Dog Food Fire Nearly Destroys Kitchen!

Or a better way to store dog food. Read on …

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This dog foodwas stored in my range by mice - yuk!

Wow. Did I have one of those days that just keep getting, let’s say, “more interesting”!

I was cleaning the top of my stove after breakfast and I noticed these little black things that sort of looked like mouse poop by my clever brain decided to tell me they were some spices left over from a cooking party I had some time ago.

I thought to myself, “I’m sure I cleaned since then but how could a mouse possibly get on top of my range.”  By the was I have two ranges next to each other and they both had the little black spices.  Total denial…

Later that day I was vacuuming the floor and noticed this same black slivers near my stove so I move a couple containers I keep for the salt water tanks and who hoo! There was a lot of mouse poop behind my stoves.

OK ; so I move those stoves out, vacuum inside and out, bleached the floor and looked inside the oven.  There were just a couple of mouse droppings so I vacuumed that up and decided to self clean the ovens to sterilize them.  They were not dirty inside at all.

I also set a couple mouse traps with peanut butter, irresistible to mice and dogs (so be careful so block these from your dog)!

I turned them on then went into my living room to spend some “quality time” with my daughter watching a rerun of “Project Runway”.

After about twenty minutes or so my husband walks into the living room to question the amount of smoke coming out of the ovens.  I jumped up to take a look.

OH MY GOODNESS!

There were tons of smoke pouring out of the top of each of them. Enough to increase global warming!  Or  so much that the huge exhaust fan that is over the ranges couldn’t keep up.  The kitchen was half filled with smoke.

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We turned off the self cleaning ovens, moved out parrots to the other room and opened as many windows as we could all the while monitoring the smoke billowing out of the ovens exhaust vents.

Then we found the fire extinguisher and decided whether or not to call the fire department.  With all that smoke something was definitely burning, however, we had shut the gas off to the ovens.

Thinking that the fire department might cause even more damage than had already happened, and not seeing any actual flames, we decided to wait it out, cell phone in hand.

Eventually the smoke subsided and we went to sleep after google-ing every combination of “smoke and self cleaning gas ovens” we could think of – no help.

After taking kids to school the next morning, (today Nov 2nd) I called an appliance repair company to come and diagnose the problem. They can’t make it here for five days. Well I’m much too curious to know what the heck is happening so I decided to take apart the stove myself.

After finding all the tools I needed, I gradually started taking layers of the appliance apart.  The top is sealed — to humans. When I got the cover off I found that some tiny little mouse had been storing my dog’s food pellets, one by one, in the fiberglass insulation around the stove top.

It was piled up in there, lots of it.

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after vacuuming the first time

I’m sure as I take the range apart some more that I’m going to find more piles of the stuff in every nook and cranny of the range.

So the moral of the story is, if you live in an area with mice or in an old house with many possible mouse holes,  feed your dog, then put away the dog food dish if there is any uneaten dog food, so the mice or whatever lives in your house when you are asleep can’t get it.

I think the mice probably were getting handouts from the birds too.

You also need to keep your dog food stored in airtight (or mouse tight ) containers.  Once I had an open bag and discovered a cute little mouse feasting in there.  My daughter didn’t like it though when she reached in to grab some dog food.

Had my husband not walked into the kitchen in time a real huge fire could have started and this story might have a much worse ending.  I guess now the worst that can happen is that I’ll need to replace my stoves.

PS. I caught a mouse in one of the traps.

If you have any suggestion about how to get the smoke smell out of my house I’d sure appreciate it.  Leave a comment. Thanks.

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The Healing Power of Dogs

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Yvonne Harper believed in the healing power of dogs. Her life was changed when two rescued dogs, Twinkle and Kizmit came into her life.

Yvonne had quite a childhood and just when she thought that nothing was worth the effort, she met them.

They are her two dogs. Twinkle is a Shih Tzu who was beaten so badly that his eyes ruptured and they have to be removed. Kizmit is a Pekingese who also lost his eyes due to trauma. These are the two dogs that entered her life and changed it.

Yvonne said, “Twinkle and Kizmit are living testaments to unconditional love. Life had been so cruel to them yet they trusted and loved me completely, without hesitation. I was humbled by their inner strength and watching them barrel through the darkness with no self pity or doubt gave me the courage to start making changes in my own world.

