Posted on Sep 28, 2008 under Uncategorized, cesar millan, clicker training, dog training, dogs, ian dunbar, pit bulls, positive reinforcement training, victoria stilwell |
Says Dr. Patricia McConnell, on the subject of Cesar Millan: “Cesar has put dog training back 20 years.” Patricia is author of several books, including “The Other End of the Leash” and “How to be the Leader of the Pack and Have Your Dog Love Your for It”. She is a certified applied animal behaviorist, the former host of Animal Planet’s “Petline” and currently hosts NPR’s “Calling All Pets”.
“Cesar works with aggressive dogs, and that’s sexy these days,” says Patricia McConnell.
For years, dog trainers like Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor and Jean Donaldson have been revolutionizing the dog training field by using reward-based, positive methods of dog training, rather than fear or pain-based methods, such as leash corrections and forcing your dog into submission.
Yet, in the world of mainstream dog training, people still seem to be latching on to the concept of “being a pack leader” and “dominating your dog”, and want nothing less than fast results.
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Millan, who is a native of Mexico, now lives in the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, which is also home to his dog training and research facility, where he houses large packs of outside dogs, ranging in size from tiny Chihuahuas to large Rottweilers who live together without seperating runs or fences. Cesar often uses his pack, who he claims are all “well-balanced pack members”, to rehabilitate dogs with serious aggression issues. |
It is no lie that what Cesar does is nothing less than extraordinary. He turns dogs around, changes owners’ lives, and has even saved dogs from euthanasia with his training methods. His dog training motto is, “I rehabilitate dogs, I train people”. Cesar even takes on high end celebrity clients, such as rapper Redman and actor/actress Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Millan’s pro-pit bull stance is also worth noting. He owns several of them, ranging in age, sex and size, and his unofficial “mascot” on the show is a pit belonging to rapper Redman, named “Daddy”, who often accompanies Cesar on more difficult cases. On his show, he is often seen disspelling the myth that pit bulls are dangerous, aggressive dogs. Yet he still houses these dogs together without the aid of seperating runs, and many of the pits he keeps are still intact (not spayed or neutered).
Are his methods safe for the average dog owner? Can anyone, even soft-spoken women (a large part of his client base), be transformed into a “calm, assertive pack leader” in just a matter of moments? Moreover, in this day and age of animal welfare, are his methods even…well…humane?
In my professional opinion, my response to both of those questions is “No”. I am not anti-Cesar by any means–I respect that he supports the responsible ownership of pit bulls and has saved several dogs from euthanasia–but his methods of dominating, forcing a dog to comply, “flooding” (the method of forcing a dog to face what it fears or dislikes) and brute phsyical methods are oldschool at best. Cesar often pushes dogs past their bite threshold, or at least very close to it, which is very dangerous for the average dog owner. He warns not to practice his methods at home without a professional, yet I have consulted with people who were attempting to mimic his methods. Forcing a dominate or fearful dog into a submissive posture is a serious bite waiting to happen.
Nor are Cesar’s methods neccessarily humane. It is true that he does not condone yelling or hitting a dog, but his sharp jabs, pokes and prods are mentally damaging–it creates a fearful, unsure dog. He also uses leash corrections for more aggressive dogs, which are not only painful to a dog, but may also cause extreme tracheal damage. He puts dogs face to face, forcing them to interact, which could be a dog fight in the making (and on several episodes, HAS resulted in dangerous dog fights). He also puts dogs through strenuous activities, which are meant to drain their “negative energy”. While I agree that exercise is good for a dog’s mental well being, I have yet to hear him suggest that dogs should be checked by a veterinarian before being put through
extreme physical strain. That, too, can be dangerous.
So what is the alternative to Cesar’s “exercise, discipline, affection” and the oldschool, militaristic methods of dog training? The answer is positive reinforcement–a method of dog training that rewards compliance from the dog rather than punishing unwanted behavior.
