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Animal News Highlights 10/7/11

Written by Alexis on October 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It’s Friday the 7th of October, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and here is the rest of the news from the animal world . . .

If they can’t convince you to buy their product, advertisers will try targeting your dog instead with sounds only he can hear. Play the video for your dog and see what kind of reaction happens . . . Be careful who or what follows your dog when you let him in. A Pennsylvania couple is lucky to be alive after a black bear chased their dog in to the house and then attacked the husband. The wife jumped to her husband’s defense – which led to all three of them, the humans and bear, beating the tar out of one another on the porch. “Eventually, the bear seemed to lose interest and wandered into the woods.” Lost interest? Huh . . . Have you seen the image of the tack filled cheese bits that’s been circulating around the social network space this week? There’s more to the story behind the images and it is creepy and bad, but not as terrifying for dog park denizens as purported . . . How old is your dog? Try using “fuzzy math” to figure it out . . . Fishermen beware: where you fish could make you more the prey and less the predator. Two Florida fishermen were attacked by sharks within a week and a half of each other . . . If you read this month’s Sit, Stay, READ! about how un-scary owls are realize I hadn’t read this article yet when I wrote mine. Who knew eagle owls hunted deer!?? That is one big bird . . . Considering the bad situation our pet horse population is coming to, this story about a car dealer who took a horse for a trade-in and then made sure it was re-homed is touching. What a great way to help out a family in need and save a horse at the same time! (check out this month’s Rescue of the Month – the The Grace Foundation of Northern California for more info on horse rescue)

Photo of the Week:
Can you believe there is a bunny somewhere under all that fur? It is a giant Angora Rabbit . . . and not the world’s most adorable furry Roomba. About 10 lbs of bunniful goodness and 75 lbs of fur. Aren’t those ears the BEST?!

Video of the Week:
This is just ridiculously sweet.

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A favorite Flavor of the Month returns as we bring back Pumpkin Pie Just-a-Bite Biscotti for October! Made with pure pumpkin and just a touch of spices, they are the high quality, healthy and delicious treats that you and your dog have come to trust and rely on from Tigertail Foods. Celebrate the season with the flavor of that epitomizes season – Pumpkin Pie!

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Tiny Nation Becomes Largest Shark Sanctuary

Written by Alexis on October 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Let's save them before Sea World is their only habitat

The Marshall Islands, a group of atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, has legally banned all shark fishing in their waters – all 768,547 square miles of them – making it the largest shark sanctuary in the world.

“In passing this bill, there is no greater statement we can make about the importance of sharks to our culture, environment and economy. I thank President Jurelang Zedkaia for his vision and support for this effort. Ours may be a small island nation, but our waters are now the biggest place sharks are protected. We hope other Micronesian leaders will join with us to make good on our collective promise of a regional sanctuary,” said Sen. Tony deBrum of Kwajalein Atoll.

The bill was applauded by Washington D.C.’s Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit that works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based policies that protect the oceans.

Matt Rand, the Pew Environment Group’s director of global shark conservation, announced, “We salute the Republic of the Marshall Islands for enacting the strongest legislation to protect sharks that we have seen. As leaders recognize the importance of healthy shark populations to our oceans, the momentum for protecting these animals continues to spread across the globe.” Rand’s department is leading efforts to create shark sanctuaries.

The move comes as a result of action that began this last March when President Jurelang Zedkaia, with other central Pacific leaders, laid the foundation for a Micronesia Regional Shark Sanctuary, the first regional shark conservation agreement of its kind. Following that, the Marshall Islands Mayors Association, in July, strengthened their commitment to shark conservation by calling on the 24 inhabited Marshall atolls, each with its own local government, to pass legislation banning the the sale and or trade of sharks as well as the shark fin trade.

This is welcome news following a year of studies and censuses that show that world-wide shark numbers are in decline, some perilously close to extinction and some already on the list to be considered extinct. The sharks’ biggest threat is commercial fishing. A 2010 report by CNN stated that approximately a staggering 73 million sharks are killed by humans every year; 12 million are fished for human consumption.

Mexico and parts of the United States are trailing behind but on the path with the Marshalls. Mexico announced last week that next year they will put into effect a ban on commercial fishing of sharks and rays. Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Marina islands have already banned the sale of shark fin, and California is expected to join that list this year.

