Let's Talk Pets!: Recent Topics

stevelkirk on "Pet Quality Assurance Act"

stevelkirk — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:05:56 +0000

Today is not a proud day for Oklahoma. The lowest common denominator has again proved to be the best that we can do. Our state representatives have demonstrated once more that a cause NOT rooted in religion or bigotry provides very little to their power base and therefore is at best a mere trading token. The story reads: 'I'll trade two Fishing License amendments if you will kill the Puppy Mill Bill behind my back.' These people are not leaders, but followers of the worst kind. They know how it all works, religion gets them votes, bigotry gets them votes, compassion for defenseless animals doesn't get them squat!

stevelkirk on "Welcome"

stevelkirk — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:56:08 +0000

I just want to welcome some of our new members and encourage other visitors to become members and participate. It is really quite a friendly place so jump in and enjoy. The man who created this forum is no longer with us, but his lasting message was "Build it and they will come." It is here and it is now. Us it for your pleasure and for the good of the animals.

just4entertainment on "Cat urination"

just4entertainment — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:36:34 +0000

I have a 9 year old tom cat who has always slept on my bed at night or catnaps during the day. He used to always sleep at the foot of the bed by my legs or feet. The last several months he started sleeping next to me close to my pillow. However, recently, he started urinating on this spot. I have to keep my door closed all day and at night so he doesn't get in my bedroom. I keep the litter box clean and he doesn't urinate on any of the other beds or couches. What would cause this behavior and how do I stop it?

stevelkirk on "Elmer Fuddleigh"

stevelkirk — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:46:18 +0000

Marilyn had just gotten back from taking pictures at the shelter for the Winter '09 issue of TulsaPets Magazine when I got the email. Every time that she goes there she gets smitten by one of the dogs there and this time was no exception. That's when I got the email with THE picture attached (the left picture below). There was Elmer, part Lab and part Shar-Pei, and he had that look. To this day we call it "Fudd Face" and he puts it on when he gets in trouble and he had it on then. Some way he must have known how much trouble he was in since people pass by black dogs pretty much, so he needed to do something and he needed to do it fast. So when the nice lady with the camera was ready to take his picture he put on the best "Fudd Face" that he could muster and it worked. She kept coming back and playing with him. I got the email with Elmer attached and he had put on his best "Fudd Face" and when Marilyn asked "can we, please?" the only acceptable answer was "Go get him." So Elmer came home to stay. That's the WARM & FUZZY part. Not long after he got home, Emer developed a bit of a runny nose. Then a little cough. Then he didn't feel good at all. Then his Vet said that he had all the signs of distemper. Then he gave him some pills and told us to take him home and make him comfortable until the end came ( the center picture below). Poor little Elmer. He had just cheated a bad situation and now this. It was just a couple of days before Christmas and of course the boarding arrangements that had been made for us to go out of town were definitely off. No one wants a dog that might have distemper anywhere near their building and rightly so. That was the SCARY part. God love the little guy, he never lost his appetite. He didn't feel good, but he was still hungry. His soul must have been hungry. Elmer didn't get worse like everyone that we spoke with said that he would. He slept with us in the bed and we petted him and held him all night and he started feeling better. Every day he was just a little stronger. You don't want to get your hopes up for fear of a relapse, but after a while there was no denying it. Elmer was better. That next week he went back to the vet and got more pills but he was still concerned. Things could still go wrong. But Elmer kept eating. Twice as much as the other two dogs that were twice his size. Another week passed and Elmer was fine. His nose dried up and his cough went away and he felt fine. Today he is still hungry and I swear that Elmer is having a better time than any other organism on the planet (the right picture below). That was the BEST part.

Marilyn King on "Cody Wayne Hahn Trial"

Marilyn King — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:28:43 +0000

I was fortunate to meet Sammy the dog yesterday at a press conference about the upcoming Cody Wayne Hahn trial. Cody Wayne Hahn is accused of dragging a dog behind his SUV at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Sammy was nearly skinned alive. His collar came loose and he crawled off into the weeds to die. Except a kind witness found him and sought help and Sammy survived his injuries. He is a DELIGHTFUL dog and whoever did this does need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. SOMEONE committed this crime and there is a strong indication it is Cody Wayne Hahn. If so, Cody, hopefully you will be sent to prison for the maximum five-years and be punished and feel the same pain Sammy felt. Marilyn King Publisher - TulsaPets Magazine

Vince on "Visits to Joe Station bark park"

Vince — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:32:03 +0000

I am a frequent visitor to Tulsa's first dog park, Joe Station Bark Park. Just wondering if anyone else has been there recently and what you all think about the park.

md.proubasta on "Fostering"

md.proubasta — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:31:38 +0000

Fostering is both, highly rewarding and also a heartache for some of us. Let me first say that volunteering as a foster parent for animals of any kind (cats, horses, snakes... ) is essential to saving lives and restoring minds and bodies. Letting go of the animal when the time is up, however, is difficult when we fear that the animal we've worked to heal and grown to love, may land yet again in a bad situation. There are no firm statistics on rehoming, but my guess is that 50% of the second chances these animals get are, well, just as bad as the previous one, if not worse. So, how does one deal with this and still continue to open one's home and heart as a temporary heaven? Is there a formula some of you have to perform this vital service without losing sleep over the foster animal we've released to an uncertain future?

Sharyl Landis on "Solomon"

Sharyl Landis — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:45:59 +0000

Solomon is the best cat because: 1. While I'm sleeping on my side, he climbs on my shoulder in the early morning hours and lays down on me with his head resting on my shoulder, 2. He wakes me up in the morning (He is my alarm clock), 3. He enjoys a walk outdoors in the morning, 4. He greets me when I come home, 5. Although he is an indoor cat, he hides out in the garage waiting for us to come home. When the garage door opens we see his white body scampering out, 6. He can't stand bandaids - he tries to bite it off my finger, 7. He tries to take my glasses off, 8. He is the king of the house.

md.proubasta on "Legislation"

md.proubasta — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:01:30 +0000

It would be interesting to have a regular column briefly stating what animal-related House and Senate Bills are up for discussion or vote. With a little information and guidance (for instance, should people email or call their congressmen urging them in favor or against the passing certain laws) Tulsa Pets readers could influence legislation we all hope will protect animals from abuse, punish the abusers, put some teeth into existing laws that are blithely ignored (e.g., cockfighting, dogfighting, humane slaughter, animal sacrifice--as in Santeria and Eid Al-Adha rituals ...) and so on. Let's face it, Oklahoma needs to upgrade animal legislation to the point of being meaningful; else acts of neglect and abuse will continue on the rise, especially as the demographics of the USA change and the influence of cultures without traditions of animal protection pervades ours.

md.proubasta on "The best memorial"

md.proubasta — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:29:49 +0000

We all grief differently. Losing a companion animal runs the spectrum from matter of fact to devastating. I've heard many people say the pain was so deep, they could not possibly repeat the experience. "I will never have another pet." Well fine, that's the self-sparing approach and one is entitled. But for people who love animals --not just one animal-- there is no finer memorial, no greater tribute to the departed pet, no more healing balm, no greater purpose of one's love and generosity, than to go ASAP to the nearest animal shelter and save a life. Love hates a vacuum.

stevelkirk on "Sam Rescue"

stevelkirk — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:37:00 +0000

He was wandering down the street without a care in the world. Sniffing and marking as he went. Unfortunately he was headed for the major street just a few houses away. I snagged him and we took him to the vet to hold until we could find his owner. 16 telephone pole postings and 2 ads in the paper yielded no results, so after he was neutered Sam came home to stay 2 years ago. Thank you for the great dog to whoever dumped him. There is just a much better way to do it. Stevelkirk