Australian fires

It is difficult to happily blog about my cats or feline health issues you all need to know when Australia is suffering the worst fires in history. Instead I’m just posting the following places where you can donate to to help in the fight against the many losses to the fires.

Go to fundraise.redcross.org.au/ to donate to Australian Red Cross' Disaster Relief and Recovery.

Go to wires.org.au to donate to WIRES, an organization committed to helping the wildlife in Australia.
And from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert:
Australia Red Cross

Country Women's Association of New South Wales

New South Wales State Emergency Service

New Rural Fire Service

WIRES Wildlife Rescue

World Wildlife Fund

And I’m thankful that the U.S. has sent some companies of firefighters and wildlife experts to help in the efforts. Even U.S. zoo veterinarians have volunteered to go if they are needed. The last I heard they have not been called up yet but they are ready to go.

Just to keep up with everyone else let’s join The Kitties Blue at Cat On My Head with a selfie. Miss Misty Meadow, or Meadow for short, believes in really close selfies.

Busch Gardens

I just had to let everyone know about this new offering by Busch Gardens.

http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2012/jan/12/2/see-surgeries-other-vet-tasks-at-new-busch-gardens-ar-346647/

The reason I bring this up relates to an experience I had many years ago. I was looking for a job – I needed a change after working in research for many years and wondered what it would be like to live in Florida. Knowing that I would be vacationing in Orlando in the fall, I applied for a job at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

At the time, Busch Gardens was not in need of a veterinary technician, the position I applied for, but they offered to interview me any way just in case an opening occurred in the future. I was happily surprised to learn, upon my arrival in Florida, that my interview would be an all day thing showing me what went on in the veterinary unit. We only had one car so my sisters dropped me off while they spent the day at Daytona Beach.

I felt so privileged to see what a “typical” day would be for a vet tech at Busch Gardens. Of course, typical is a misnomer. Every day is different when you work with wild animals in a public entertainment facility. First I got a tour of the veterinary facility including watching a minor surgery on a gazelle. They may look like gentle, graceful creatures but when it comes to being handled they can be quite dangerous. At any time their hooves can cut into a human leg causing extreme damage. Needless to say they also have huge, dangerous horns (or antlers, I don’t know which).

Not real animals, not Busch Gardens

Next I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the animal enclosures. I rode in a jeep (first time for that too) around a fenced-in area where the larger animals were free to run. It was easy to pretend I was on a safari far from home looking for endangered species. I saw so many animals up close, like giraffes, water buffalo, elephants, big cats, etc. – it was thrilling.

not in the nursery

Then the vet tech took me to the nursery. I wondered, if I couldn’t get a job as a vet tech at Busch Gardens maybe I could work as a nursery tech. This is where young animals who have been abandoned by their mothers go for intensive care. Or other young animals who might not be doing well enough on their own, receive special care and supplements to their regular diet. They showed me the most adorable baby chimp as his caretaker bottle-fed him. He was just like a human baby. And I watched a very young Macaw hatchling, very weak and vulnerable, trying so hard to down his food from a dropper. I could have spent all day in that nursery.

After an informal interview with the veterinarian and a closer look around the clinic, they turned me loose to spend the rest of my day in the park. The only other time I had an experience anything like this was when I visited Sea World and bought a ticket for a “backstage” tour. I’ll have to tell you about that some time.  :)

At SeaWorld, birth of new calf!

Friday mash-up

Here’s another bunch of articles I found around the web. I guess you could call it my Friday mash-up.

When the family dog needed lifesaving heart surgery this family gave it their all. They even shipped in a specialist from Italy! You’ve got to read this story:

http://www.uticaod.com/living/x550226761/Heart-surgery-saves-family-pet-in-Whitesboro

This cat chose the wrong place to take a nap. This story should give everyone a reminder at this time of year to be sure you slap the hood of your car before you start it. Otherwise you might end up with a hitchhiker like this man did:

http://www.newstalkradiowhio.com/news/news/local/cat-survives-200-mile-ride-cars-engine-compartment/nF7gs/

Found by hikers this eagle was saved. He’d been shot and was bleeding to death when they delivered him to a veterinarian and rehabilitators:

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Spirit-the-bald-eagle-flies-again-on-wings-2421192.php

A life-threatening situation for a military dog right here in the U.S.

http://www.jdnews.com/news/dingo-98713-military-dog.html

I am embarrassed to show you this last one. Embarrassed because it is happening in my own state. Rest assured, not all Iowans feel this way; not all of us are so insensitive as to deny a man his service dog:

http://www.suntimes.com/9566024-418/retired-chicago-cops-service-dog-not-welcome-in-iowa-town.html

News from the web

Today’s post is all about news aggregation. Here is a list of many truly interesting articles I thought you’d be interested in.

PTSD in dogs: military dogs are showing signs of PTSD. This talks about treating them and alternatives:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/us/more-military-dogs-show-signs-of-combat-stress.html?_r=1

Santa’s reindeer need help too: a lot of great information about the care of Santa’s reindeer including some video:

http://www.avma.org/reindeer/default.asp

Toads predict earthquakes: some time ago I wrote an article for Cat Fancy about the possibility that animals can predict earthquakes. Finally this study proves that, yes, some animals definitely can:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/15945014

Cats protect Rats that detect mines in Colombia: this one doesn’t spend much time talking about the cats but it is an interesting way to use rats. I’d like to know more about how they train the cats not to attack the rats:

http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2011/nov/30/cats-mice-working-together-ar-2778124/

Cat or toy: you’ll enjoy this piece about a large group of folks who were surprised by what they found when trying to rescue a cat:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/11/30/pregnant-cat-trapped-in-trash-is-revealed-to-be-stuffed-toy/

Snowy Owl attacks dog: sad tale about a small dog who fell victim to a bird of prey:

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20111130/SAG0804/311309966/huge-snowy-owl-attacks-dog

What are microchips: I am a proponent of microchipping our pets. This is a podcast that explains what a chip is:

http://www.avmamedia.org/display.asp?sid=320&NAME=Give_Your_Pet_a_Chip?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email

Hope these are of some use to you even if only for entertainment. Let me know your opinions on any of them.