The Marshall Islands is the largest shark conservatory, joining the established shark sanctuaries is the Bahamas (250,000 square miles), Palau (230,000 square miles), Tokelau (123,178 square miles), Honduras (92,000 square miles), and the Maldives (90,000 square miles).

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This month every unaffiliated purchase goes to support the The Grace Foundation of Northern California, an equine rescue group that also takes in cats, dogs and one confused cow. Their riding programs benefit special needs individuals, as well as an educational program that allows kids to come and learn about the animals. A good organization doing a lot of good work!

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What’s New for October

Written by Alexis on October 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment

There’s no denying that Autumn is here! Every day I have to go out and sweep a new pile of freshly fallen leaves off my deck, CostCo has the Christmas decorations up (good grief!), and, when it isn’t raining, the weather is absolutely glorious!

We have brought back our Pumpkin Pie Just-a-Bite Biscotti for our October Flavor of the Month treat. Pure, natural pumpkin and a touch of seasonal spices go into making our Pumpkin Pie treats a flavor that people ask for year ’round. Not only are they a great way to celebrate the season, but they are also healthy and good for pups with sensitive tummies (pure pumpkin by itself is a great mix-in for dogs who have sour stomachs due to its high fiber). Tigertail Foods’ Pumpkin Pie Just-a-Bite Biscotti – all real food, all natural, all treats and no tricks! Get your order in today!

Do you have dogs and cats and are looking for a great treat for both? Are you working with your dog on a new trick and need to keep his attention? Do you have a dog that is grain-sensitive? Or by any chance do you have a cat that craves tuna? We have you covered and we do it with one single treat! How can that be, you ask. Easy, our Tuna Bark! One, single ingredient – tuna – is all that goes into making our Tuna Bark. It is naturally dehydrated and preserved with hot air so there are NO chemicals or preservatives added. It also makes for a highly intense treat – a little goes a LOOOONG way – that is perfect as a training tool (and dogs love it!). This month we make a good thing better by saving you over 15% on the regular price – $6.35 for the 4 ounce bag. A great deal on a great treat!

The new articles are up in Sit, Stay, READ! and Health Matters. Have you ever wondered why we associate Halloween with black cats, bats, owls and wolves when they frankly aren’t that scary? We look at the myths that surround each animal and how they got to be the symbols of the scariest night of the year. We also examine the roles they’ve played in history and how they are truly beneficial to us and the environment in Halloween Animal Origins – Cats, Bats, Owls and Wolves (and why we shouldn’t be afraid of them). We all think our dogs are gorgeous (and we are right), but sometimes our pups’s lives could be improved through plastic surgery. It is amazing how far veterinary medicine has come in a very short time, and this month we look at the various ways it can be helpful at bettering a dog’s quality of life (or maybe just the owner’s) in *Nip/Tuck for Those with Fur – Canine Plastic Surgery.

We have all been touched by the troubled economy – whether it was small (staycation vs trip to Hawaii) or large (foreclosure, bankruptcy). Our animal friends have also been affected. Dogs and cats are being turned into rescues and shelters in staggering numbers. Sadly, horse rescues are seeing more come in than they know what to do with. Due to the very nature of what a horse is they are more expensive to buy, more expensive to maintain, more expensive to feed and care for . . . and are suffering more because of it. This month we are supporting an equine rescue, The Grace Foundation of Northern California. The Grace Foundation, located in El Dorado Hills, CA, began when the founder, Beth DeCaprio, was asked to take in 16 neglected and abused horses in 2002. She’d been known to take in animals, and she had a plot of unused land behind her place – the horses were supposed to be there for just a little while and would be moved by “next Tuesday.” Tuesday came and went – as did several more Tuesdays – and the horses stayed. She founded the Grace Foundation, and in 2004 it became an official 501(c)(3). The Grace Foundation has moved off of that little plot of land and is now situated on a roomy 600 acres. They take in neglected, abused and abandoned horses – and dogs and cats and one very confused cow. Their work extends beyond helping animals. They took over a program for therapeutic riding to benefit special needs individuals. They instituted “a Life/Science field trip approved by the State of California for science curriculum for grades 3 through 8. A new division of Grace called Pony Town was also established and built for the early intervention of childhood autism during 2008.” And all of that is just the tip of the iceberg . . . I encourage you all to check out the Grace Foundation and watch their videos on YouTube to learn more. We are thrilled to be able to help support this amazing organization through every unaffiliated purchase made this month.

