Category Archives: animals

animals

An Encounter With a Red Fox

The really nice thing that I like about living in Nevada County is that every once in awhile, I get to see some of natures hidden creatures. Shy among all of them up here is the red fox.

Driving down to the Flour Garden coffee shop the other morning I spied a fox crossing the road. Now I don’t know if it’s a true Sierra Nevada red fox or a lower mountain fox.   All I know is that it had a red tail and I couldn’t tell if it had a white chest since of course it was crossing the road in front of me and getting away as fast as it could. I live at an elevation of 3,700 feet and red foxes like to live at an elevation of 4,000 to 10,000 feet.

The Sierra Nevada red fox is smaller than the lowland population of red foxes.  How much smaller I don’t know and the critter wouldn’t stop to let me measure him so that I could find out who his parents were. The trappers loved the Sierra Nevada red fox because they have a softer fur than their cousins down in the valley. But it seems that the non-native red foxes  are crowding out the native red fox. The Sierra Nevada red fox is on the endangered species list.

Sierra Forestry Legacy states that the habitat for the Sierra Nevada red fox is:

“Preferred habitat for the Sierra Nevada red fox appears to be red fir and lodgepole pine forests in the subalpine zone and alpine fell-fields of the Sierra Nevada. Open areas are used for hunting, forested habitats for cover and reproduction. Edges are utilized extensively for tracking and stalking prey. The red fox hunts in forest openings, meadows, and barren rocky areas associated with its high elevation habitats. Found mostly above 6,000 feet in the summer months, Sierra Nevada populations were historically found in a variety of habitats, including alpine dwarf-shrub, wet meadow, subalpine conifer, lodgepole pine, red fir, aspen, montane chaparral, montane riparian, mixed conifer, and ponderosa pine. Jeffrey pine, eastside pine, and montane hardwood-conifer also are used. This species is known to inhabit vegetation types similar to those used by the marten and wolverine. The range of the Red fox is from the northern California Cascades eastward to the northern Sierra Nevada and then south along the Sierra crest to Tulare County.”

Well, I can say that made my morning, since the little guy was only a couple of hundred feet from my house and I was glad he was in our neighborhood.

animals, Local Writers & Contributors

Are You a Dog or Cat Person?

By Lisa J. Lehr

Perhaps you’ve just bought your first home, and for the first time ever you have an opportunity to adopt a pet. Or perhaps you’ve had a dog or a cat and are wondering if the other kind of pet would work for you. So which is better: dog or cat?

Consider the following questions.

How much space do you have?

Big dogs need space. Except for very senior dogs, they need a yard to run around in, or to be walked regularly. An under-exercised dog is likely to have behavioral problems, and you’re likely to be looking for a new home for him soon. Cats do just fine indoors (in fact they are much safer there), although several cats in a small apartment may feel crowded.

How close are your neighbors?

This question has to do with how much your pets are going to bother your neighbors. Barking dogs quickly make their owners unpopular. True, so do cats who dig and hunt in other people’s yards, but you can (and should) keep your cats indoors except under supervision. A barking dog can be heard over a significant distance.

How much maintenance do you want to do?

Dogs need to be walked, groomed, and usually fed on a schedule. Cats normally don’t. You may enjoy these jobs or be happy to pay someone else to do them. Just make sure you have a plan.

Which kind of “bathroom duty” do you prefer?

If your dog “goes” in your yard, you need to shovel it up before someone steps in it. If he “goes” while you’re out for a walk, you’ll need to bag it and bring it home to your garbage can. If your cat uses a litterbox, you’ll have to change it. (Some cats can be taught to use the toilet, but letting your cats roam freely outdoors just to avoid litter box detail is not responsible pet ownership.) So which one of these jobs is the least distasteful to you?

Do you want to be tied to a feeding schedule?

Cats are much more amenable to having a food bowl left out twenty-four-seven. Dogs are likely to either eat it all at once, or, if you leave for the day (or more), hoard it (not eat it at all), not knowing when you’re going to return to put out more food. Some dogs, however, are good at self-feeding, so if you’e adopting an adult dog, you may be able to select one who is.

Are you prepared to teach your dog to respect your property?

Yes, cats do claw the furniture and bite things. But the amount of damage a cat is likely to do is not in the same league with what dogs often do. We hear stories of dogs who shred the couch, dig a hole in the carpet, break a window to get out, chew up an entire wardrobe of shoes, etc. Cats are rarely guilty of these things.

