Pet of the Week
These are two kitties that were saved, brought to a cat shelter, and adopted out to fine homes!
It's easy to get your pet into the Pet of the Week feature - here is what you need to do!
Talk About Lucky Dogs!
Not that losing their master was so lucky, but considering that Buckshot, Katie and Obu-Jet were rescued and adopted, they have come out top dog! Ken Kemper, owner of the three canines, passed away last year after a battle with cancer, he left $800,000 and his home, to his faithful and loyal companions. 
Not only are they set for life, they enjoy a “Lady and the Tramp,” spaghetti dinner every week as well. Caretaker Roy Grady said, “They love it. They know when it’s coming on Friday, too. They have that time clock.”
I thought my pets had it all. But in all seriousness, whether or not we are worth that kind of money, it is important to think about our pets when we plan our estates. What happens to our beloved companions when we pass away? Hopefully friends and family will adopt the suddenly homeless pets and help ease their grief (believe me, they grieve – more on that another time) but it is something to think about, even if you don’t have $800,000.
Ken Kemper’s Dogs Benefit From His Will
3 Maryland Dogs Enjoy $800,000 Inheritance
The Day of the Flea Attack
Do you have all of your materials? Be sure you have everything you need. This is a big job and it is a lot easier to do it once than to have to redo it because of mistakes. Keep in mind that although it is a big job, it is a necessary one and you will be relieved when it is out of the way. Don’t forget fleas carry diseases as well as make your pets miserable so you are helping alleviate several problems.
Isolate one room of the house and put all of your pets into that room. I prefer to use a bedroom that is adjacent to the bathroom. Pick the room with the least amount of furniture and knick knacks. Avoid rooms that are used to store books, papers, fabric, yarn and so forth. The fleas that are currently inhabiting your pets will be going into that room so limiting the places they can hop off and hide is a good idea.
Now clean your house. Everything except the room the pets are in and of course, skip the bathroom for now. Vacuum like you have never vacuumed before. Every square inch and use the attachments to get into places that nothing can get into. Fleas are just about smaller than nothing and they can find those places you don’t think about. Do the curtains or blinds with the brush attachments. Do the tops of books on the bookshelves. Vacuum the corners of the rooms all the way up to the ceiling and get those cobwebs you have overlooked. Pull furniture out and get in the furniture with the attachments and under with the regular vacuum.
If you have baskets of yarn sitting around that you are either using or have for decoration, you need to get the fleas and flea eggs out of them too. Don’t destroy your yarn. Just shake them well and go over what you can with the brush attachment. If you have small area rugs that can be washed, get them into the laundry. If they are large vacuum them thoroughly and then vacuum under them.
Artificial flower arrangements are notorious for hiding flea eggs so clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I usually turn mine upside down and wash them in cool soapy water, and then rinse. That will wash away any of the flea eggs. Decorative pillows are the same way. Either wash them or vacuum depending on their construction.
Use the list I provided previously to help you organize your cleaning:
- Have a vacuum available that uses bags; a bagless vacuum is not going to do what you need right now. After you have vacuumed, take the bag out of the vacuum cleaner (do this outside) and dispose of it. Leave the vacuum outside for awhile so that the cold temperature can kill any fleas or flea eggs that might be clinging onto the surface or interior of the vacuum cleaner.
- Have your washer and dryer empty, with plenty of room to put laundry that is waiting to be washed; be sure that the dirty laundry is well away from the areas of the house your pets are in. Start washing things as you clean; don’t stack them up for later. Start with pillows, rugs, and anything that is washer safe. Keep it going and when you take things out of the dryer take them out of the bathroom and replace them in the cleaned room.
- Large plastic garbage bags you can close tightly. Use these bags to dispose of any garbage that could have fleas or flea eggs in it. If the vacuum bag has to be changed more than once, the first filled bag can go in here. Get rid of everything you can; it is a good excuse to get rid of the junk that has been collecting. You would be surprised how many flea eggs can live in a stack of magazines so ask yourself if you really need to keep them.
- One bottle of room flea spray. You can use a fogger if you wish, but again that is a high concentration of insecticide in the air, even after four or more hours. The room flea spray is easier to contain. Spray the areas that you have vacuumed that are harder to get to and are more likely to attract sleeping cats or dogs. Think of areas such as behind the television stand or entertainment center. Those are perfect hiding places for flea colonies. You don’t want to saturate things with a spray. Use it to mist the areas. Avoid eating areas and remove pet food bowls during this process. And or course be sure all food products are put away. This is a good time to put the pet food dishes in the dishwasher too! If your pets are like mine, spray under the refrigerator; the warmth there attracts sleeping pets. Same thing with the front door and the window sills; cats are infamous for sleeping on the window frame ledges and there are lots of little areas there for fleas to hide in. Give those a quick spray and you can clean the windows the next day to remove the spray from the glass.