Positive reinforcement is best used with a “clicker”–sometimes called a cricket–which is a small device with a metal tongue that, when depressed, produces a distinct “click-click” sound. This sound tells the dog “Good Job!” and that a reward is forthcoming. Unwanted behavior is ignored or gently redirected to a rewardable behavior. For example, a dog who is jumping will either be ignored–usually by turning one’s back and ignoring the dog until it calms down on its own–or directing the dog, through the use of hand signals and treats, into a sit or down. Once the dog is calmly sitting, standing or doing anything other than frantically jumping, the desired behavior is clicked and then the dog gets a treat, toy or affection. Through repetition, the dog learns that all four paws on the ground yeilds good things, and jumping yeilds nothing.
Clicker and positive training is slowly but surely catching on. Victoria Stilwell, a trainer from the UK, now has her own show on Animal Planet where many of her cases are just as difficult, if not more so, than many that Cesar deals with. Like Cesar, Victoria gets results quickly. The difference is that the dogs she trains become happy to work for their owner’s affections, rather than compliant in order to avoid physical punishment. Her punishments involve ignoring unwanted behavior, as she believes that even negative attention is reinforcement for some dogs.
Clicker training has yet to be fully embraced because, unlike Cesar’s methods (and others who train like Cesar), positive reinforcement and clicker training require more thought than traditional training. It involves distinct understanding of common dog behaviors, and it requires one to figure out what a dog will work for. It’s much easier to slap a pinch collar on your dog and have only one thing to hold–the leash–instead of three: the leash, the clicker, and a bag of treats (or a toy). It is also common opinion that positive training cannot help with aggressive dogs, but with the right approach, positive training can be even better and more successful than traditional training.
And better yet, unlike forceful methods of dog training, positive reinforcement/clicker training is so effective, that even children can get involved.
– Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 25, 2008 under cats, dogs, hurricanes, natural disasters, other pets |
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“As of September 15, IFAW has two teams facilitating emergency pet shelters in Austin and Beaumont, Texas, helping care for hundreds of animals. In some cases, staff members are working 12-hour shifts, and sleeping in cots on the floor. A third IFAW team has been working in the Lake Charles/Calcasieu Parish area to ensure the safety of stranded herds of horses and cattle, and to help save injured deer, opossums, and rabbits that were trapped at a wildlife rehabilitation station.”
Donate to the animal victims of Hurricane Ike HERE.
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SPCA of Houston’s Ike Animal Recovery
SPCA of Louisiana’s Ike Animal Recovery
– Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 23, 2008 under cats, dogs, pet food |
In modern society, more and more people are looking for alternatives to junk and fast foods — we’re eating things that are better and healthier for our personal wellbeing. So popular the eating healthy trend is, in fact, that we’ve even started looking for alternatives to our pets’ diets as well — and the commercial pet food industry is growing every year by leaps and bounds because of it.
Without getting too technical, there are basically two types of pet food diets — commercial, which you can buy at a pet store, super market, specialty store or the internet — and home made, which is pretty self explanatory. This article is about commercial diets, and more specifically, what you should keep an eye out for when considering a commercial dog or cat food. There is still a lot of junk food out there, and here I will list what you need to look for and what you need to avoid.
What to avoid…
Animal by-products.
A by-product of an animal is anything that isn’t considered a main meat source — i.e., internal organs, sexual organs, skin, and basically anything that is somewhat digestible. Fresh by-products that you would buy in a super market, such as turkey necks, are fine in moderation. In pet foods, however, they are best to avoid, because only lower end commercial foods use them. There is also the question of the source and the quality of the by-products — they could be anything from road kill, animals that died of contagious diseases, or even euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters. Do you really want your pet eating that?
Corn, corn meal, corn gluten meal…
…and anything else that lists some kind of corn product. Not only does dried corn carry the potential of fungal contamination, but corn is considered a poor product at best. It is a low cost, low quality filler material or thickening agent used by pet food manufacturers worldwide. If there is corn in your pet’s food, you are probably seeing a lot of fecal matter, as corn is difficult to digest, so less of the food is being absorbed by the body.
Wheat, wheat gluten…
…and any wheat product. Wheat is considered to be the number one food allergen in pets, causing violent allergic reactions in certain cases. Like corn, is often only used as a filler or thickening agent.
Grain products.
Corn and wheat have already been mentioned. While there are some higher quality grains out there, dogs and cats don’t need grains to survive…they are a source of carbohydrates and many pet food manufacturers are now using potatoes and sweet potatoes in place of grains as the primary source of carbs. If you choose to feed your pet a diet that contains grains, oatmeal, barley and rice are the better grains to look for.
