/stress, with behavior problems.

Health Problems

Skin problems, very common recently in breeds like Schnauzer, Miniature Pinscher, Doberman etc. Bald spots. skin is flaky, like dandruff. Crusts froms on the skin, all over the back.

Recurring eye problems, very common in Shih Tzu, and now beginning to surface in breeds like the Pug.

Neurological and/or sudden aggression problems, aggression without reason, used to be common in the American Cocker Spaniel. Note: This problem has now decreased drastically, since the breed had gone out of trend. Puppy factory/mills don’t produce this breed anymore, and only by sheer diligence of responsible breeders, the genes that caused this ugly behavior have been weeded out.

Dogs with wrinkles like Shar Pei and Bulldog, have to get surgery, costing thousands, to remove excess skin. This was created when irresponsible breeders discovered that the more wrinkles a dog has, the more expensive they could sell it for. What happens is that as the pup grows, the wrinkles increase even more in the wrong places like the eye areas, pubic regions & paw pads. The excess wrinkles in these sensitive areas gather dirt and is very difficult to clean, causing skin problems, some lead to skin rotting.

Breathing problems in short snout breeds that were irresponsibly breed, like Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Pug. There are breed standards for short snout dogs where there’s a minimum length for a dog’s nose, any shorter than the approved length and the dog will frequently have breathing difficulties.

Behavior Problems

Unsocialized or badly socialized pups will have learning disabilities, psychological problems, emotional problems and others…

Seen a dog or puppy pee and poop in its sleeping quarters? Or has no worries walking over or stepping on pee and poop? That’s because it was conditioned/trained that way. Growing up in confined cages or cubicles, they don’t really have space to pee in one area, poop in another area, play in a different area, and sleep in a different area far away from the smell.

What about a dog that is constantly overexcited, 24/7? Doesn’t know how to relax, just always bouncing off walls, jumping all over the place, on to tables, onto people, banging and throwing themselves onto people… just won’t sit still and can’t control itself.

The total opposite of that, is extreme fear. It’s always running and hiding, the slightest sound or pat on its back will cause it to yelp and jump in fear. When you are able to corner or get hold of it, it will freeze stiff, or react aggressively.

Other conditions may be the inability to be around with other dogs. Always getting into fights… either starting the fights, or somehow drawing fights to them.

Excessive howling or yelping at certain times of the day. It just won’t stop, no matter what you do, as though it’s deeply programmed into your pup’s system and you can’t uninstall that program

How do responsible breeders weed out negative health problems?

Responsible breeders only mate the best dog (male) with the best bitch (female). They are assessed based on bone structure, teeth or jaw alignment, skin condition, fur condition, behavior or attitude, learning ability, health conditions and a few others.

They look out for what are called faults. Muzzle too long/short. Ears and eyes too big/small, long/short. Legs length, width apart, toes pointing in or out, distance between fore and hind legs, etc. Backbone curved or straight. If there are any genetically caused skin conditions the dog should not be mated. Fur density, texture, length. Is the dog overly aggressive or docile for its breed type? Is the dog overly lazy or hyperactive? Level of confidence. Learning ability, attention span and energy level. Genetically inherited internal health issues like kidney problems, early age joint problems, liver problems etc.

If any dog doesn’t meet the acceptable standard, or shows signs of ill health, that dog will not, and should not be allowed to mate.

Responsible breeders will almost always have their dogs extensively checked by a vet before mating it. Throughout a bitch’s pregnancy, she should be regularly checked by a vet. The puppies, once born, should also be given a clean bill of health by a vet.

Only irresponsible breeders will ‘simply’/’chin-chai’ mate one dog with another. It’s that ‘chin-chai’, ‘tidak apa’ attitude that eventually builds up to the many problems we now face.