Check out all the new stuff and then drop us a note to let us know what you think. We always love hearing from you!

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“Jenga Dog” Videomaker Refutes Critics

Written by Alexis on October 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment

In September a couple of videos of the Golden Retriever who became known as “Jenga Dog” for his ability to let his human stack treats on his nose went wildly viral. It was widely admired as being a pretty awesome trick for dog and human to pull off – however, there were many people who looked at those videos and claimed that Alton Bollom, the “Jenga Dog’s” human, must have abused and cowed the dog into submission; they saw fear in the dog’s eyes; the dog was obviously terrified of Bollom. On the other hand, there were the folks who weren’t as concerned with the dog’s well-being as they were the fairplay of it all. The most vocal assertion was that Bollom had glued the treats together.

Bollom created a new video from a different point of view to help show people that, yes, he stacked each, single treat on the dog’s nose, and, yes, the dog willingly sat there without being threatened or under duress. If anything, the dog looks happy to be a part of this incredibly silly structural experiment. To know Goldens is to know that they will do the most ridiculous things for the right person, and they will do it gladly. It’s why they can sit quietly in a freezing duck blind for hours on end waiting for their human to give the signal – compared to that, having a few treats stacked on your nose seems like a piece of cake . . . or treat.

Did you make it all the way to the end? Watching 3:38 of treat stacking admittedly isn’t riveting but it certainly clears things up for people who thought this wasn’t on the up and up.

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Tigertail Foods Just-a-Bite Biscotti has a cookie flavor to make any dog happy – from the yummy goodness of Peanut Butter & Banana to drool-inducing Cheese Pizza. Check out our selection . . . and if you can’t decide on just one flavor get a bag of the blends. Your dog will get to try three different flavor treats in one bag. Tigertail Foods’ treats, like all of our products, are entirely natural and made with your dog’s health in mind. No sugar, no salt, no corn or wheat.

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It’s Copy Cat (video)

Written by Alexis on October 4, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Yes, we know it is done with the magic of editing, but that doesn’t make it any less cute.

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Want a treat that’ will satisfy your cats and your dogs? Looking for something that’s all natural, made with ingredients you know and trust? Get a bag of Tigertail Foods’ Tuna or Liver Bark! Made with only pure liver or tuna. No chemicals, nothing you can’t pronounce or wonder why it’s in your pets’ food.

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Monday Morning Cup of Awww… Sumatran Tiger Cubs

Written by Alexis on October 3, 2011 · 1 Comment

The Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Texas has happily announced the birth of two new very rare and endangered Sumatran tiger cubs, a girl and a boy.

The girl was born on the afternoon of August 15th and the boy came along in the early morning hours of August 16th. It was a first birth for their mother, Maharani, who unfortunately rejected the cubs right away.

They have been under constant care since their birth by the zoo vet staff. While the situation isn’t ideal, the cubs are thriving – the girl weighed 1 lb. 13 oz. at birth and the boy was 2 lbs. 5oz, and now they are 9 lbs 9 oz and 12 lbs 1 oz. respectively. When they are full-grown they can reach weights of over 250 pounds and length of 8 feet for the male and around 200 pounds and 7 feet in length for the female.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies of tiger. They are considered critically endangered with only around 300 left in the wild as of a March 2008 count. They are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Loss of habitat to deforestation and poaching are the biggest threats to their ongoing survival.

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Animal News Highlights 9/30/11

Written by Alexis on September 30, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It’s Friday, the 30th of September, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and here’s the rest of the news from the animal world…

If you’re home alone and hear a noise coming from another room, do you go investigate it? I suppose so, but would you be as calm and collected as this 12 year-old San Bernadino girl who found a brown bear had broken into her kitchen? I don’t think I would’ve been (at 12 or now) . . . An adorable young doe makes friends with a cat. They have been visiting with each other almost every day for weeks now . . . Maybe you were lucky enough to see Skidboot on Letterman or Leno. Here is the amazing story of an amazing dog who was also someone’s best friend . . . Remember Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd of movie and television fame? There is a whole fascinating story behind the dog “born in 1918 and never died.” 12 generations of Rin Tin Tin have entertained us and become part of our cultural tapestry. The story is now being turned into a biography written by Susan Orlean, who also wrote The Orchid Thief (later became the movie Adaptation) . . . New report has mixed forecast for Britain’s wildlife – the red squirrel and hedgehog are in grave danger, but the river otters and bats are thriving . . . Even if your dog is bred to hunt, it doesn’t mean he’ll be any good at – but it does open up a world of great photo ops . . . A 65-lbs shark takes a kayak fisherman for a heck of a ride. Yes, he got the shark in the 16 foot boat! The fisherman took a picture with his exotic catch and released it – and then paddled the long distance back to shore.

