What’s in a name?

“What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” ~Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet What are you going to call that new puppy or kitten or older dog or cat you’ve adopted? The possibilities are endless. If you’re like many dog lovers, you’ll go with something common and cute, like Max or—surprise, surprise—Bella. Molly ranks high in...

When your pet dies

Eventually, a beloved pet becomes very old, seriously ill, or badly injured to the point that his or her end is near, and it may be time to make some very difficult decisions. This isn’t an easy subject for most animal lovers, but I’ve had to tackle it several times, unfortunately. The first time was the worst because I just didn’t know what to do or what was right for me. If you’re...

How to give a cat a pill

Even the most dedicated cat lover may find that “pilling” a cat is trying, at best. A few cats are agreeable, but most of us learn just how sharp a cat’s teeth and claws actually are when we try to give him a pill. No matter what technique you use, here are some helpful tips: Do check with your veterinarian on all aspects of your cat’s care. Do make pill-time a positive experience. Pick a...

Pigs as pets

As you probably know, so-called swine flu is primarily a human disease, and it doesn’t come from eating pork or being around pigs. Unfortunately, though, it looks like pigs might be able to contract the influenza, known in medical communities as H1N1, and local pot bellied pig enthusiasts, like the owners of Ross Mill Farm, are taking precautions. I’ve never had any kind of a pig—pot bellied or...

Sockington the famous Twitter cat

Are you following Sockington the cat on Twitter? If you’re not, you should be, but he probably won’t follow you. Unless you’re an animal, that is. Cats are like that. With more than 1,526,000 followers (a million new followers  since  August 2009, when I started following him), he’s sure to be the most popular Twitter user ever before too long. Some of my favorite tweets: “YOU WILL...