(NAPSI)-Forget Fido. The most popular male and female dogs' names in America are Lady and Bear.
And it all has to do with a dog's place in the family.
A survey of 2007 American Kennel Club (AKC) registration statistics showed that, in addition to Lady and Bear, Belle/Bell/Bella, Princess, Mae/May, Blue, Max/ Maximus/Maxwell, Rose, Daisy and Duke round out the top-10 dog names.
"It's not that choosing Bear means dog owners were more prescient about the stock market crash than Wall Street was," says AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "It's that in the past, names based on a puppy's physical appearance or personality, such as Spot or Sassy, were popular. But as more people consider their dogs to be members of their family, we're seeing human names like Jack and Molly, and names that reflect a pet's stature in the home, like King."
So what name should you give your own dog? These AKC tips could help you decide:
• Short, easily recognizable names work best when it comes to getting a dog to be responsive. Consider a name such as Sadie or Rocky that's one or two syllables and ends in a vowel.
• Avoid names that sound like commands. For instance, Joe sounds like "Go" when it's called out.
• Pick a name that works regardless of age. Fuzzie may be a great name for a puppy, but not a good fit for an older dog.
• If you plan to name your dog after a friend or family member, get his or her permission first.
• Take a few days to test out the name you're considering for your dog to be sure it suits him.
• After you decide on a name for your dog, use it as often as possible to help him more quickly learn to respond to it.
• Don't raise your voice every time you call your dog's name. Instead, try to use his name in positive, playful settings as much as possible.
For more ideas and information, or a complete list of popular dog names, visit www.akc.org.
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Giving An Adoptable Dog A Home
AAG Note: The staff of the Fayette Front Page encourage Fayette County residents to check out the local shelters for some really great pets. Our staff have adopted dogs from Georgia Heartland Humane Society and the Henry County Humane Society. It's a hard life for our staff member dogs to be loved so much.
(NAPSI)-If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, adopting a dog from an animal shelter or rescue organization may offer a number of benefits.
For instance, these dogs often bond quickly with new owners and can have fewer needs than a young puppy. Plus, you can often find perfectly good adult pets that have matured to the point where they aren't rambunctious or demanding for activity.
Many shelter and rescue dogs are already house-trained and may only need some reminders and a few days to adjust to a new routine.
Very often, these dogs already know some basic commands taught in their first home or by shelter volunteers.
When you adopt an older dog from a shelter, the dog should be current with all shots, already "fixed" and heartworm negative at the very least. Some shelters include microchip identification with every animal.
Shelters do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other.
If you are thinking of adopting a shelter dog, here are some tips:
• You might want to plan on making at least a couple trips to the shelter so you can observe the pets before picking one to take home.
• Look for a dog with a good temperament who is friendly and gentle around children. Watch the dog's response to signal words, such as "Easy" or "Gentle," or commands that force him to calm down, such as "Sit."
• Get a good collar and leash with identification tags and get him involved with friends' or neighbors' dogs. Socialize him with different types of people and make sure he will accept being around children.
Once you have decided on a particular dog and tested how he reacts to your family, find out why the dog is up for adoption. Ask the shelter specific questions, such as:
• Is the dog healthy now?
• Any known or suspected health problems?
• Has he been checked for worms?
• What parasite treatment/prevention program is the dog on?
• Has he been exposed to any diseases?
• Any limping or other indications of bone or joint problems?
Although shelter dogs have been under the care of a veterinarian, you'll want to make an appointment with your regular veterinarian as soon as possible after bringing your new pet home. Your veterinarian can thoroughly examine your dog for any underlying medical conditions and prescribe a parasite prevention product to keep him healthy.
To learn more, visit www.growingupwithpets.com.
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(NAPSI)-If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, adopting a dog from an animal shelter or rescue organization may offer a number of benefits.
For instance, these dogs often bond quickly with new owners and can have fewer needs than a young puppy. Plus, you can often find perfectly good adult pets that have matured to the point where they aren't rambunctious or demanding for activity.
Many shelter and rescue dogs are already house-trained and may only need some reminders and a few days to adjust to a new routine.
Very often, these dogs already know some basic commands taught in their first home or by shelter volunteers.