Photo of the Week:
Rare Amur tiger mum swipes one of her three seven week-old triplet cubs with her massive tongue at the Royev Ruchey zoo in Krasnoyarsk, located in Siberia, Russia.

Video of the Week:
Hikers driving back through Yosemite catch two of the tiniest bear cubs holding up traffic with a play session as MommaBear looks on from the side of the road.

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September’s Savings Spotlight item is our Pharmaceutical Grade Emu Oil. We are offering our highest quality emu oil, the 2 ounce size, for 15% off the regular price – now $16.95! An amazing price for the oil that does it all – soothes achy joints, takes the sting out of sunburn and heals kitchen-caused burns, smooths fine lines and wrinkles . . . an anti-inflammatory, an analgesic and is actually transdermal! Don’t be without “Nature’s medicine cabinet in a bottle”!

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Stanley Visits

Written by Alexis on September 29, 2011 · Leave a Comment

I know I’ve said it before – and you can count on me saying it again – fostering a dog is one of the more rewarding things you can do. It takes just a little effort and time and the benefits are numerous. You end up with a dog that will always be just a little yours, and, if you’re really lucky – in my case I was – the foster dog’s adoptive parents are so great that you also end up with friends.

When J&J adopted Stanley we told them that if they ever needed anything to call us. We were glad to do anything we could for Stanley and for them. At the beginning of the summer J&J planned a bike trip through Vermont and asked if we would like to Stanley-sit. Heck yeah we would!

So StanMan has been here, hanging out with us and being tormented by Riley (the ever-puppy). Here are some photos from his visit…

A rare moment of no movement.

This is more like it!

Sometimes Stan needs some "him-time"

Stanley keeps an eye on the world

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Keep your dog at maximum health and vitality by feeding Tigertail Food’s Wholistic Raw Pet Food — available in Original, Diet and Grain-Free.

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Florida Panther Cubs Rescued

Written by Alexis on September 29, 2011 · Leave a Comment

When the adult female panther’s tracking collar sent it’s mortality signal to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials knew they had a top priority mission to save her three cubs.

FWC biologists had been tracking the mother panther since February of this year, and in May they discovered her three cubs. With an estimated 100 to 160 adult panthers left in South Florida, officials felt it was imperative to attempt to find the orphans and do so quickly; cubs without their mother would not survive for long in the wild.

Biologists set up remote cameras and traps in the area they believed the cubs would be. Days went by without success, but finally after almost a week two of the three cubs were snared. The third cub is not believed to have survived.

The two 5-month old cubs were airlifted by private plane to the White Oak Conservation Center, north of Jacksonville. Wildlife officials say that the cubs are in good health are expected to survive. They will be raised at the conservation center until the age when they can be returned to the wild.

The cause of the mother’s death is unknown and pending a necropsy. This year 23 Florida panthers deaths have been documented. The Florida panther is extremely endangered.

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Once-a-Month members get their treats automatically shipped to them, and they get 5% off! To make a good deal even better, Tigertail Foods donates another 5% to the rescue of your choice. What a sweet deal!

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Naptime in the Panda Nursery

Written by Alexis on September 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Babies do best when they get their afternoon nap. A dozen pandas are no exception to that rule. Here, at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center in the southwestern Chinese Sichuan province, the pandas get everything they need to thrive – including a pink blankie and caregivers to tuck them in.

The center began in 1987 with 6 pandas. Today, they care for over 100.

The Chinese government has announced that they are beginning their fourth giant panda census count. The first one took place in the 1970′s; they occur once every ten years.

In 2001, when the last census happened, they counted 1596 pandas in the wild, with 1206 of them living in the Sichuan province. This year more than 60 trackers trained at the Wanglang National Reserve (also in the Sichuan province) will go out into the forests and collect DNA samples in the form of panda droppings, which zoologists will then use to “track individual pandas and accurately estimate the population,” explained Chen Youping, director of the reserve’s administrative bureau.

There are over 300 giant pandas in captivity in China.

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