Fish Name: Neon Tetra

Personality: Neon Tetras are active schooling fish, and very peaceful. Neon tetras are social, doing best in schools of at least six of their own.

Care: This freshwater fish, which is possibly the most popular aquarium fish, requires at least a 10 gallon tank, fully cycled, with a water temperature of 69 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH around 7.0. They need open space for swimming, vegetation for hiding, and proper food like small flake foods and brine shrimp.

Common Health Issues: It's not unusual for a neon tetra to live 10 years with proper care, but they don't tolerate changes to their environment, so many live much shorter lives. Neon Tetra Disease, which is considered incurable, is the most common issue these fish face.

Training Tips: The best way to enjoy your neon tetras is to watch them swim back and forth, chasing one another. This isn't a fish you want to try to train.

Zoonotic Diseases Series:

Allergic Alveolitis
Illness, be it acute or chronic, takes a lasting toll on humans and animals alike. Late last year Flock Talk began a series on zoonotic diseases – illnesses passed back and forth between humans and animals. This month we provide info on a common and sometimes debilitating disorder that can be caused by contact with birds: allergic alveolitis – also known as bird breeder's lung.
Find out more on how to deal with this disease.
Read the article (PDF) »

Not Doing Enough for Your Parrot? Get Creative!
By Karen Windsor, Foster Parrots
Does it seems like your parrot is getting bored or frustrated with life?
Follow parrot rescuer Karen Windsor's sound advice on how to create an exciting and inspiring environment for your feathered friends. It will delight them as well as you, their caregiver.
Read the article (PDF) »

Cats Bearing Gifts

Cats bearing gifts are not uncommon. Some experts say that bringing a cat to a human companion is a form of nurturing, much as a mother cat will bring food to her kittens. Even male birds will feed their fledglings in their nests, running relays with the mother bird. While that explanation makes sense in many cases, I think the motivations of some cats go even deeper than that.


Bubba:
Of all the cats I've known and loved, I only recall two who have frequently brought me unique and exciting gifts. Bubba, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 18, regularly brought little presents into the house. They were always destined for me, for some reason or another. While these gifts could have been construed as food offerings, somehow I suspect there was another motive involved. You see, Bubba was very territorial when it came to his human, Asa. He was willing to tolerate me as long as I didn't overstep my bounds, such as trying to sleep between Asa and Bubba at night. Bubba's gifts were a mixed message, and included green baby snakes (both dead and alive), deposited next to my favorite stool at the kitchen counter. One morning at 3 a.m., when exiting the bed for a potty break, I stepped on a large, very stinkily dead catfish, dredged up from the riverbank which is our back yard. While snakes and catfish could qualify as meals from a generous provider, in Bubba's case, I suspect an ulterior motive: a Godfather-style warning to back off where his human was concerned.

One Thanksgiving, Bubba's gift to the family was more traditional. We were still seated at the table: the Syufys, including our adult children, my widowed Mom, and Asa's Mom and Step-Dad. Bubba appeared at the glass sliding door, dragging "something" between his front legs. It was a massive clump of water hyacinths, about nine inches in diameter and 18 inches long. It immediately put me in mind of The Creature From the Black Lagoon, and the squeals coming from the other women at the table verified that. He dropped the wet, smelly mess next to my chair at the foot of the table, as much as to say, "Dessert is served, milady." (Bubba was a hard act to follow.)

Some pet insurance companies out there - check them out

Purinacare® Pet Insurance
Pet Health Insurance From A Brand You Trust. Get Your Quote Today.
PurinaCare.com

VPI Pet Insurance
Official site of VPI, America's Trusted Choice for Pet Insurance.
PetInsurance.com

Pet Insurance in Oregon
Top Rated Pet Insurance. 1st Choice of Veterinarians Across the World.
www.GoPetplan.com

Aspca Pet Insurance
Pet Insurance in just 3 Easy Steps. Easy to Enroll, File Claims & Save
ASPCApetinsurance.com

Compare Top 5 Companies
Compare Rates & Policies of Top U.S. Pet Insurance Companies.
www.TrupanionPetInsurance.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Animal Advocates,

As you may already know, there is a large loophole in the federal law concerning USDA oversight of large-scale commercial dog breeders (known as “puppy mills”). Currently, breeders who sell to brokers and pet stores have to be licensed by the USDA, while those who sell puppies directly to the public do not.

Introduced in Congress in late May, a bill called the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act will bring all commercial dog breeders in the United States under federal oversight by requiring any breeder who sells or offers to sell more than 50 dogs annually to the public—including over the Internet—to be licensed and inspected. The bill will also require all licensed breeders to exercise every dog daily.

The PUPS Act is extremely important humane legislation that will improve the lives of thousands of dogs across the country. We hope we can count on your support to help us get it passed.

What You Can Do
Now more than ever, it is vital that members of Congress hear that puppy mill reform is important to their constituents. Please visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center to email your senators and representative to urge them to support and cosponsor the PUPS Act.

Thank you for your continued support of the ASPCA and our nation’s animals!