When you adopt an older dog from a shelter, the dog should be current with all shots, already "fixed" and heartworm negative at the very least. Some shelters include microchip identification with every animal.
Shelters do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other.
If you are thinking of adopting a shelter dog, here are some tips:
• You might want to plan on making at least a couple trips to the shelter so you can observe the pets before picking one to take home.
• Look for a dog with a good temperament who is friendly and gentle around children. Watch the dog's response to signal words, such as "Easy" or "Gentle," or commands that force him to calm down, such as "Sit."
• Get a good collar and leash with identification tags and get him involved with friends' or neighbors' dogs. Socialize him with different types of people and make sure he will accept being around children.
Once you have decided on a particular dog and tested how he reacts to your family, find out why the dog is up for adoption. Ask the shelter specific questions, such as:
• Is the dog healthy now?
• Any known or suspected health problems?
• Has he been checked for worms?
• What parasite treatment/prevention program is the dog on?
• Has he been exposed to any diseases?
• Any limping or other indications of bone or joint problems?
Although shelter dogs have been under the care of a veterinarian, you'll want to make an appointment with your regular veterinarian as soon as possible after bringing your new pet home. Your veterinarian can thoroughly examine your dog for any underlying medical conditions and prescribe a parasite prevention product to keep him healthy.
To learn more, visit www.growingupwithpets.com.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2008
World's Smoothest Riding Horse Comes to Jacksonville, FL, Nov. 7-9
/PRNewswire/ -- You can actually feel it before you see it because the ground almost trembles. Then, a moment later you can hear it. It is a rhythm unlike any you have ever heard. And when you finally see it, you get it. It is excitement and it is back. Today is a new day in the Paso world. It is the opportunity for all of us to remember why we were drawn to these magnificent equine athletes from the moment we first saw them. It is the opportunity to honor and celebrate the heritage of the breed. It is the opportunity to share the passion and emotion when the winner emerges above the rest.
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It's the World's Smoothest Horse, and they are coming to the Jacksonville Equestrian Center (13611 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL) this weekend (November 7-9, 2008). Come experience a ride on the World's Smoothest Horse at the IPHF U.S. National Championships.
The International Paso Horse Federation (IPHF) is hosting the first-ever U.S. National Championships, and is inviting the public and the press to come out and experience the Paso Horse. Over 375 of the best horses in the country will be competing for the top honors of the breed during this three-day event.
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Black Bear Conservation Efforts Have Strong Support from Public
A new survey by the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources shows that Middle Georgia residents overwhelmingly support efforts to conserve black bears in their part of the state.
The results are a good indicator of how the public will react to efforts to manage the black bear population in four Middle Georgia counties, said Craig Miller, the assistant professor at the Warnell School who led a survey of 4,000 residents in Bleckley, Houston, Pulaski and Twiggs counties.
The survey will be used by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as it develops a management program for black bears. A separate, similar study for the entire state of Florida was conducted, as well, and the final report is pending, Miller said.
Miller said researchers did not anticipate the answers they received. “We were surprised at the high level of support from people in both Georgia and Florida for black bears and black bear conservation,” he said.
Residents in other southern states have expressed more negative views of the animals, Miller said. “One thing we found in further analysis is that when people saw bears and had contact with bears, they had more support for black bear conservation,” he explained.
Miller and Warnell graduate student Joshua Agee conducted the survey over several months this year. Of the 4,000 surveys mailed to residents in those four counties, 1,227 sent back usable results. Findings include:
Sixty-one percent of the respondents support releasing black bears into a sustainable habitat currently void of bears.
Twenty-one percent had seen a black bear in their county between February 2007 and February 2008, with most of those sightings from the animal crossing the road.
Eight percent of respondents had received information about black bears, suggesting that residents have little knowledge about the animals. Researchers found in the study that the high awareness of black bears coupled with a lack of information shows the need for improving educational materials to the public.
More than half the respondents—60 percent—were not concerned about any property damage bears might cause, although 69 percent said they would want a bear trapped and relocated if it tried to enter their homes.
Most of the respondents—82 percent—said seeing wildlife during their daily routine is a positive experience.