Note: Those that I have listed above are just some of the problems, and will vary depending on breed. The best way for you to find out, is do some research on the particular breed you’re interested in. Buy some books specifically on that breed, search the internet and join online forums, find out the next dog show in your area, and speak to the breeders there. 90% of the participants there are responsible breeders. Talk to them, ask questions, get their contacts, and take pictures of their dogs. Understand that there is a lot to learn about each and every breed. A fan of the German Shepherd Dog may have no clue of the Doberman. A Shih Tzu breeder may be clueless about the Pekingese.


Friday, June 12, 2009

Smile

After the earlier posting, there are brighter side to things... the silver lining




Below an animal shelter that's,
  1. a private owned,
  2. non profit,
  3. with a Bertha (medical) fund,
  4. does therapy work visiting old folks homes,
  5. runs solely on community's contributions




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.Below, A very expressive dog misses his human friend, as the human goes out into the water on his kayak. They've known each other for only 24 hours...




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.The happiest days of their lives: Furry Friends Farm . org



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Dogs on leashes invaded Bangsar

Puppy Factories or Puppy Mills, Call Themselves Breeders

Many Malaysians, don't register the word 'mill' as 'factory. So in my communication, I have been using the words 'Puppy Factory'. It's rampant here in Malaysia. If you bought your dog from a pet shop, there's an extremely high chance that you've supported the Puppy Factory business.

I am not blaming you or trying to cause hurt. You probably didn't know better. However, what I'm trying to do here is create an awareness. To share knowledge with the public, and I hope you do the same... I don't hope for you to cry, or get angry, or emotional in anyway. What I do hope for, is that you open your mind to knowledge, and after this, do more research of your own... to discover what has been kept from you, your friends and relatives for so many years...
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. Part 1
.Oprah's Sophie. 13 years of love
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.Part 2
.In USA, they shoot old broken down machines (read old dogs). In Malaysia, because we don't carry guns, Malaysians can't shoot dogs that are too old to breed (read churn out puppies for sale). So, what is normally practised in Malaysia is:
  1. Throw puppy into monsoon drain. Cheras monsoon: an old, semi-blind Shih Tzu was found, wrapped in a cloth and dumped into roadside monsoon.
  2. Release dog onto roadside. Klang: Aging dobermann found wondering aimlessly & disoriented by it's surroundings, believed to be dumped by puppy factory for being too old to breed. The Dobermann was covered by genetically caused skin disease, common in dogs that suffer from in-breeding (read incest, father mate with daughter, mother mate with grandson, cousins & siblings mating each other etc)
  3. Release dog just outside factory's gate. Somewhere in Selangor: Aged Labrador retriever was thrown out of a home based puppy factory. The dog had no where to go and loitered at the front gate, sometimes howling & whining to go back inside. Every few hours or so, it's owners would come out and try to scare the dog away.
  4. Bury alive. In the northern region, where there's a lot of land space, deep holes are dug, and old dogs, sick or deformed puppies are buried alive.
  5. Sold for meat to illegal exotic-animal restaurants. These restaurants are illegal, as they sell dishes of exotic and endangered species. They support illegal animal trade, poaches etc. They are wanted by the government, Jabatan Perhilitan, and international organizations. If you know of any of these places, make a report to CITES, PETA, WWF (international) and Animal Asia. You can google their websites.
  6. Dumped at the doors of local shelters. They are, usually dumped and not handed over, because these people want to remain anonymous. The fact that they want to remain that way, shows that they know that what they're doing is questionable.
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.Part 3
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Matt-ed fur = tangled up fur...
Felt-ed fur = fur that is soo badly tangled, it usually covers a portion of the body, and is tangled right down to the skin
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Some long coated dogs from puppy factories are never groomed. So their fur is so badly felted, that the dogs have difficulty turning their heads, because the fur would pull, and that would hurt. The felt also makes it difficult for the dogs to move their limbs. As time goes on, early stage arthritis sets in. Mats and felts also cover their anus and privates. forming like a 'mesh' and trapping poop against their anus. Or, keeping urine against the skin around their 'privates'. This leads to severe skin problems, as well as swelling of the anal area.