The dogs made a positive impact in her life which resulted to a book titled Blind Faith because this just appropriately describes what happened to them.

(photo credits: http://blog.seattlepi.com/deltasociety/archives/182899.asp?from=blog_last3)

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Dog Found Inside a Man’s Luggage

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A dog was found inside a man’s luggage at Dublin airport. Custom officers were surprised to see a live dog in the bag of the passenger.

When the bag passed through the scanner, the staff thought that it was just a stuffed toy. When they opened the luggage for inspection, they found a tiny Chihuahua inside that was hidden in a cage.

The owner of the luggage was a Bulgarian man who arrived in the airport from a flight from Madrid, Spain.

The dog was handed over to the Department of Agriculture and in quaratine. According to the airport spokesman, the dog seems to be in good health.

The Bulgarian man was arrested.

(photo credits: news.com.au)

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Pet Owners Willing to Do CPR on Pets

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For most pet owners, they are willing to do CPR to their pets by going mouth-to-muzzle in the event of an emergency according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll.

Tammy Parks, 52, of Amherst, Mass., took a pet first aid class and she said that she will not hesitate to help help pets, 15-year-old mixed breed terriers, Lucy and Julia, or Amazon parrot Koko.

Parks said, “It’s not rocket science. The mechanics are the same as humans.” She was an American Red Cross first aid trainer. “Size is the biggest difference.”

Generally, the poll found out that there are a few pet owners who are prepared for emergencies. However, there are only 20% of the pet owners who have pet first aid kit that has medical supplies such as bandages and ointment in their home. Fifty-four percent do not have a fire evacuation plan for their pets.

According to the survey, there have been reports of dangerous practices among pet owners that can lead to accidents and injuries such as giving bones from table scraps to pets.

Sixty-two percent of dog owners and a third of cat owners let their pets ride unrestrained in cars instead of placing them in a special carrier. There are a few pet owners who leave their pets unattended in their vehicles.

The point is, still, most of the pet owners will go the extra mile in order to rescue their pets.

(photo credits: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Richard Gere on “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story”

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Richard Gere said that just could not stop cyring when he was able to read the script for his new movie, “Hachiko: A Dog’s Story.” This is a remake of a Japanese story about a faithful AKita who waited for his owner everyday at a Tokyo train station ten years after the owner died.

“I was telling people over dinner, and I could only get halfway through the story and I would start crying,” Gere told a news conference at the Rome Film Festival.

The Japanese were just so touched by the loyalty of Hachiko to his owner that they built a statue of the dog at the Shibuya station, which is now a popular rendezvous spot. Hachiko died in 1935.

The film , which is being directed by Lasse Hallstrom has the setting of the story in modern Rhode Island.

“I wasn’t sure if it was just a very sensitive reaction I had that day, so I read it again a few days later and had the same reaction,” said Gere, who plays the professor.

“This is a love story,” he said. “It has nothing to do with gender or species.”

The movie is scheduled to open in the U.S. in December.

(photo credits: http://isshlabs.org/leyna/hachiko.jpg)

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Woofminster 2009 – Always a Success

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Woofminster 2009 is always a success. More than 200 people and 75 dogs were in Camp Ketch in Scarborough, Maine for the 4th annual Woofminster fundraiser which was held in September. The even this year was able to raise more than $5,000 for the Planet Dog Foundation.

Woofminster 2009 showcased an amateur dog show and Planet Dog cover dog challenge as including demos by service dog organizations, a raffle, face painting and other family-friendly activities. The executive director of the Planet Dog Foundation, Kristen Smith, considered the event to be a success.

“Woofminster is always a success,” Smith said. “It is a wonderful way to bring our community together for a fun afternoon that raises money for a great cause, while also giving people the opportunity to learn more about service dog programs in our area.”

The dog show has a number of challenges such as best trick, happiest dog and best mixed mutt. The winners for each category and 4 winners of the raffle competed in the cover dog challenge.

This year’s winner for the cover dog challenge was a year old terrier mix, Sadie, owned by Stephanie Fomato. As the winner, Sadie will receive a professional photo shoot and a chance to be the cover on the next Planet Dog catalog.

(photo credits: http://www.dogchannel.com)

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When Your Normally Behaved Dog Misbehaves: How to Stop Dog Pulling on Leash

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You are walking down the street when suddenly your normally behaved dog becomes aggressive and starts to pull on the leash and you want to know how to stop dog pulling on leash.