- A flea comb made for cats or dogs, as appropriate and other grooming tools such as a normal comb and brush for your pet. This is a personal preference but I recommend it because it physically removes fleas from the animals body. The more that are removed, the less you have to try to remove in the bath. Since cats and baths aren’t my favorite combination, I’ll do anything to make that job easier! It also removes dead hair and makes the bathing process easier for both cats and dogs. It has the added benefit of letting you know just how bad the flea problem is in your house.
Once the entire house is done, and it will go quicker with help so bribe one of the kids to help you. This has got to be worth a pizza dinner at least!
Now you can turn your attention to the pets.
Since the pets are in the bedroom next to the bathroom, you can move each one into the bathroom easily without spreading fleas all over the places you have cleaned. Bring them in one at time and:
OR
As you do each pet, put them in a room you have cleaned. The theory here is that a room with no fleas and a pet with no fleas will not further the flea problem. Carry them down the hall and try to get them settled down in a room where they can dry and rest.
When all the pets have been dipped or shampooed, get those towels into the laundry. Clean the bathroom thoroughly for fleas like you did the rest of the house. Then clean the room you had the pets waiting in before their bath and you are done!
Change your own clothes and get them in the laundry. Take all the garbage out if you haven’t yet and finish up any other areas that need to be vacuumed. It sounds silly but run the vacuum one more time in the traffic areas, and then you are done!
Now keep vacuuming everyday and if you need to, redo the entire process in ten days. If your problem is bad, you may have to do this whole procedure two or three times but you will win the battle. And don’t forget to flea spray the yard this spring before the fleas arrive. You can avoid ever having this problem again!
You can collapse now, enjoy the pizza dinner and watch a movie. Lassie, perhaps? Cats and Dogs? Maybe not. How about something that is a sheer indulgence. Whatever you do, you can rest easy knowing you have done all you can to protect your pets and family from fleas and the problems they bring into your environment.
A Strong Offense AKA Fighting Fleas in the Winter
It may sound strange to be writing about fleas in December. After all, fleas are really not a problem this time of year. Fleas reach the height of their infestation, as far as household pets are concerned, in the summer. Hot weather favors flea populations, so why are we talking about fighting fleas when it is freezing or below?
Why? Because this is the time of year we can win and prevent next year’s infestation.
There are many products that are used to control fleas. Commonly available products include flea collars, powders, sprays, 
shampoos and flea dips. There are higher powered products meant to kill fleas such as the drops on the back of the neck and even prescriptions that the animal takes which when ingested by the flea (through a bite) alters the DNA so that the flea cannot reproduce.
Many of these products are very strong and can be detrimental to our pets, which is why it is important to get control and keep control of fleas while using as little insecticide as possible. The less of the powerful products used, the safer your pet remains and the safer your household is overall. This is of particular concern to people with allergies, parents with small children, and people who own pets that are allergic to flea-killing products.
So now that December is on us, let’s take those fleas out once and for all. It isn’t going to cost a lot of money. It will take some work on your part; the more pets you have, the more work it will be. But if done successfully, the flea problem you had last summer, which appears to be gone but is only dormant during the winter, will be a problem that is in the past. You can beat it now and it will only take a few days to a couple of weeks.
- Buy flea shampoo (unless your animal has an allergy to such a product).
- Buy a flea dip (again not if your pet is allergic to insecticides).
- Have a vacuum available that uses bags; a bagless vacuum is not going to do what you need right now.
- Have your washer and dryer empty, with plenty of room to put laundry that is waiting to be washed; be sure that the dirty laundry is well away from the areas of the house your pets are in.
- Basic laundry products: soap, bleach, softener; use whatever brands you prefer.
- Large plastic garbage bags you can close tightly
- One bottle of room flea spray. You can use a fogger if you wish, but again that is a high concentration of insecticide in the air, even after four or more hours. The room flea spray is easier to contain.
- A flea comb made for cats or dogs, as appropriate and other grooming tools such as a normal comb and brush for your pet.
- A ton of clean, dry towels, cotton balls, and a full day’s time to devote to your project.
Now pick your day on the calendar. You are ready to go!
Part 2 of this will tell you what to do to become flea free. If you are quite lucky you will accomplish it in one day; most people take a few days, if you have had a heavy infestation the previous summer, or have lots of pets, it will take up to two weeks. But if you follow these instructions faithfully, the cold weather will be your partner in ridding your house and your pets of fleas!
Do Snakes Have Personalities?