Preservatives, artificial colorants and dyes.
Most pet foods nowadays are prepared in a way that even without preservatives, they keep for at least a year before opening the bag if they’re stored in a cool, non-humid space. Colorants and dyes are often used in food that is colored red or orange to give them a ‘meatier’ appearance, and can be linked to fatal diseases such as cancer.
Soybean and soybean meal.
A low-quality, hard to digest filler material.
High fructose corn syrup.
Another by-product of corn…sometimes used to enhance the taste of pet food to make it more appealing to finicky eaters.
“Grocery store/super market brands” or brands that are frequently advertised.
Many people prefer buying their pet’s food from the store where they do their own shopping, because it’s convenient and saves time. Most of the brands you would find in a grocery store, however, contain the low quality ingredients listed above. You can find alternative pet food brands at major chain pet stores, specialty shops and feed stores.
What to look for…
Meat, meat and more meat!
Dogs are omnivores, meaning that they eat animal matter and vegetable matter, but their primary source of nutrition is meat. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they need very little vegetable matter to survive. When reading the ingredients label, you want to find a source of meat as the very first ingredient — chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, salmon and venison are the most popular. It is best for the meat to be in meal form (i.e. “chicken meal”, “turkey meal”, etc.) as ingredients are listed by weight, and because meat has to be dehydrated to be added to dry pet food, it weighs much less than it would if it were whole. You also want to look for a food that lists more than one type of meat, a minimum of three, in the first or second line of ingredients. The more meat listed on the label, the more meat in the food.
Flaxseed.
Sometimes called linseed, flaxseed is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for skin and coat to aid in the reduction of dandruff, dry skin and shedding.
Garlic.
Enhances the flavor, and is a natural repellent of fleas and other external parasites.
Whole egg or egg product.
A good source of protein.
Apples, carrots, blueberries, bananas, and other fruits/vegetables.
A natural source of antioxidants, which promote a healthy immune system.
Salmon oil, herring oil, menhaden fish oil, sunflower oil, etc.
An excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are vital for healthy skin and coat.
Oven baked kibble.
This trend is catching on slowly, but some companies are now baking their kibble rather than boiling it at high temperatures. Baking the kibble does not require as much heat to cook the kibble properly, so more of the nutrition can be retained.
Why you should feed a premium diet…
Less shedding and healthier skin.
Dogs and cats who are fed a premium diet that contain a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to have a softer, shinier coat with reduced shedding, dandruff and dry skin.
Less “pet waste”.
When fed properly, premium diets that contain high-quality ingredients can reduce the amount of pet waste, and can also help reduce pet waste odors. The more food that is absorbed, the less that comes out.
Better health and overall longevity.
Eating healthy, natural foods has long been proven to increase vitality and extend life in people. When fed as the primary source of food, with little to no table scraps, a premium pet food can extend your pet’s life by several years.
Feed less.
When fed properly, feeding a premium pet food is usually no more expensive than feeding a lesser quality pet food. There is less filler material, so more of the food is absorbed, resulting in a smaller amount of food intake daily.*
* Works best with pets who are on a regular feeding schedule, and not allowed constant access to food.
Resources
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/
http://www.dogfoodcorner.com/
http://www.petfooddirect.com/
Recommended brands: Innova, Wellness, Taste of the Wild, Canidae/Felidae, Castor & Pollux, Solid Gold, Eagle Pack, Flint River Ranch, Blue Buffalo, Chicken Soup, Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance, Avoderm, Halo, Merrick, Timberwolf Organics, California Natural, Evanger’s, Wysong.
– Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 09, 2008 under Uncategorized |
For just seconds of your time, you can donate .6 bowls of food to animals in shelters. It’s absolutely free, you don’t have to sign up for anything, and every click is for a good cause.
– Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 08, 2008 under Uncategorized, dogs, hurricanes, natural disasters |
Hurricane season is here, and for those of us unfortunate enough to inhabit the southern coastal region of the United States — or other hurricane threatened areas — the probability of having to leave our homes behind and evacuate to safety is all too real. Because pets and animals should be included in the evacuation process, I have compiled a list of things you should have when evacuating with your pets.