Finally, lots of pets are in need of homes with puppy and kitten season. In addition, due to the poor economy, many people are abandoning their pets which often end up in shelters.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

animals, Local Writers & Contributors

Irish Wolfhound, Logan, A Dog Taller Than His Owner

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4HrgcbUIUc

By Jeff Toff

This is Logan who was born on St. Patrick’s day!  5 years ago.  He was a champion show dog, winning every show he entered except one.  He retired from the ring and became my hiking buddy. Logan is the gentlest giant around.  When other dogs–big or small–growl at Logan, he just wags his tail and gets excited.  When another dog tries to bite Logan, he merely jumps out of the way and comes back for more.  Despite the fact that Logan is still “intact,” has never growled or shown any male dominance or aggressive behavior.  As a matter of fact, he ran at full speed away from two “attack” cats and one kitten.  He chases anything that runs, but then again, doesn’t know what to do when he catches up with his prey.  When another dog comes into Logan’s dog room, Logan watches patiently as the other dog eats all of Logan’s food.

Logan sleeps on a full size mattress.  To create a dogie door, we had to remove the entire bottom of the door, up to the door knob.  Even though he is unfenced at home in the woods, he never leaves the house unless I am there to take him for a walk.  On hikes in the high country, he runs around and explores the sites and sounds but never ventures too far from me.

He is quite shy with strangers.  When riding in the car down to San Diego, an 11 hour trip, Logan never makes a sound or becomes anxious.  He watches the view from the back of the van, drools on my shoulder when it gets too warm and generally relaxes during the trip.  He loves to hike as long as there is a lake or stream in which he can cool down.  He prefers water not more than 2½ feet deep so that he can lie down and keep his head out of the water.

When playing with other dogs or people, he lopes like a big lion.  However, at times, when he decides to chase something, he gallops on those long legs like a gazelle.  It has been reported that Irish Wolfhounds, part of the greyhound family, can run up to 30 MPH–when they want to.  When he goes to a dog park in San Diego, he gets intimidated because immediately, almost every other dog in the park run over to Logan and begin sniffing and nuzzling him like he is royalty.

He eats about 6 cups of dry food per day but drinks gallons of water.  Many times he won’t eat his food or dog bones unless someone is next to him while he eats.  A string or ribbon tied across the hall keeps him from exploring the rest of the house.  When it snows, you would think he was just served ice cream.  He runs and jumps and rolls in the snow.  Many times he would prefer to lie in the snow rather than come into the house.  He almost never barks.  He thinks he is a small, lap dog.  He is the perfect companion.

Jeff Toff
Jeff is a local attorney in Grass Valley, CA

animals

The Mixed Blessings of Puppies and Kittens

by Lisa J. Lehr

Ah, spring! The weather is warming up, it’s green everywhere you look, and the animal shelter is bursting with puppies and kittens.

They’re so cute! Who doesn’t love warm, fuzzy puppies and kittens? It’s positively un-American not to love puppies and kittens!

The problem with puppies and kittens isn’t that they aren’t inherently delightful; it’s that we have way too many of them. While the Nevada County Animal Shelter is a remarkable example of a nearly-no-kill shelter, the national statistics on euthanasia are shocking and too depressing for me to quote here. Let’s just say that any joy a mommy cat or dog could possibly feel at the birth of her children would be completely obliterated if she could know the overwhelming odds that her children would soon end up dead.

What are the arguments in favor of letting your cat or dog have babies? Let’s see…

“It would be nice for her to have babies once.”

“It’ll be a learning experience for my children.”

“I always find homes for them!”

To confront these silly arguments one at a time: cats and dogs won’t care if they never have children. They lack the pre-frontal cortex of the human brain, where long-term goals reside. Animals don’t dream of being surrounded by grandpuppies and grandkittens in their golden years. That’s a purely human trait.

You want a learning experience for your children? Take them to the animal shelter and show them all the doggies and kitties no one wants. Tell them what will happen to them, and that this is because some people don’t spay and neuter their pets.

So you always find homes for them. Okay, suppose you find nice homes for those four adorable kittens or seven precious pups. That’s four kittens or seven puppies already at the shelter who will now be euthanized, thanks to all those people who let their pets reproduce.