I am completely aware that many people who are “reptilian challenged” think that having a snake as a pet is nuts. And I know that my thinking reptiles have personalities is thought by that most to be crazy. They see a reptile as a cold blooded animal, which is true, but being cold blooded only means how the animal’s system is regulated. It isn’t a personality characteristic. Cold blooded simply means that the animal relies on external temperatures to regulate their own internal body temperature. If it is hot in their environment, they are hot. If it is cold, they are cold. Granted snakes are not going to win any outstanding intelligence awards but they are smarter than people think and much more personable. I was quite surprised when I discovered how much personality a python could actually have.
Yes you read that right – a python. A python named Decaf; I’m not certain of the details of his name as he came equipped with it.
Decaf, when I first acquired him, was very shy. He did the typical ball python routine and curled up doing his soccer ball imitation. He was really very good at it too. Rolled up tight, I couldn’t find his head or tail, and found myself having to be content with just holding this shy, rolled up ball of snake on my lap. But curiosity eventually got to him and he 
began to uncurl. At first it was slow going. He would pop his head out of his self-created ball and look around. I didn’t do anything but watch, letting him learn that it was safe and he could take his time. It didn’t take long. A snake that had been imported from an African jungle* was soon deciding that exploring was much more interesting than living in a self made ball.
Soon Decaf renounced his soccer ball days forever. In fact, he wouldn’t no matter what was going on. Kids running up near him, the dog barking in his face – nothing fazed him. He much preferred stretching out his 48 inches and exploring. That is how he found my coffee cup. I have a very large coffee cup. It is more like a soup bowl! It can hold a lot of coffee. It can also hold part of an inquisitive snake.
Decaf was on my shoulders, a favorite hang out place for him, while I was working on the computer. He loves the computer to begin with. I am not sure if it is the sounds or the lights or if he just has fallen in love with the keyboard, but he always will work his way down my arm and start in on the keys as I type. (This contributes to a lot of typos!) He noses around the keyboard and of course I repeatedly pick him back up on my shoulder. This is just a routine for us.
But one day, he discovered the coffee cup. After he had investigated the keyboard thoroughly and I repeatedly removed him from the keys, he decided to explore in other areas of the desk. That is when he found the cup. It was about half full then and of course it was warm. Back to the cold blooded idea – it was warm therefore his contact with it would make him warm. He became quite intent on meeting this cup up close and personal.
Now obviously 48 inches of snake is not going to fit inside the cup (which was occupied by the real deal meaning a hot cup of coffee, at the time anyway) but it was a great thing to curl up around. Only once did he stick his nose into it. He promptly decided coffee was not for him, but coffee cups, at least warm ones, were. He continues to curl up as much of the upper part of his body as he can around my cup, leaving his back half around my arm.
The only real downside is that I have to be very careful to not jump up from the computer with the snake attached on one end to the cup and on the other end to my arm. Coffee, cups, keyboards and snakes all flying in different directions is not my idea of a good time.
I do notice though, when I am working, with Decaf nosing about on the keyboard and looking for the coffee cup, that his intelligence and humor is more evident that I realized was possible in a reptile. I had originally bought Decaf on a whim, which isn’t something I recommend with pet ownership. He cost me over $250 in vet bills when he was ill and I really had no idea what owning a python would be like. Now I see that he has a great deal of personality that he is willing to share with me. It is unfortunate that pythons have “bad press.”
In the future, I’ll begin talking about snake ownership: What is involved, the issues and safety measures, how to care for them and more, so that your experience, should you decide to become a snake owner, will be a positive one. Both Boas and Pythons have many different subspecies and therefore many different considerations. I hope that you will find the information helpful as you either choose or care for the Boa or Python, or perhaps some other breed of snake, that will be part of your life.
*Currently it is not legal to import wildlife from outside of the country. This is a story I wrote when it was legal to import such creatures. If you are in the market for a snake, verify it is domestic bred.
Pet of the Week Feature
Every week I will be presenting a photo of a reader’s pet (and hopefully a story submitted by the owner). Drop me an email at adelletilton (at) pawpadsandwhiskers (dot) com and send in the photo and story. Be sure to include your full name and location (city and state is fine). I will ONLY publish your first name and your email will not be given to anyone.
I can resize your photograph, but ideally it should be no wider than 175 pixels. If you can resize it I would appreciate it but if you are unable to, I’ll work around that. Try to get the best photo you can and remember taking a picture of an animal is an exercise in patience. Just sit and wait. Watch your dog, cat, bird or whatever through the viewfinder and when the moment is right, take the photograph. Your wait will be worth it. Another hint is to be on approximate eye level as the animal unless you are trying to achieve a certain affect; obviously a cat in a tree will be viewed from far below!
