Monday, March 17, 2008

Successful Sea Lion Rescue

The slippery rocks of the Marina del Rey jetty caused a failed rescue attempt with a sick sea lion this Sunday. The very ill animal backed into the water just before the rescue attempt took place.
With Lifeguards and Harbor Patrol alerted to watch out for her, a call came in the afternoon about a sea lion in the water, struggling to breathe and possibly entangled in the dozens of fishing lines at the end of Santa Monica Pier. Marine Animal Rescue (MAR) responded and with assistance from Santa Monica Harbor Patrol, MAR hoop netted the sea lion just before she would have been dragged by the surf and currents into the pier pilings.Thanks to the Santa Monica Harbor Patrol for their assistance.Peter WallersteinMarine Animal Rescue SpecialistFriends of Animals

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Horse Anaesthesia

Horses are dangerous animals to work with: Dangerous to you, dangerous to your equipment and dangerous to themselves. Not only are they dangerous, but they’re very expensive so you have to take the best care you possibly can.
This presents some difficulties when knocking a horse out for surgery. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and if they fall hard they might hurt themselves, which will upset the horse owner. They’re allso heavy, and if they lie on their side or back for too long they may squash their muscles and become temporarily lame, or just not breathe. This also upsets horse owners.
It can be scary when a horse goes down for an anaesthetic if you don’t know what to expect, so we got to see several horses being knocked out with different anaesthetics. I made a video for you if you want to see. Be warned, the 3rd horse was a bit of a surprise!

Top 5 Pet-Friendly Spring Break Locations

In schools and colleges all across the country, students are looking forward to that sacred time of year known as Spring Break. Spring Break can be a wild and fun time for everyone, including your pet! Here are my top 5 picks of some great pet-friendly spots to check out from coast to coast.
1. Nothing says Spring Break more than the party peninsula, Florida. Head South to Key West where you'll find pet-friendly accommodations to fit your budget and many restaurants with outdoor dining areas so that your dog can join you for dinner. Key West also has an off-leash dog beach so that your pooch can get in some quality social time without restrain. After a day at the beach, Bringfido.com recommends heading over to the Afterdeck Bar at Louie's Backyard. According to their site, "As long as the dog has dried off and is leashed, you'll both be allowed to have a drink at the waterfront bar."
2. This might not be your typical Spring Break locale, but if you want to avoid the party goers, a taste of wine country might be just your speed. Petfriendlytravel.com recommends the Russian River Valley in sunny California. This area of Sonoma County offers more than just wine-tasting. There's beach-combing, hiking in the Redwood forest and off-leash river beaches, plus the largest selection of pet-friendly lodging in the area.
3. For a "cooler" Spring Break spot, try Chicago! Check out Montrose Dog Beach for some off-leash action. Chi-town also boasts a variety of dog parks. Check out Chicago Canine for more info and a great "things to bring" checklist.
4. Woofstock! In San Diego at Balboa Park on April 12th (four days after my birthday, for anyone who’s counting), check out this fun festival featuring delicious food (for you and your furry friends), tie-dyed shirts (so 60's chic), flyball, and freestyle dancing. Singing: "Imagine all the people ..." and dogs! Groovy!
5. Last but not least, you won't go wrong in artsy Austin, TX. Dogfriendly.com has a great guide to help you plan your trip. You'll find plenty of pet-friendly accommodations to choose from, plus a variety of off-leash dog parks and a long list of restaurants who offer patrons on four feet a seat at the outdoor tables. Head over to Town Lake to play along the beach and check out the popular Congress Avenue Bridge. If you stay 'til dusk, you can watch America's largest urban bat colony emerge!
Wherever you go, enjoy this week-long Summer teaser and don't forget sunscreen ... for you and your dog!

Pet Head

Dixie and I both love to pamper ourselves. For myself, I prefer Kiehl’s, Ahava, Mario Badescu and I treat my locks to Bed Head. Now, Dixie can too!
Pet Head, by the makers of Bed Head, debuted at the Global Pet Expo and I was able to get the inside scoop. I brought a big 'ol bag to the expo so that I could take home all the different products from the line to try out on Dixie. Not only do all these rock, but I give the head honchos at Pet Head major kudos for taking the time to come up with fabulous names. When the owner asked me if I’d like some "Dirty Talk," I was a little worried ... until I saw the bottle.
Some of my favorites are:
Life's An Itch - skin soothing shampoo so doggies won’t scratch Dirty Talk - deodorizing shampoo to make mutts smell sweet Spoil Me - conditioning crème rinse to give any dog an extra pampering treatment Furball - detangling spray for smooth brushing
Not only are the products great for a dog's coat and skin, they come in the same trademark, edgy and funky packaging that you're used to seeing from the Bed Head line. The only problem is making room in my bathroom for Dixie's stash.
And don’t even get me started on the clothes and beds! They have designed FOUR separate lines with different pet personalities in mind.





Clockwise from Top Left: Grungy Pop, Punk Princess, City Soul, BikerPhotos Courtesy: Pet Head/Skaffles, LLC
Grungy Pop – This line reminds me of falling in love with the bad boy you just know will break your heart. Smells like dog ... er, teen spirit!
Punk Princess – This line is for the sassy gal with an edge. She’s sugary sweet, but don't let the pink fool ya, she's all about girl power!
Biker – This babe needs nothing but the motorcycle. I wouldn’t mess with this dog. From the leopard print, round bed with the bright red border to the absolutely adorable leather tutu, this line is bitchin'!
City Soul – Take the attitude and personality of a metropolitan city and put it into clothes and beds and ... poof, you have a line that trendy dogs are gonna be proud of.
Be on the lookout for this new line of beds, clothes and grooming products to hit stores this Spring!
Now, the only question remaining is ... when are they coming out with a cool line of bedding and clothes for ME?!