Is your dog at risk for canine bloat?

Canine bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is the number-one cause of death for several large and giant breeds. It is a life-threatening disorder and if left untreated, results in death.

Is your dog at risk?

Answer the following questions and add the associated points.

Does your dog have deep narrow chest confirmation? Is your dog's chest a lot deeper than it is wide? If so, add 10 points.

Is your dog a Great Dane, Bloodhound, standard Poodle, Irish Wolfhound, German Shepherd Dog, Irish Setter, Akita, or Boxer. If so, add 7 points. If your dog is a mix of any of these breeds, add 5 points.

Does your dog weight more than 75 pounds? If yes, add 2 points? Does he weight between 51 and 75 pounds, if yes, add 1 point. If he weights less than 50 pounds, add zero points.

Is your dog male? If so, add 1 point.

Is your dog lean, normal or obese? If your dog is lean, add 1 point.If our dog is medium build or obese, add zero points.

How old is your dog? If your dog is less than 4 years old, add no points. If your dog is 5 – 8 years old, add 1 point. If your dog is more than 8 years old, add 2 points.

Does your dog have a known relative that had bloat? If yes, add 5 points.

Does your dog eat fast or slow? If he eats slowly, add zero points, if he eats fast, add 1 point.

Does your dog eat from an elevated bowl? If yes, add 1 point.

Does your dog eat a food that contains an oil or fat ingredient, such as sunflower oil or animal fat, listed among the first four ingredients. If yes, add 4 points.

Can you describe your dog's personality as nervous, fearful, or aggressive? If so, add 2 points.

Is your dog stressed e.g. as being boarded on in a kennel? If yes, add 2 points.

Does your dog only eat one meal a day? If yes, add 1 point. If you feed your dog more than one time per day, add zero points.

Does your dog only eat dry food? If so, add one point. If he eats a combination of canned and dry or table scraps, add zero points.

Add up your points


Dogs at high risk: 27 – 40 points. Watch your dog carefully for signs of bloat. If you see any signs, please call your veterinarian or local emergency clinic immediately. If your dog has a high score and is a puppy, discuss the pros and cons of performing a prophylactic gastropexy on your dog. If possible, minimize the risk factors. For example, if you feed your dog once daily, consider changing to twice daily feeding. If you use an elevated feeder, remove that unless necessary due to other medical conditions. If you feed dry, discuss other diet options with your veterinarian.


Dogs at moderate risk: 13 – 26 points. Even though your dog is not in the high-risk category, there are still some substantial risk factors. Watch your dog carefully for signs of bloat. Minimize risk factors if possible.


Dogs at low risk: 0 – 12 points. Your dog is at low risk of bloat. It is still smart to watch for signs and minimize risk factors.

Conclusion

From the research performed to date, we can list several factors that, added together, can characterize the typical dog that develops bloat: a deep and narrow chest; leanness; a relative that has had a bloat episode; eating quickly; a dry-food diet; a single, large daily meal; stress; and a fearful, nervous, or aggressive temperament.

Parrot Charity Rushes to Send Emergency Aid for

Hayle, Cornwall, United Kingdom
February 8, 2010
The World Parrot Trust (WPT) has sent emergency funds to aid in the treatment and
housing of over 1000 Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus), the largest group of illegally trapped Grey Parrots ever seized in the country of Cameroon. The seizure, which occurred in early February, is the third such confiscation of this species in the countrysince December 2007.

The aid is being directed to Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) and the Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA), two independent African wildlife rescue groups working with government officials to coordinate the seizures and subsequent care of the birds - in an attempt to reduce the trade in this species. This aid follows closely on the heels of emergency funding sent by the WPT in response to a smaller seizure of 300 birds in November of 2009.

Funds needed immediately; wildlife centre inundated

The parrots were delivered to the Limbe Wildlife Centre shortly after the confiscation,which was spearheaded by the Last Great Ape Organization. The shipment, which was scheduled to leave for Kuwait and Bahrain International Airports, respectively, was without proper documentation from international authorities. Upon arrival at Limbe it was discovered that 47 of the birds were already dead, with another 30 dying of thirst and stress on the first day. Simone de Vries, manager of Limbe, stated "It makes you sick to see how the parrots are packed in the boxes, the weaker ones trampled by the strongest.” The centre has been inundated with the sudden
appearance of the Greys, still having to deal with the remaining birds of the shipmentfrom November of last year. The current group of parrots is being kept in ape
quarantine enclosures, as there is nowhere else to house them.


Parrot populations declining

The Grey Parrot is listed as near threatened by the 2009 IUCN Red List, as evaluated
by Bird Life International. Their threatened status is due to the persistent heavy
trapping of these parrots for the wild bird trade. Illegal trapping continues in
Cameroon, in spite of measures being taken by local and international communities.

International groups working together to end trade

The World Parrot Trust and its partners have recently launched the FlyFree program
(www.parrots.org/flyfree), the first international campaign aimed specifically at
providing support to front-line wildlife rescue groups working to end the wild-caught
bird trade and return parrots to the wild, in more than a dozen locations worldwide.