Your pets (obviously!)
At least one week’s worth of food for each pet
A large container of fresh water
Medical and vaccination records or receipts from your vet
Any medications or supplements they may be taking
A complete list, if any, of any medical conditions or allergies your pet(s) may have.
Anti-anxiety supplements or medication formulated for pets (optional if your pet does not exhibit anxiety)
A secure kennel/crate, carrier or cage for each pet should you have to stay in a shelter or hotel room
Secure leashes, collars and/or harnesses for each pet. Leashes under six foot are best.
ID tags for each pet containing a mobile or cell phone number and an up-to-date rabies tag.
Portable pet bowls for each pet. Some companies manufacture collapsible dog bowls for traveling and/or bowls you can clip onto the door or side of a kennel, crate or cage. If your pet is hot it is best to have cool, fresh water available to them at all times.
A crate fan for heavy coated or short nosed dogs who may overheat easily. A crate fan is a portable, battery operated fan that clips onto the door or sides of a kennel or crate to keep the dog cool.
A bed, pillow, towel or something soft for your pet(s) to lay or sleep on.
A seatbelt restraint harness for dogs (if you are not crating the dog)
Evacuation Tips…
When riding in the car with your pets, make sure that they are as comfortable as possible and that they are not too hot.
For safety reasons, it’s best that animals not ride on the bed of trucks unless the bed is completely enclosed.
If possible, be sure to stop 2-3 times per day to let your dog use the bathroom and stretch its legs.
If evacuating with multiple pets, it might be a good idea to limit exposure to each other in order to keep fights from happening.
Keep your pet on leash at all times! During a stressful event such as an evacuation, they may feel forced to flee, or may attempt to go after another dog or cat out of frustration. It is best to keep your pet leashed or in a kennel or crate when they are not in your hotel room or car.
And last but not least, stay calm in emergency situations — it might not only save your life but your pets as well.
– Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 06, 2008 under bsl, dogs, pit bulls |
Modern pit bull owners are everything from sweet old ladies to violent criminals…responsible pet owners to dog fighters. Why? Because despite not being an official breed, pit bulls are one of the most popular dogs worldwide. The three most commonly associated breeds termed as “pit bulls” are the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Other breeds sometimes flagged as pit bulls by the media and ignorant onlookers are English Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, American Bulldogs, Alapaha Blueblood Bulldogs, and various other square headed, stocky bodied breeds.
Pit bulls are a product of the once tenacious bulldog and the still commonly tenacious terrier (most likely some kind of white, medium-sized rat terrier). These dogs were originally used in the bloody sport of bull and bear baiting, which was outlawed in 1835 as part of the Cruelty to Animals Act, so dogfighters (sometimes calling themselves “dog men”) began looking to fighting dogs against each other.
Dog fighting has since become illegal in North America and the UK, but is widely practiced in other countries. Despite being illegal in the United States, it is still common practice and because fights are usually held in rural or abandoned areas, dog fighting is hard for law officials to track down.
MYTH: Because of their violent past, pit bulls are inherently vicious.
The pit bull is a medium-sized dog, normally between fifty and eighty pounds in weight, and pound for pound are as strong as some dogs twice their size and capable of doing a lot of damage. Dog men breed what is called “gameness” into their stock, which is the willingness to attack and maim other dogs and animals.
Despite everything, most pit bulls are usually friendly and benevolent with people, even being known to wag their tails and submit after they’ve been pulled from a fighting ring. This natural friendliness to people is a trait that’s been bred into pit bulls since the 18th century. During fights, pit bulls are handled frequently in and out of the ring, and a dog that might potentially redirect its aggression onto a human is undesirable. Some dog men even take their competitor’s dogs before a fight and wash out the dog’s coats if it is suspected that the handler has put some kind of poison or other substance into his dog’s fur to better his odds of winning.
MYTH: Even pit bulls not used for fighting, but ones that are raised in family homes, can suddenly turn on people.