According to Miller, bears are located in three distinct areas of Georgia: North Georgia, generally north of Interstate-85; those four counties in Middle Georgia; and in South Georgia around the lower part of the Flint River near the Florida border. Bear populations across the Eastern U.S. are up overall, Miller said. But that means that they are now showing up in areas from which they have been absent for decades, including urban areas.
That’s why it’s important to educate the public about bears and their behaviors, according to Miller. Miller also said “black bears are easily frightened. Slamming doors will easily scare them away from yards. People just shouldn’t feed them because they can get habituated. Changing human behavior is the easiest way to deal with problem bears.”
Bobby Bond, a senior wildlife biologist with the DNR, said his agency is waiting for results from other Warnell studies before devising a management strategy to be overseen by Michael Conroy, adjunct wildlife professor. The two-part research, conducted by two graduate students, involved putting radio collars on bears to track them and their habitats. The second part involved estimating the population size.
Bond said before the DNR can implement any management plan, it was important to not only learn about public perception of black bears, but also how many there are and whether they are a nuisance.
“This Middle Georgia bear population is the one that’s gone under the radar a bit,” Bond said. “The one in North Georgia has been managed, and the one in South Georgia has been managed.”
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The results are a good indicator of how the public will react to efforts to manage the black bear population in four Middle Georgia counties, said Craig Miller, the assistant professor at the Warnell School who led a survey of 4,000 residents in Bleckley, Houston, Pulaski and Twiggs counties.
The survey will be used by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as it develops a management program for black bears. A separate, similar study for the entire state of Florida was conducted, as well, and the final report is pending, Miller said.
Miller said researchers did not anticipate the answers they received. “We were surprised at the high level of support from people in both Georgia and Florida for black bears and black bear conservation,” he said.
Residents in other southern states have expressed more negative views of the animals, Miller said. “One thing we found in further analysis is that when people saw bears and had contact with bears, they had more support for black bear conservation,” he explained.
Miller and Warnell graduate student Joshua Agee conducted the survey over several months this year. Of the 4,000 surveys mailed to residents in those four counties, 1,227 sent back usable results. Findings include:
Sixty-one percent of the respondents support releasing black bears into a sustainable habitat currently void of bears.
Twenty-one percent had seen a black bear in their county between February 2007 and February 2008, with most of those sightings from the animal crossing the road.
Eight percent of respondents had received information about black bears, suggesting that residents have little knowledge about the animals. Researchers found in the study that the high awareness of black bears coupled with a lack of information shows the need for improving educational materials to the public.
More than half the respondents—60 percent—were not concerned about any property damage bears might cause, although 69 percent said they would want a bear trapped and relocated if it tried to enter their homes.
Most of the respondents—82 percent—said seeing wildlife during their daily routine is a positive experience.
According to Miller, bears are located in three distinct areas of Georgia: North Georgia, generally north of Interstate-85; those four counties in Middle Georgia; and in South Georgia around the lower part of the Flint River near the Florida border. Bear populations across the Eastern U.S. are up overall, Miller said. But that means that they are now showing up in areas from which they have been absent for decades, including urban areas.
That’s why it’s important to educate the public about bears and their behaviors, according to Miller. Miller also said “black bears are easily frightened. Slamming doors will easily scare them away from yards. People just shouldn’t feed them because they can get habituated. Changing human behavior is the easiest way to deal with problem bears.”
Bobby Bond, a senior wildlife biologist with the DNR, said his agency is waiting for results from other Warnell studies before devising a management strategy to be overseen by Michael Conroy, adjunct wildlife professor. The two-part research, conducted by two graduate students, involved putting radio collars on bears to track them and their habitats. The second part involved estimating the population size.
Bond said before the DNR can implement any management plan, it was important to not only learn about public perception of black bears, but also how many there are and whether they are a nuisance.
“This Middle Georgia bear population is the one that’s gone under the radar a bit,” Bond said. “The one in North Georgia has been managed, and the one in South Georgia has been managed.”
-----
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Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
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Monday, November 3, 2008
The HSUS Launches 'End Dogfighting in Atlanta' Modeled After Successful Chicago Program
The Humane Society of the United States launched End Dogfighting in Atlanta, a program modeled after the successful End Dogfighting in Chicago pilot program. End Dogfighting in Atlanta will strike the core of urban dogfighting by using proven preventative methods such as youth anti-violence intervention, dog training classes, community outreach, humane education and law enforcement partnerships. As part of the program's community outreach component, a contingent of Atlanta religious leaders marked the occasion by denouncing the violence of dogfighting and signing a pledge to help combat the crime.