As far as stories go, don’t be intimidated. Just write out a story that represents something that has made you laugh; the antics of our pets as babies certainly qualify for some good stories in that area! Stories about rescues are great. Everyone loves to hear about a pet that was in dired straits until their new owner came along and everyone’s life was changed. Coping with the loss of a pet could greatly benefit readers as well, and will memorialize your pet on the site. Someday I’ll tell the story of Fang: He was unwanted by everyone at the shelter he lived in. He was losing his hair, was blind in one eye (and you could tell it when you looked at him), had a weight problem and had terribly overgrown teeth that had caused the name “Fang” to be his moniker. He may not be the most gorgeous cat in the world but he is a loved cat because of a winning personality. Stories like that are favorites of readers.
And by all means, if you ran the Iditarod, send us the photos and introduce us to your team! Everyone loves sled dog stories!!
Stories can be written right in the body of the email or can be attached if you prefer to use a Word, .rtf, or .txt format.
Photographs that are chosen will be on the front page for one week as the “Pet of the Week” and will then permanently reside in the gallery. The front page display is on the left in the first column under the title of “Pet of the Week.” Your pet will have his or her own personal place where the photo will always remain and the story can always be referenced.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write me. Send me an email with any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
I look forward to meeting all of you and your pets! I think we are going to have a lot of fun around here!!
Five Myths About Constrictors
They seem, at first glance, to be unusual pets. In fact, calling them “pets” seems a stretch to many people. But, if you enjoy reptiles, you will find that a boa constrictor or a python, can be wonderful pets that involve little care. There are some definite issues involved in the keeping of these animals, however, and a little knowledge goes along way to keeping these animals safe. Human safety must be considered as well.
I became interested in “alternative pets” when I developed asthma. Having had a virtual zoo about me since childhood, this was just not a happy thing for me. Then I discovered reptiles.
Reptiles are wonderful for anyone with allergies. They are totally hypoallergenic. They are clean and they are quiet. The bedding they require is also not a trigger for allergies. And what I found, after I had amassed quite a collection, is that reptiles are very rewarding pets to own. I found the snakes that I owned were my favorites in my collection and I eventually concentrated on them. My choice for a snake was always a Royal Python, otherwise known as a Ball Python, and mentioned in this blog by his name, Decaf.
Many people have preconceived notions about snakes, and in particular about constrictors. Both boas and pythons are in the constrictor family, although they come from different regions of the world. Throughout this series of articles, I will be describing various sub-species of both the python and the boa, but for right now, let’s lump them together in one category.
Let’s start with dispelling some myths about these creatures. This does NOT apply to all snakes, since some species of snakes are venomous, and are not suitable for pets. So keep in mind that we’re just discussing the constrictor family.
Myth #1. Snakes are slimy. This is probably the most common myth about snakes, and has been handed down from generation to generation. The boa constrictor has a skin texture that feels very much like silk. It is very soft and very dry. The python’s skin feels exactly like leather and is also very dry.
Myth #2. Boa constrictors and pythons are poisonous. This is ABSOLUTELY not true. They do carry a fluid in their fangs, but this fluid is not toxic, unless you have a particular allergy to it. I personally have never heard of anyone who had this allergy, but I presume there could be someone, somewhere who is.
Myth #3. They bite a lot. Pythons are extremely reluctant to bite. They will avoid biting unless they are cornered. A boa has a bit more of a tendency to bite if taken by surprise, but if it is aware of your presence, it is not likely to do so. As a side note, as rare as the bites are, they are not painful and they are not dangerous. Like any animal, caution must be taken to avoid startling a constrictor.
Myth #4. Pythons and boas are stupid and can’t recognize people. Both of these snakes do know their handlers, and they are very comfortable with their normal handler. A python, in particular, will respond to an individual.
Myth #5. Other household pets are in danger from a snake. This is really half-true. If you don’t provide proper housing, with a lock-down lid, this can be an issue. These animals are escape artists and would thoroughly enjoy having “Tweety Bird” for lunch, but then so would your cat. The typical behavior of a constrictor if it does escape is to hide. They are usually scared to death, and only want a safe shelter from the activity of a normal household. They can be found in odd places if they escape. I once had a cage that was not properly locked down, and I ended up moving three dressers to retrieve him. His escape was caused by not locking the lid down. With proper housing, escape is not an issue. As a side note, lock down cages do not cost any more than ones that don’t lock.
Now that you know that the snake is not something to fear, but is something to respect, I would like to introduce you to this wonderful world of pet keeping. In the future, I will be discussing health issues, housing issues, safety issues, and of course, many different species of constrictors. I’ll be talking about purchase prices of different species, availability, and just exactly how big that little 10 inch baby you are bringing home is going to get. I hope you’ll enjoy and benefit from these articles, and come away with a new respect and understanding of these misunderstood pets.
