Animal Kingdom, Part II
From the amount of e-mail I've received in response to Animal Kingdom (March 2006/page 87), you, our kind readers, want to learn more about how to live stylishly with your cuddly critters. Other animal lovers wrote in to recommend pet-friendly books, hotels and furniture as well as more rescue groups and recipes for cooking up your own pet chow. And yes, all shelter pets featured in the story were adopted (thanks for asking). Keep the suggestions coming. Here are some of the best:
For readers interested in cat behavior: www.katwallks.com offers an opportunity to study our favorite felines as they jump from “branch” to “branch.” Katwallks isn’t just a cat toy. It’s a way of life.
Animal advocate and author Julia Szabo is best known for her well-written guide to the good life, Animal House Style (Bulfinch). But she recently published The Underdog: A Celebration of Mutts (Workman) dedicated to shelter animals, which are the pets of choice for Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Hilary Swank. The photographs help I.D. huggable hybrids. www.animalhousestyle.com
Who among us hasn't wondered what our pet would say if they could speak our language? First-time author Emily Pottruck poses the question to animal lovers (actor Robin Williams and author Amy Tan among them). All book proceeds benefit five animal welfare organizations–The San Francisco SPCA, the Friends of San Francisco Animal Care and Control, PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support), Pets Unlimited and Rocket Dog Rescue. The book is self published by the San Francisco philanthropist Pottruck. www.tailsofdevotion.com
From the California couple who first oven baked Buddy Biscuits for their highly allergic rescued
shepherd mix comes sweet-smelling shampoo, Buddy Wash and Rinse (available at Whole Foods). My Rottweiler rescue, Zeus, can’t get enough of Peanut Butter Madness-flavored Buddy Biscuits which are shaped like people. I'm not sure which Zeus likes best-the peanut-butter taste or the human shape. To learn more about the all-natural pet chow, tap into www.cloudstar.comFor readers who love designer handbags: A Louis Vuitton pet carrier. www.louisvuitton.com (from a reader in L.A. who “travels everywhere with a tea cup.”)
7 Comments:
Readers might be interested to also learn about the "wild side" of our companion animals. Some experts estimate there may be as many feral cats - tame cats living on their own who have reverted to a wild state - as there are cats in homes. Their unchecked reproduction is one of the most pressing issues now facing the animal welfare community.
Fortunately, there is a method for humanely and effectively managing feral cat populations known as Trap-Neuter-Return. "TNR" as it's known involves trapping feral cats (they tend to live in groups called colonies), having them neutered, vaccinated for rabies and marked for identification, then returning to their original territory to live out their lives. A caretaker provides regular food and shelter and monitors for newcomers.
Practiced properly, TNR has many advantages. Their reproductive capacity eliminated, the cats decline in number over time. Nuisance behavior like noise and strong odor are dramatically reduced. The presence of a caretaker ensures new cats won't arrive to start the whole cycle over again.
One of the best advantages of TNR is that no other method has ever worked. Trying to remove feral cats may sound simple, but it's actually quite difficult to do and few communities have the resources available to try. Feeding bans are another commonly attempted solution that rarely works. TNR, in contrast, has repeatedly been demonstrated to lower feral cat numbers.
To learn more, go to www.neighborhoodcats.org where there are lots of educational materials and, in NYC, hands-on help.
Thank you for your link to www.katwallks.com. My cats thank you too! does LV carry a Vegan versionof there pet carriers?
Thanks for the useful websites. One of my favorite sites is www.leapingbunny.org. This site lists animal-friendly products and the companies where you can purchase them.
Dear Doris,
I gave my dog Zeus the buddy biscuits and boy did he love them!
He is really my buddy now.
My cat Roxie looks jealous when I give him his treat.
Aerianna De Feo 8 years old.
Dear Doris,
I gave my dog Zeus the buddy biscuits and boy did he love them!
He is really my buddy now.
My cat Roxie looks jealous when I give him his treat.
Aerianna De Feo 8 years old.
Dear Doris,
I gave my dog Zeus the buddy biscuits and boy did he love them!
He is really my buddy now.
My cat Roxie looks jealous when I give him his treat.
Aerianna De Feo 8 years old.
Dear Doris,
Thank you for the Buddy Biscuits tip. I got some for my neighbor's dog, who is a notoriously fickle eater, and she loved them. We all thought they smelled yummy too, but none of us bipeds have tried them yet.
I was wondering if Traditional Home has ever done a story on traveling with animals? I know so many people who do it and it's not easy. Or maybe B&Bs or hotels that welcome pets? Some of the guide books mention the relevant policies but one has to go through so many resources to find the information.
Katwallks is a treasure. Thanks.
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