This is a common myth and one that isn’t unique to the pit bull, when you don’t include the background of dog fighting. German Shepherds were once thought of as unstable and aggressive dogs in the 1950’s and 60’s, but today are normally renowned for being courageous and noble in the line of duty. Dobermans were the next targeted breed, and nowadays are known for their intelligence and sensitive nature. Rottweilers soon followed, and are still considered a nasty breed in some circles, but are known by many for their loyalty to their families and their outgoing, goofy nature.
It is said that pit bulls are the most abused breed of dog, and often that is true; some are chained in yards as an accessory or status symbol and are forgotten, left to starve or die from exposure. Others are left to guard a junkyard where they recieve little or no attention and develop an unnatural distrust of people. Others are deliberately tortured by street punks, possibly as gang initiation. The ones who give up in the fighting pit but do not die at the jaws of another dog are drowned, electrocuted, slammed repeatedly into the ground until they die, or hung, simply because they were not winners.
When a pit bull attacks a person, the how’s and why’s are not always clear. Some believe that when a pit bull reaches a certain age, its brain swells, causing the dog to become unnaturally violent. Others believe that all pit bulls are just ticking time bombs, always on the verge of exploding, or are equal in danger to a loaded gun left within reach of a child. But none of these things are true; what IS true, however, is that every dog is capable of biting.
Pit bulls are not genetically engineered monsters or weapons–they’re normal dogs with the potential of having normal dog problems. Every dog has what is called a bite threshold and almost every dog is capable of reaching it. The difference, however, between a Lab biting a human and a pit bull is pit bull attacks usually inflict much more damage and are therefor more eye catching to the media and public.
Dog-to-dog aggression is a potential problem in pit bulls and something to be watched. What that means is, due to their history as being bred as a fighting dog, some pit bulls can inherently be aggressive toward other dogs and animals. This trait comes from their terrier side, as even four pound Yorkshire Terriers can be extremely dog aggressive. Animal aggression is not unique to the pit bull, nor is it unique to terriers or certain breeds of dog. Every dog has the potential to be dog or animal aggressive, just as every dog has the potential to bite.
It is important to socialize your pit bulls with other dogs and animals as early as possible.
It is common belief that a dog that exhibits animal aggression can redirect its aggression onto a human. As previously mentioned, pit bulls that were human aggressive were undesirable as fighting dogs and normally culled. Due to ill breeding practices in modern society, some pit bulls are born with a natural distrust of humans. These are the dogs usually seen on news programs and in the paper as having seriously maimed or killed someone. Litter by litter, neglected dog by neglected dog, humans are corrupting the pit bull’s usually jovial nature and turning them into a status symbol with the capability of killing.
That doesn’t neccessarily mean that every ill-bred pit bull is going to attack someone. Many often don’t. Some, as was the case with the Vick dogs, can rebound superbly from trauma they suffer; only two dogs in the Michael Vick case were euthanized, and only one was because of aggression. Others develop anxiety rather than aggression, running and tucking their tails whenever a human approaches; a supposedly fearless dog that is showing just that–fear.
And yet, the fact still remains that even pit bulls in loving, caring homes sometimes attack. There isn’t always a reliable answer as to why. My personal reasoning is that as a large, strong and willful type of dog, they are not always the breeds of choice for the average or inexperienced dog owner. Even dogs that do not exhibit aggression can still exhibit dominance, and avoiding the issue of dominance can be dangerous. Many of the family pit bulls that attack are undersocialized, underexercised and understimulated. These dogs are bright and active, needing mental stimulation, socialization and exercise on a daily basis.
Most dog attacks are directed toward children under the age of 12:
- Many breeds of dogs possess what is called “prey drive”, which is the desire to chase and catch a fast moving object, such as a ball, frisbee or small animal. Some pit bulls have extremely high prey drive and others don’t. It is instinct more than aggression, but is often viewed as the latter.
- Children, from a dogs’ perspective, are rude. Children are loud and obnoxious. They like to bend down and put their face to that of a dog’s, which can be seen as a threat. They hit, pull tails, and grab at a dog’s toys or food.
- Some children deliberately tease dogs, forcing the dog past its bite threshold.
- Children scream, squeal and squeak, which sounds similar to the sounds of small prey animals.
How you can prevent this from happening:
- Teach your children proper manners around dogs and supervise them at all times when they are around a dog, even if it is the family dog.