Unless you’re a licensed breeder, you have no business letting your pets reproduce. If you don’t know where to go or need financial help, contact the Nevada County Animal Shelter or any of the local rescue groups, including AnimalSave, Sammie’s Friends, and Scooter’s Pals.

No more unwanted puppies and kittens!

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

Lisa is one of our local contributors to this blog, let me know if you are interested in being part of this blog.

—
Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
www.justrightcopy.com
Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

Lisa is one of our local contributors to this blog, have anything
you would like to share with us, let me know……..John J. O’Dell

animals, Local Writers & Contributors

Pets, Allergies, and You

by Lisa J. Lehr

It’s spring!

While most people are busy doing little happy dances about the longer days and warmer, sunnier weather, allergy sufferers often have a different reaction: dread.

For people with year-round allergies to pets, however, spring just adds insult to injury. Tragically, allergies are among the most common reasons people give up their pets, and the misguided fear that a child may develop allergies prevents some people from having pets in the first place.

The good news is that this is all totally unnecessary. Some education about pets, people, and allergies will save a lot of pets from the animal shelter, and a lot of kids from the deprivation of growing up without pets.

Recently, numerous studies have found that kids who grow up in a home with dogs and cats actually have a significantly lower risk of developing common indoor and outdoor allergies. This means not only to cats and dogs, but also to dust mites, grass, ragweed, and Alternaria, a fungus found in the air.

Many studies have found lower rates of allergies and asthma among children who grew up on a farm and were around lots of animals, as well as among people who have continually owned a pet as compared to new pet owners or to people who had pets earlier in life but not currently.

In the February 2006 issue of Reader’s Digest, “Scratch Those Allergies” (page 208), with advice from allergist Clifford Bassett, MD gives the following suggestions:

–Ban pets from the bedroom, and get a HEPA air purifier.

–No pet is completely hypoallergenic, but those that shed more trigger more symptoms.

–Vacuum and dust often to eliminate sneeze-inducing dander and fur.

–Bathe and brush your pet often, especially if he sheds. If your symptoms are severe, have someone else do it for you.

I’d like to add a few points:

Continue reading Pets, Allergies, and You →

animals

Coyotes in Paradise – Watch Your Pets In Nevada County!

by Lisa J. Lehr

Most of us living in Nevada County moved here because we like the rural environment. Rural environments include wildlife, and that, for the most part, is a plus; however, most of us also share our lives with beloved pets, and clashes between wildlife and pets often end in heartache for the pet owner.

Coyotes are a particularly ubiquitous wild critter here in Nevada County, and pets falling prey to coyotes is a far too common occurrence. The consolation—if there is any—is that, compared to a car accident, dog attack, or abduction by a person with evil intentions, death by coyote is quick and, as far as we know, relatively suffering-free. Coyotes kill to eat, and they do it efficiently.

Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a cherished pet, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

Coyotes are difficult to eradicate. They are becoming alarmingly unafraid of humans, with daytime sightings becoming more frequent. Trapping and relocating coyotes is not as good an idea as it may sound, as any young coyotes orphaned by this process will seek easy prey—e.g., our pets.

They can be frightened, so if you see one, try shaking a noisemaker (like a can full of hardware) or throwing things at it. Fire a Super Soaker (high-powered toy water gun) filled with water or vinegar.

More often, though, we don’t see them lurking around our property, as they are naturally nocturnal. The key to keeping coyotes away from your home (and your pets, your children, and you) is to eliminate all that attracts coyotes—mainly food. Coyotes are generalists, meaning they’ll eat just about anything.

With that in mind:

·         Keep your cats and small dogs indoors at night; your medium and large dogs, too. Coyotes hunting in packs can take down a fairly big animal.

·         Rabbits, chickens, etc. that are kept outdoors need protection: strong fencing with a top, and/or a small enclosure inside it that they can hide in.

·         Don’t let your pets’ food become coyote bait. Cats are best fed indoors, and dogs should be fed only what they will eat all at once, with no leftovers.

·         Be careful with your birdfeeders. Place them close to your house, and clean up spills. Do not feed squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. Any naturalist will tell you that birds are the only wild critters we should feed.

·         Put garden compost in enclosed bins, and gather your ripe fruits and vegetables immediately. Continue reading Coyotes in Paradise – Watch Your Pets In Nevada County! →