Not sure if anyone is tired of Betty White receiving accolades and awards. I know I’m not! It was just announced that Miss White, the tireless animal rights advocate among other things has just been named winner of Santa’s List of Naughty Girls for 2010. In honor of her being THE “Naughty Girl” for 2010, Santa’s Naughty Girls will donate 10% of monies from sale of merchandise from their website to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Congrats, Betty White and ho, ho, ho…..!

“Within the first few weeks of Easter an estimated 30% of all Easter “pets” die and another 60% to 70% are abandoned or turned in to shelters.”
-The Humane Society

I remember growing up and going to my aunt’s house for Easter. We would visit my uncle who lived next door to see his bunnies and rabbits. Of course I thought they were adorable and desperately wanted one at the time. But as a child I quickly lost interest in “Peter Cottontail” once I got that Easter basket filled with chocolate bunnies and peeps instead.

Having said that The Humane Society and ASPCA are reality checks for those parents/adults considering purchasing a baby chick or bunny as an Easter gift. As with other pets, bunnies, ducklings and chicks grow up and require a commitment. Chicks and ducklings can be carriers of salmonella.

Bunnies:

• Live on average 7-10 years
• They like to dig and chew
• They should be spayed and neutered
• Makeminechocolate.org a great alternative!

Ducks:

• Live on average 8-15 years
• Social animals and most likely require another duck for companionship
• Require sufficient space for shelter and safety from predators

Chickens:

• Live on average 5-8 years
• Scratch, peck and dig holes in the soil
• Check with local health and zoning boards before purchase
• Become hens and roosters pretty quickly
• mypetchicken.com….awful lot of work….

This coming week is National Poison Prevention Week.  It is an important reminder for pet owners to survey their homes to establish and maintain a poison-safe pet environment.

The ASPCA found that last year in 2009 the top ten pet poisons were:

1. Human Medications
2. Insecticides
3. People Food
4. Plants
5. Veterinary Medications
6. Rodenticides
7. Household Cleaners
8. Heavy Metals
9. Garden Products
10. Chemical Hazards

The following are 5 Preventative measures and reminders:

1. Schedule regular/annual visits to veterinarian
2. Keep a Pet Safety Kit: can of soft pet food – turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe – saline eye solution for flushing out eye contaminants and artificial tear gel for lubricating eyes – mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid and rubber gloves for bathing – forceps to remove stingers – muzzle to keep animal from hurting you while he is excited or in pain – pet carrier for trips to your local vet
3. Don’t Panic
4. Contact emergency hotlines:

Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435

Pet Poison Help Hotline (800) 213-6680

5.  If your pet is seizuring, unconscious or losing consciousness, or having             difficulty breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Resources: AAHA, ASPCA, Humane Society, Pet Poison Helpline

No it is my cat, “The Princess”, Miss Mia who has been waking me up in the wee hours of the morning; preventing me from a good night’s rest and going to the gym for much needed exercise.  Usually before Summer officially begins and the sun rises earlier around 4:30 am I anticipate Mia waking me up.  And had come to terms with it.

In checking my Twitter “Favorites”, the ASPCA had a post answering all my questions regarding my lack of sleep: “Nighttime Activity in Cats”. There is a checklist they provide to eliminate or remedy that early wake up call.

1.  Make sure above anything else that there are no medical issues.

2.  In the evening schedule some play time with toys like mice or birds.  (I must say that right now I am contending with a real life mouse that Miss Mia has been trying to catch for the past couple of days…yikes.)

3. Feed your cat just before bed time.

4. Keep your cat busy during daylight hours.

5. Consider another cat if your cat is social with other cats.  (Unfortunately this does not apply to me.  Mia does not play well with others.)

6. Lastly if your cat attempts to wake or play with you while you are sleeping you might have to resort to locking him out of your bedroom.  Otherwise those sleepless nights will continue.  One example of discouraging him from meowing or scratching at the door is to place a hairdryer on door handle.

If all else fails consider contacting a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.

Many thanks to the ASPCA for wonderful work you do and tips you provide for pet owners.  Thanks also to Twitter for readily providing this information through its micro blogging service.