- Learn the signs of a dog that is beginning to exhibit stress; bodily tensing, lip licking, averting eyes, ears turning to the back or sides, shaking, tail tucking, low body posture, hackles raised.
- Don’t let your child approach strange dogs without the owner of the dog’s permission.
- Exercise your dog daily–a tired dog is a good dog.
- Provide mental stimulation, such as a game of hide-and-seek or a Buster cube toy, for your dog to prevent boredom.
- Socialize your dog to all manners of men, women, children, dogs, cats, horses, other animals, strollers, carts, men with beards, people wearing hats, walkers, canes, mail men, and anything that might be strange or frightening to a dog.
- Find a professional obedience instructor or find a book or website on dog training, preferably positive reinforcement dog training, and train your dog on a daily basis.
MYTH: Pit bulls have to be trained or forced to fight.
With some pit bulls, this is true. Most, however, possess enough “gameness” to have a natural aggression toward dogs, other pit bulls especially. It is pertinant that you socialize your pit bull to other animals, and know the warning signs of aggression:
Stiff, upright body posture (”I’m bigger and badder than you!”)
Ears turned forward or straight up
Eye contact with other dog
Stiff, upright tail
Lips pressed forward
MYTH: Pit bulls were bred with hyenas to give them powerful locking jaws.
This isn’t a common myth, but one absurd enough to be here. This is really two myths in one, but let’s first address the hyena part.
Hyenas are members of their own genus Hyaenidae. Domestic dogs are members of the genus Canidae. The two species therefor cannot innerbreed.
The other half of the myth isn’t true either. There isn’t a special mechanism or device that causes a pit bull’s jaws (or a hyena’s, for that matter) to “lock” and “not let go”. For centuries, pit bulls have been bred either by bull/bear baiters, dog fighters or game hunters to have tenacity enough NOT to let go. Of course, with some good ol’ obedience training, they can be trained to “drop things” on command.
MYTH: A pit bull who has been fought can never be trusted as a pet.
While I believe that any dog is capable of being fully rehabilitated in the right hands, it is usually better to err on the side of caution rather than place a potentially unstable dog in a home with other pets or children. A pit bull who is docile one minute and attacks and kills the neighbor’s beagle the next is only poisoning the breed’s reputation as a whole. Some dogs from fighting backgrounds can be fully rehabilitated when they are in the right hands, such as the Vick dogs. So it isn’t ALWAYS true that they can’t be rehomed after being compiscated from a fighting ring, but it’s not always the best decision.
The best candidates for rehabilitation are puppies that have been seized with adult dogs.
Pit bull owners often don’t help the case of the dogs. Denying that a dog doesn’t have the potential to bite a person is like saying humans don’t have the potential to stab someone. Anything with teeth can bite, but it is important that pit bull owners realize that they have to help in upkeeping their dog’s reputation by doing more than saying, “He would NEVER bite anyone”. Until you give your dog obedience training, socialization and adequate exercise, you literally aren’t doing ANYTHING to prevent your dog from biting.
MYTH: Pit bulls are large, hulking dogs with huge muscles and massive heads.
Not always. Most of the heavy bodied pit bulls you see are mixed with mastiffs or other types of large dogs. Many pit bulls are lean and athletic, but well muscled. They can also be as small as 35-40 pounds, as is the case of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, England’s “nanny dog”. Larger pit bulls are usually in the 50-60 pound range.
Resources:
http://www.badrap.org/
http://www.pbrc.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_bull
http://www.pitbulllovers.com/
http://www.bulldogbreeds.com
A pit bull in the right environment can be a loving and devoted dog.
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Pit bulls are undoubtedly one of my favorite type of dogs. I’ve long admired their strength, physical beauty, intelligence and loyalty to their owners–so loyal, in fact, that it is sometimes their undoing. Writing about and educating people on the subject of pit bulls and BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) is one of my favorite things to do. Expect more articles in the future.
— Susan Shipman, 2008
Posted on Sep 06, 2008 under Uncategorized |
Greetings and welcome to the Animal Care Project, a web blog about responsible animal care, upkeep and ownership, as well as relevant articles on the subject of animal welfare and current animal issues.
The Animal Care Project is an independent resource for animal care and information and is in no way affiliated with any national or international animal organizations or groups.
