Pets Information |
Pets: The Wild Kind
Just because we moved out to the country a couple years back does NOT mean we want to run a farm. Tending to animals is just not how we want to spend our time. We don't want cows or sheep or chickens. We don't want hogs or ducks. We don't even want a dog or a cat to train. OK, so my wife says that she wants a cat, but that's only because she knows I won't have anything to do with it. I suspect that if I ever said, "OK, you win. Let's get a cat", she would run screaming down the stairs pulling at her hair and just keep on running... causing damage to the stairway carpet, not to mention the window at the bottom of the staircase. We don't want a parrot or a rabbit or a hamster or even a mouse. But when you live in the country, you have pets, whether you like it or not. The first summer, we were welcomed by Muffet the skunk. Although she never responded to that name, we let her keep it. She just loved our compost heap. In fact, she had a frequent-eater pass at the all-you-can-eat compost buffet. The second summer we were skunk-free, but this summer we were blessed with a new traveling perfume salesman. We did not name him, but we have determined that he is on a diet. He stays away from the all-you-can-eat compost buffet. He is also much less intelligent than Muffet. When we see him, we jump and shout and wave our hands to get his attention,. But we usually have to get his attention three or four times before something in his microbe-sized brain clicks in and says, "Wait a minute. That's not the hot dog vendor beckoning me to clean up his leftovers. Maybe I should turn around." But he is smart enough provide a two-tier burglar deterent. First, he drives them away with his odor. "Peee-ew. Let's go rob the Jensons down the road." Second he digs thousands of tiny pits all over the lawn to trip any burglar foolish enough to try to escape. And to answer your question, no I did not personally verify the gender of these skunks. But you are free to check if you doubt my word. This summer, we discovered an exotic spider (See http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net/spider.html). Painted on its inch-long black back are two bright yellow eyes. Spooky. We even watched it wrap its prey - a small, light brown flying thingy. With amazing speed, the spider scurried from the center of her web toward the helpless victim at least a foot away. Then in a matter of two seconds flat, the spider spun the fly around three or four times, weaving it into a web cocoon like rolling a corpse in a carpet behind Luigi's Fine Finer and Smokes. No gangster could have operated with one tenth the speed. Just a few hours ago, I was proud to show off a bees nest over a foot tall hanging from a low branch in our One Acre Woods. "Wow. It's just like in Winnie the Pooh!" That was Little Lady, now 3 years and 3 months old. "Destroy it. There must be thousands of bees in there!" That was my wife. The fact is that I have had to destroy four bees nests in the past three weeks, all between the stones in our foundation. I am not keen to drive the bees away from their forest nest and toward the house. In fact, I think I'll post an arrow sign near the house pointing to the forest: "Cheap rent. Spacious hive. Vibrant community." So far, we've avoided the pets inside the house - we won't discuss the "storm trooper ants incident" or the midnight mouse-trap peanut-butter visits - and we have kept the hogs and sheep at bay (although the chickens sheepishly crawl through the fence and the stray cats like to run hog wild around our land). No pets, perhaps. But you still have to share your space with skunks and spiders and bees when you live in the country. Coming soon to a humor column near you: How I adopted 14,673 cluster flies on a Tuesday afternoon....without even breaking into a sweat. About The Author David Leonhardt publishes The Happy Guy humor column. Visit his home page: http://www.thehappyguy.com David is owner of The Liquid Vitamin Supplements Store: http://www.vitamin-supplements-store.net
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
Tips for Finding the Perfect Family Dog If your kids have been begging you to get a family dog then this article is for you. Having a family dog can offer your family a great amount of fun and enjoyment. Dogs, Cats, Horses?We Love Them All! We have a long history with domesticated animals and even the nay Sayers can't deny their roll in society past and present.There is evidence that as long as 10,000 years ago the Native Americans had domesticated dogs as depicted in early rock paintings. Dog Doors: Giving Your Pet Freedom to Come and Go as They Please Helps Solve Behavior Problems Dog DoorsWhen we think of dog doors, we think of flaps that allow dogs to trot on through. What a great convenience this can be for you and your pet. The Lowdown on Dog Vaccinations Over the last 20 years, vaccinations have generally been started in puppies at about 6-8 weeks of age, when the natural immunity inherited from the mother may start wearing off. A series of shots will then be given every three to four weeks, and boosters are administered every year after that. Treat Fleas Naturally and Avoid Vaccinations, for a Truly Healthy Dog An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual checkup with the vet. The vaccinations* which are given to your dog each year supposedly ensure your dog's immunity to some common infectious diseases. The Demand for Luxury Dog Beds A pet can be as important a member of the family as a child to some owners, and making sure they sleep well is a way to express that affection. In the past several years, manufacturers have started to fill a growing demand for luxury dog beds for pet owners who wanted to lavish something special on their pets. The Truth About Declawing There seems to be an alarming trend to have cats declawed.. First Aid for Parrots Unfortunately, accidents can - and DO happen, so it's always a good idea to be prepared! While accidents usually produce obvious injuries, illnesses are often kept well hidden by birds. In nature, if you're sick you pose a threat in making your whole flock vulnerable to predators, so parrots have become adept at masking signs of illness. How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy - Playtime for Kitty While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are often left to their own devices, having to find their own ways of exercising if they are kept indoors.Cats have gone from working animals to creatures of leisure. Water Chemistry For The Discus Tank Much has been written about the Discus, or Symphysodon aequifasciatus, its Latin name. The Discus has always been given a bad rap for being hard to raise and difficult to keep. The Grave of Gelert Just south of Snowdon, in the grey-stoned village of Beddgelert set among the wild mountains of Wales, is the Grave of Gelert. Here, in a beautiful meadow below Cerrig Llan, is a large stone slab lying on its side with two upright slabs which owes its fame to the legend of Prince Llewelyn ap Iorwerth and his faithful hound. Saving Ginger From Being Put To Sleep - Part 2 The Story Continues.. Understanding Dog Fleas: How Fleas Breed & Affect Your Dogs Health Fleas belong to the insect order Siphonaptera. They are common pests and may attack many mammals, including man. Aquarium Supplies Part 2 -- My First Experience With Goldfish If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or are just starting out, I would like to stress again the importance of having some basic knowledge about aquariums and fish keeping in order to enjoy the hobby for a significant length of time and to avoid frustrations and disappointments.In the first article I illustrated this by sharing my own childhood experience with bettas, and now I shall share my experience with goldfish. How To Know What Your Cat Wants When It Talks To You - Cat Communication Explained Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they are very social animals. They bond with other cats in their house or neighborhood, their owners, even other pets like dogs and birds. 5 Common Grooming Mistakes Made by Dog Owners 1. Clipping the quick when cutting nails. 5 Common Grooming Mistakes Made by Professionals 1. Using tranquilizers. Cat Scratching Solutions For a cat, scratching is a natural, necessary act. Besides keeping her claws in top shape, the stretching involved in a good scratch keeps her upper body strong and loose. Picking Up A Horses Hoof The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. This is a situation where a person's worst fears can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly unlikely to occur with careful handling. Personal Pet Check-Ups For all pet owners, regular monitoring and "examinations" of your pet will give you a better idea of the animal's overall health and prove as good "quality" time for both you and your pet. Also, this may help you catch a problem in the early phases and certainly before it becomes life threatening. |
home | site map | contact us |