He is usually not aggressive but when there are other dogs and other pepole, your dog becomes aggressive and it makes you want to keep him at home all the time.

But do not worry though because there are some ways that you can deal with leash aggression and still both get quality time and exercise.

Divert the attention of your dog by using a command lke sit or down so that this will keep him occupied and distracted.

Dogs can read our body signals. Since dogs becomes aggressive when he sees other dogs, do not tense up when you meet other dogs along the way. Just stay calm.

There are some dog training tools for dogs who lunge such as muzzles and gentle leader harnesses. But it is important that you do not rely on these things.

Leash aggression is common but it can be a very big problem so you have to better fix this problem when that happens before it gets out of hand.

The stay command will prove to be useful and it will impress other dog owners. Of course, do not forget to give treats and praises when you dog did it right.

If your dog knows the sit or lie command, then teach him the stay. You’ll see the progress in no time. Make your dog stay for longer periods of time and when you are happy with his performance, do not forget the reward.

Keep in mind that dogs have short attention span so do not train for a very long time.

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Dog Walking on Leash: Unleash Him at Bark Parks!

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No matter how well you train to stop dog pulling on the leash and how to behave off leash, it is proper that when you are in a park, you must keep your dog walking on leash. Usually when we see dogs walking unleashed even though the owner is there (how much more if there is no owner). you will get disdainful looks from the humans who are in the park.

But hey, every dog can have his day. There are places where dogs can meet and play and socialize. They are called as “Bark Parks” or “Dog Parks.” These are designated fenced areas where people can bring their dogs and allow them to socialize with other dogs, unleashed. Most of these Dog Parks have available water and cleanup facilities such as poop scoopers or plastic bags. So when poop happens, you have to clean up after your pet.

Here are some simple rules to bear in mind when you are going to a Dog Park.

– Your dog must be vaccinated.
– If you have an aggressive dog, he/she is not welcome.
– Your dog must be able to follow your voice.
– Do not bring so many dogs if you cannot handle them all.
– Always clean up after your dog.
– Dogs that are in heat are not allowed.
– If your dog digs a hole, fill it up.
– Dog Parks are not for children.
– Offer water to your dog.
– Watch your dog.
– Follow any local park rules.

Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/95240809/

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Stop a Dog Pulling on the Leash

johnpatch1smAny dog that pulls on the leash needs to be taught how to walk in harmony with its owner. A dog that pulls on a leash has developed a bad habit that should be broken. You probably never developed a system with your dog and that is why he is always pulling.

Many people just put the leash on a new puppy and then start pulling him down the road expecting him to follow happily along. But puppies and dogs are not born with the innate ability to know that a leash means pay attention and follow me.

As a responsible pet owner, you have to show the puppy or dog what you want him to do. Probably a dog’s first instinct when presented with such a restriction that a dog leash imposes is to get away and pulling on the leash is the result. Without a communication system in place between puppy and owner, the dog and owner keep reinforcing this unhappy behavior.

A dog pulling on a leash is both bad for dog and pet owner. The dog’s neck and vocal chords can become damaged with excessive pulling. Owners can be pulled so hard that wrists and arms get pulled causing damage, or the dog can actually pull over children and adults on ice or solid pavements causing injury.

A good dog trainer teaches pet owners to put a long line on a dog and pay close attention to the connection between you, the pet owner, and the dog. He tells you to get your dogs attention using his name and then to direct your dog using the commands “this way” and “close”.

You don’t need expensive or invasive equipment to change a dog’s behavior. A simple long line works very effectively if used correctly with a system that can be learned easily by both you and your dog.

If you are tired of using haltis, choke chains and prong collars on your unresponsive, neck pulling dog you need to develop a communication system that is easy for you and your dog to implement that will stop dog pulling on the leash. If you are a visual person you may benefit from watching a dog trainer teach a dog not to pull on a leash so that you will be able to copy what you see and have success with your dog.

Lana Hawkins started AmbassadorsForDogs.com in 2009 to share exceptional dog training and dog care information with responsible pet owners who are interested in building a better connection with their dogs.

If you are having issues with your dog pulling on the leash then Lana recommends getting to know John Spieser in the free audio interview where he discusses long line dog training along with three other very informative videos that will improve your relationship with your dog.

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