"Today is a good day for the innocent dogs and communities that are affected by the cruelty of dogfighting," said Tio Hardiman, special consultant to The Humane Society of the United States' national End Dogfighting campaign. "End Dogfighting in Atlanta is being launched at a time in which anti-dogfighting intervention is most needed in the city."
End Dogfighting in Atlanta will use the following innovative and proven community outreach methods to change attitudes and actions:
Anti-Dogfighting Advocates — The HSUS hires young men with roots in the community to combat dogfighting on a grassroots level. In neighborhoods most impacted by this crime, they mediate with men and boys at risk of getting involved in dogfighting, and intervene in dogfights.
Pit Bull Training Team — The HSUS holds free and accessible weekly pit bull training classes, which provide inspiring alternatives to dogfighting that showcase pit bulls as friends, not fighters.
Community Outreach — The HSUS holds events in the community to promote its anti-dogfighting message and develop trust in the community. Examples include vaccination clinics, dog house giveaways, rallies and religious leader outreach.
Law Enforcement Partnership — To fully eradicate street dogfighting, law enforcement officers need to know what to look for. In the Atlanta metro area, The HSUS has partnered with the DeKalb County Animal Control, offering them training on catching dogfighting and providing a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to convictions.
Humane Education — The HSUS developed a special eight-week curriculum for middle school children. This curriculum tackles the topic of dogfighting through games and hands-on activities.
Dogfighting B-roll and high-resolution images are available at video.hsus.org.
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"Today is a good day for the innocent dogs and communities that are affected by the cruelty of dogfighting," said Tio Hardiman, special consultant to The Humane Society of the United States' national End Dogfighting campaign. "End Dogfighting in Atlanta is being launched at a time in which anti-dogfighting intervention is most needed in the city."
End Dogfighting in Atlanta will use the following innovative and proven community outreach methods to change attitudes and actions:
Anti-Dogfighting Advocates — The HSUS hires young men with roots in the community to combat dogfighting on a grassroots level. In neighborhoods most impacted by this crime, they mediate with men and boys at risk of getting involved in dogfighting, and intervene in dogfights.
Pit Bull Training Team — The HSUS holds free and accessible weekly pit bull training classes, which provide inspiring alternatives to dogfighting that showcase pit bulls as friends, not fighters.
Community Outreach — The HSUS holds events in the community to promote its anti-dogfighting message and develop trust in the community. Examples include vaccination clinics, dog house giveaways, rallies and religious leader outreach.
Law Enforcement Partnership — To fully eradicate street dogfighting, law enforcement officers need to know what to look for. In the Atlanta metro area, The HSUS has partnered with the DeKalb County Animal Control, offering them training on catching dogfighting and providing a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to convictions.
Humane Education — The HSUS developed a special eight-week curriculum for middle school children. This curriculum tackles the topic of dogfighting through games and hands-on activities.
Dogfighting B-roll and high-resolution images are available at video.hsus.org.
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Sunday, November 2, 2008
Goat's Milk Is Going To The Dogs
(NAPSI)-It doesn't matter whether you're a human or a dog, fresh goat's milk is good for you. So good, in fact, that one company has launched a line of all-natural goat's milk products for dogs of all ages-from puppies to seniors. The initial launch includes four dog-grooming and treat products.
For bath time, there's goat's milk shampoo with an appealing blue cedar fragrance. Marketed as Goat's Milk Shampoo and Goat's Milk Shampoo Bar, it includes the gentle moisturizing properties of goat's milk to clean dry coats and soothe sensitive itchy skin.
After standing still for a bath, every dog deserves a treat. Treats that include goat's milk protein concentrate and goat's milk mineral whey are designed for optimal nutrition and easy digestion.
The products, called Nature's Dog by Canus, are easily absorbed, gentle to digest and nonirritating to sensitive skin. To learn more, visit canusgoatsmilk.com. To purchase, go to walgreens.com.