Responsible breeders however, take good care of their dogs. Most in Malaysia have nice rooms for their dogs. Responsible/good breeders are usually breed specific. Meaning they only focus on 1 or 2 types of breeds. Versus having many many different type of trend breeds. They are concern of where the puppies are going to go, what their life is going to be like, not just as a pup, but their concerns stretch till the puppy's old age. Their dogs are happy, calm, very very healthy and contented. More on this topic on another post.
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.Part 4
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.Part 5
.In Malaysia, the euthanasia (in other words, killing by drug overdose from an injection) process works pretty much the same way. Difference here, is that the dogs are not 'put-down' one by one but in groups, there's no freezer, instead of 'body bags' we use black garbage bags, and it's the garbage collector who collects the dogs.
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.Part 6
.Low cost kembiri (Malay for spay/neuter)... Not for pure bred dogs:
http://www.spca.org.my/v51/klinikkembiri_fees.php
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.Part 7
.VISIT the breeder. Ask to see where the dogs are kept. Responsible breeders will gladly welcome you in. Irresponsible breeders a.k.a. puppy mill a.k.a. puppy factory will not allow you near them, or ask questions of where the puppy came from. They just want you to pay and go.
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.Part8
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Moth





I'm quite sure that this is a moth. Does anyone know what moth this is? What does it feed on, lifespan etc etc etc? Please enlighten me

Mus-Mus; groomed, to his mom's requirements

Mus-Mus (pronounced as Moose-Moose). A rescued Shih-Tzu. He was almost crushed by his rescuer's car. After posting up notices, and waiting for the phone call that never came, his rescuer passed him over to his current and permanent owner. He's blind in one eye, and half-blind in the other. He is also going deaf... Poor old guy...

Doesn't he remind you of CJ7?
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Mus-mus going through the grooming process. He's always very stiff while grooming. As though he's petrified of me. We don't know what his history is, but i find this behaviour very common among puppy-mill (read puppy factory) dogs. Sometimes, we wonder if he was used as a breeding machine when he was younger, and then dumped on the street when he got too old to be of any profit making machine. Mus-Mus, if that be true, then on behalf of all humans, I am very very sorry.
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De-matting his ears
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De-matting his head... See how he leans away from me? I try to be as gentle as possible, and I still get the same reaction. Poor dude.
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End result. Having a shake.
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There... Feeling much better, and ready to relax on daddy's Lazy-boy couch
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Hi mommy, taking a picture of me looking like a cross between CJ7 and Lion?
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Illusion, the Beautiful Rescued Mixed Breed


Illusion, named after Cesar Millan's wife, was given away by a pet shop. They didn't know what to do with her, since nobody wanted to buy her and she was growing past sell-able age. Nobody wanted to buy her as she was a mixed breed, and they didn't appreciate her color. We have now started calling her our own miniature Afgan Hound since she resembles one. Her owners have had her for close to a year now, and her fur length has remained the same. How could anyone not want such a beautiful and gentle dog. Illusion, you have found a happy home. God bless you.




Illusion is still learning commands like "watch me", "sit", "poop in the garden" and "stay"













Balding Illusion. Her mommy and daddy has never seen her bald. Since it is now heat season, it's best to shave her bald so that it's easier to find ticks, as well as keep her clean.











Almost done...
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A little more here...
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Ear wax. Color of ear wax, should range from clear to yellow. Like the picture. If the wax is brown, ear mites are begining to develop. If it's black, there's an ear mite infestation. The next stage would be infection..
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Daddy, very very happy that Illusion's bald! "Hooray, now it's easier to find ticks, bathe her, and less fur flying around the house!"
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End result... Illusion, bald for the first time, feels naked and strange... Remember the first time you went bald? Feeling all light and airy?
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Daddy comforting Illusion "It's OK dear, you'll get used to it, daddy still loves you..."
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.The End...