Animals Unfolded

Military Working Dogs, another part of the equation on Memorial Day - AnnArbor.com

In my conversation with local cockatoo owner and grass roots exotic bird care expert , Marlene Butkiewicz, she offered so much insight beyond basic care. Because the Goffins Cockatoo , and other birds are so social, they really need to not only interact with you, but to bond and establish trust. This doesn't just make for a happy, psychologically sound bird, but it helps you to better care for them . Marlene could not stress enough the importance of interacting regularly with them - but also physically handling them. This does a few things: it gets them comfortable with you - touch is such a crucial stimulus that boosts physical and mental wellness. Handling the birds, especially from a young age allows you to trim the beak and nails in with better ease. You can examine the bird visually, better in this way, too. Being close to your bird allows you to look for feathers that appear to have less than optimal integrity and a white powdery residue. Getting a look at their skin as ...

Thinking about getting an exotic bird? A local expert offers insight, tips on care - AnnArbor.com

It's been a very fulfilling time! With Memorial Day weekend approaching, I have opportunities to see clients that I typically only see when their owners go out of town. As a result, I'm busy with holiday sittings, daily dog walking and even a new puppy on my roster who I'm completely amazed by. Her growth, playfulness and overall joy are great to see each weekday when stopping in to see her for puppy visits that include potty breaks, walks and puppy playtime to help her hone in on her instinctive skills and build her brain and body. More neat stuff! Since the beginning of the week, I have been interviewed by the following radio shows, Dwyer and Michaels (Davenport,IA), CJAD 's Tim Parent (Quebec), and the Ed Wenck Show on WIBC (Indianapolis) - across North America to discuss my recent piece " The bucket list for pets " on AnnArbor.com . The feedback has been phemonenal and this whole thing has opened up a lot of discussion with regard to our relationship...

The Bucket List - AnnArbor.com

My partner Chris Glahn and I have traveled to Key West a handful of times together. It's a fun island community, prideing itself on the mantra: " One Human Family ". Anyone that has gone there will attest to that, and the goodwill is extended to people's pets, too. Dogs can go most anywhere their human counterparts do, and we've never had a problem. Dogs in Key West behave differently. They are laid back, mannerful and joyful to be around. Most don't even walk on a leash. One of my favorite memories is seeing a huge chocolate lab whiz by, sitting on the platform of their owners' moped - a typical mode of transportation there. Despite the fact that we leave our pooches behind when we go, the dog friendly atmosphere is one of the reasons that we love it there. Read here why that could change, permanantly. If only former mayor, Capt. Tony were still here. Lorrie Shaw is a professional dog walker and pet sitter living in Dexter Twp, MI with her family tha...

This 'ol fella was in area of Jackson Rd. by the Q-16 Cinemas around the 14th of May. Is he yours? He's now at the HSHV . He looks a lot like my Gretchen. I'm sure that he misses his people.

Great article!

Researchers working to understand high rates of cancer in certain dogs - AnnArbor.com

LOST CAT - Community News

Pets' tender skin needs sun protection, too - AnnArbor.com

Meet Rosalie - AnnArbor.com's Pet of the Week - AnnArbor.com Torbies are so cool!

Have you traveled with your big dog? