And it’s not just the mental stimulation and relaxation that having a fluffy friend brings into your life. It’s the joy and laughter and the distraction of playing silly games with our pets that help us to put the serious side of our lives back into perspective. See how the tennnis stars do it…..

Maria Sharapova with her dog

“Stunning Russian star Maria Sharapova dotes on her pet, a caramelcoated Pomeranian called Dolce who is thought to have appeared with her in TV commercials for Canon cameras – although it only later turned out Dolce had a stand-in. Dolce spends time with Maria when she’s at her home in America. “He’s my stress reliever,” she’s said of her pet…. “

http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/329808

And as you can see, Maria Sharapova is not the only tennis star that keeps her feet on the ground buy spending time with her fluffy companion. Both Williams sisters have pet dogs and Andy Murray has two pooches that keep him company when life gets too much for him in the fast lane.

Andy Roddick also features in the famous tennis pet club with his dog called Billie Jean, named aptly after Billie Jean King, the famous womens Wimbledon champion. Do you have a pet that helps you to de-stress? If not, then it’s time to wake up and smell the roses!

What would be going on in the mind of a human being when he or she commits such cruel acts towards defenceless animals. No matter how hard our lives might be, nothing can justify this kind of inhumane behaviour towards an innocent little kitty. Read on below and be shocked….

POLICE: Louisville man beat cat to death with broom

“Police say a Louisville man was arrested Thursday night after he beat a cat to death with a broom.”

http://www.wdrb.com/story/18797295/police-louisville-man-beat-cat-to-death-with-broom

Would you harm this cute little kitty?

The question really is – how do we prevent such things from happening to animals that are unable to defend themselves? And what sort of punishment should a person receive after committing such a cowardly deed? Are human beings that do such things to animals not merely proving that they do not deserve to be called human?

It’s hard not to think in terms of “an eye for an eye” in cases like this one – but that would just make us as inhumane as the criminals themselves. And yes, I do think cruelty to animals deserves to be called a criminal act and should be severely punished.

What punishment do you think this individual deserves? After all, he deliberately caused this kitty to suffer incredible pain before he killed it. Are we able to rehabilitate such people? I often wonder about the human race and why we are hell bent on destroying other humans, animals and our planet.

Flea and tick control safer for people, too

“Flea and tick control safer for people, too … The study makes controlling parasites a high priority for pet lovers, so talk to your veterinarian about effective parasite …”

http://www.courierjournal.net/news/2012-06-13/Pet_Connection/Flea_and_tick_control_safer_for_people_too.html

Rheumatorid arthritis is that nasty chronic joint disease that destroys joints in humans and makes people have swollen, stiff joints and they can even end up in a wheelchair. I already suffer from arthritis in my hip joints but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that there could be a connection to a bacterium that is found in the fleas on my pets. If this is true then keeping our cats and dogs flea free has become a huge priority.

There are many reasons why you should regularly treat your pets against flea infestations but this has definitely added a far more serious reason to the list. A good flea treatment for your cat or dog should be high on your list of health priorities so if you have neglected it lately then it’s time to go and see your vet.

But the good folks in Oregon say this really happened so go read the story for yourself if you don’t believe me…

(New) Oregon man contracts the plague after bitten by stray cat

“It’s an illness associated with the Middle Ages but a Central Oregon man is in critical condition in a Bend hospital, infected with the plague …KATU”

http://www.katu.com/living/health/Oregon-plague-Oregon-man-contracts-the-plague-after-bitten-by-stray-cat-158684825.html

Well, it’s quite a story huh? And it seems that it’s not really all that bad – serious enough for the poor guy that got bitten, that’s for sure, but for us regular folks out there it definitely is no need to panic. Yeah, I know, in the Middle Ages many centuries ago thousands of people died from the bubonic plague – but back then nobody knew what was causing this horrible disease AND they had no antibiotics to treat it with.

But in those days cities were infested with millions of rats that invaded people’s dwellings and homes. And nonbody knew that the rat fleas carried the bacteria that cause plague, so the fleas hopped off the rats and bit the humans, and that’s how they got infected and died. Luckily we live in different times so the bubonic plague is not something to worry about – even if your cat sometimes behaves strangely.

But does anyone know if there is a way to protect our cats against rat fleas? Would regular flea treatments like Advantage Flea Control really work against rat fleas on our cats as well?

Most Spoiled Celebrity Pets: Karl Lagerfeld’s Bratty Kitty & More …

“Like seemingly everyone else in the fashion industry, we have a fascination with Karl Lagerfeld. He’s the perfect mix of creative mastermind and delightful nut. His eccentricities are always entertaining, and we’re always intrigued by what he is going to do next. Lately, he’s been making the rounds with his adorable kitten Choupette. Choupette is living the high life…”

http://news.stylecaster.com/karl-lagerfelds-bratty-cat-spoiled-celebrity-pets

We all adore our pets and Kaiser Karl is no different, but a kitty using an iPad? Get real!! I guess he is also compensating for not having had any kids so Choupette is his ‘baby’. I wonder what kind of flea treatment she gets? But when you read that the kitten has a daytime maid and another maid at night then things are starting to sound a little more crazy. How much time and money should we spend on our pets? Is there a limit or is no amount of expense too much when it comes to our pets?

Yes, and I do mean a helicopter, with full remote control and the ability to take to the skies whenever the owner wanted to take it for a flip. This is very weird but for those of you who have steady nerves, please read the article and watch the video below….

Man mourns dead cat by turning it into a helicopter | Stories | Seattle …

“The cat, whose name was Orville (I mean, it was destiny, right?), passed away after being hit by a car. That’s when Dutch artist Bart Jansen decided to preserve the striped feline’s body and turn it into a work of art that also happens to fly around the room in the most terrifying way that ever existed. The Orvillecopter is now on display in Amsterdam….”

http://www.seattlepulp.com/stories/Dead-cat-helicopter-orville-amsterdam-157012225.html

For those of you with a sensitive nature this is probably upsetting, and I would have to agree with you. We all love our pets and want to remember them fondly after their passing, but a ‘cat helicopter’ is just a bit too weird for me. Some might even argue that doing this kind of thing is being disrespectful to the memory of your pet. What do you think – has this guy gone a step too far?

Cat law in city’s future?

“The alderman said he’s heard stories from residents dealing with cat urine and fecal matter and the animals ruining porch furniture and carpet. Buckley found a law from the Town of Tonawanda that demands cat owners maintain their pets in a way so that …”

http://www.eveningtribune.com/news/x721954776/Cat-law-in-city-s-future

I guess if there is a law that requires dog owners to have their animals licensed and kept under control then the same should apply to cats also? Dogs are not allowed to roam around neighbourhoods or make a nuisance of themselves by invading people’s homes and yards, so why should cats be granted this freedom?

It’s not quite that simple though, because cats tend to stray much more than dogs do – but does this mean that dogs are more intelligent than cats? Hmmm…. and cats are able to survive much better on their own in a homeless environment as feral cats. So does this mean that cats are more intelligent than dogs?

NJ: Buckle up Your Dog & Cat or Face Fines | FOX News …

“(I’ve never seen a cat in a dashboard as mentioned in the story.) I have a friend who let his dog ride in the back of his pickup truck, and the dog saw something …radio.foxnews.com/…/nj-buckle-up-your-dog-cat-or-face-fine…”

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/nj-buckle-up-your-dog-cat-or-face-fines.html

But judging from this video it seems some authorities are serious:

OK, so the way I interpret this article is that the authorities mainly object to pet owners having their (smaller) pets sit on their laps while they drive their cars, which could be a driving hazard. Also seen as dangerous is the habit of letting your pooch sit on the front seat and sometimes standing up on the dashboard with it’s front paws. Here I tend to agree with the writer – traffic safety is important after all.

But many folks like to have their pets on the back seat and I can’t really see that as being dangerous in any way, as long as it does not interfere with the driver. Even letting your dog hang his head out of the back window is OK in my opinion – a bit of fresh air is always good for our furry friends. As long as the window is not completely wound down so the dog can jump out and escape in the traffic.

But buckling up your dog (or cat!) on the back seat of your car seems rediculous to me. What do you think? And how about allowing your dog to sit or roam unrestrained in the back of your SUV or pick-up truck – is that dangerous? Common sense should prevail is what I say – most dog owners will know if their dogs are well enough behaved to allow this, so why do we need yet another law to tell us how to run our daily lives? Please let me know your thoughts below….

Op-Ed: Garfield, 40 Pound Cat – Awareness Raised or Pet Obesity, Glorified?

“….the headlines revolving around Garfield aren’t about the greatness of pet adoption or the good work North Shore Animal League is doing. The reality remains that the attention Garfield has received is, as much as anything, for his girth alone.

It is Garfield’s size alone that has grabbed national headlines. And that, in the eyes of this writer, is a problem……”

http://www.petside.com/article/op-ed-garfield-40-pound-cat-awareness-raised-or-pet-obesity-glorified

Here’s a beautiful (overweight?) kitty. Is this dangerous?

So I guess the if we are really honest with ourselves we have to admit that overfeeding our cats and dogs can do more harm than good. They might look cute at first but in the long run they could get really sick from being to fat, which could shorten their lives. If you love your pets it’s best to watch what you feed them – and remember that quality is better than quantity. 

A fat cat or dog can create a lot of laughs but before you throw them another snack, think again! You could be doing far more harm than good – or are we taking this too seriously? After all, life is about doing the things you enjoy, and the same goes for our furry companions. What do you think?

Dog, left at Missouri rest area, waits for 2 days

“« Feature Stories – AP HANNIBAL, Mo. (AP) – A 9-month-old Yorkie wasn’t about to leave a Missouri rest stop without his master. Mistakenly left behind by an Arkansas truck driver, Rambo waited there for two days until his owner was able to track him …”

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120606/AP03/306069892

How do you like this cutie? A definite look of intelligence!

This Yorkie had amazing staying power! He must have been very hungry and lonely and yet he waited patiently for the return of his owner – a sure sign of doggie intelligence. Is this a feature of the Yorkshire Terrier breed? Are Yorkies known for their intelligence and devotion? And this little fella was only 9 months old – amazing!