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For bath time, there's goat's milk shampoo with an appealing blue cedar fragrance. Marketed as Goat's Milk Shampoo and Goat's Milk Shampoo Bar, it includes the gentle moisturizing properties of goat's milk to clean dry coats and soothe sensitive itchy skin.
After standing still for a bath, every dog deserves a treat. Treats that include goat's milk protein concentrate and goat's milk mineral whey are designed for optimal nutrition and easy digestion.
The products, called Nature's Dog by Canus, are easily absorbed, gentle to digest and nonirritating to sensitive skin. To learn more, visit canusgoatsmilk.com. To purchase, go to walgreens.com.
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Saturday, November 1, 2008
Additional Steps Needed to Avoid Deer Collisions on the Road
Most drivers know the basic strategies to avoid or at least reduce the chances of a collision – slow down; leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you; look for eye shine at the edges of the road ahead; where there is one animal, expect others. But The Humane Society of the United States would like to remind drivers that there are additional steps that can be taken to make our roads safer for people and all wild animals.
"This country lags behind many nations in our regard for the need to protect both wildlife and drivers from collisions on the road," said Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist at The HSUS. "There are many relatively simple, cost-effective countermeasures to this serious issue."
As reliably as the turning of the leaves, each fall also is accompanied by public warnings about the dangers of driving in deer country, for fall combines both deer mating and hunting seasons, and deer are on the move more now than at any other time of year. There are also more vehicles on the road after dark as daylight savings time ends, with many driven at speeds at or above the speed limit.
The most obvious solution is fencing – but fencing alone confines wild animals in habitat patches that may not meet all of their needs, and can lead to problems like inbreeding. Fences are effective in protecting both highway users and wildlife only if they function to guide animals to overpasses, underpasses, or other structures that provide them safe passage over or under the road. Such fencing/passage systems can be expensive, but their cost is minor when compared to the total cost of highway construction or improvement projects.
Fencing/passage systems are a means of both saving invaluable human lives and contributing to health of wildlife populations, including the recovery of endangered species, such as the Florida panther and California's desert tortoise. Florida, Arizona, Washington State and Montana are leading the effort in the U.S. to reduce wildlife collisions with fencing/passage systems. Though their use in this country is just beginning, other collision avoidance systems rely on sophisticated infrared technologies that detect the presence of a large animal in the roadside and illuminate warning signs.
We must increasingly employ these and other strategies to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions, but there will never be enough wildlife passages and collision avoidance systems to replace drivers who are aware of wildlife and willing to modify their driving in the interest of their own safety and that of wild animals. Therefore, it will always be important, in the fall and throughout the year, to drive with wildlife in mind.
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"This country lags behind many nations in our regard for the need to protect both wildlife and drivers from collisions on the road," said Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist at The HSUS. "There are many relatively simple, cost-effective countermeasures to this serious issue."
As reliably as the turning of the leaves, each fall also is accompanied by public warnings about the dangers of driving in deer country, for fall combines both deer mating and hunting seasons, and deer are on the move more now than at any other time of year. There are also more vehicles on the road after dark as daylight savings time ends, with many driven at speeds at or above the speed limit.
The most obvious solution is fencing – but fencing alone confines wild animals in habitat patches that may not meet all of their needs, and can lead to problems like inbreeding. Fences are effective in protecting both highway users and wildlife only if they function to guide animals to overpasses, underpasses, or other structures that provide them safe passage over or under the road. Such fencing/passage systems can be expensive, but their cost is minor when compared to the total cost of highway construction or improvement projects.
Fencing/passage systems are a means of both saving invaluable human lives and contributing to health of wildlife populations, including the recovery of endangered species, such as the Florida panther and California's desert tortoise. Florida, Arizona, Washington State and Montana are leading the effort in the U.S. to reduce wildlife collisions with fencing/passage systems. Though their use in this country is just beginning, other collision avoidance systems rely on sophisticated infrared technologies that detect the presence of a large animal in the roadside and illuminate warning signs.
We must increasingly employ these and other strategies to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions, but there will never be enough wildlife passages and collision avoidance systems to replace drivers who are aware of wildlife and willing to modify their driving in the interest of their own safety and that of wild animals. Therefore, it will always be important, in the fall and throughout the year, to drive with wildlife in mind.
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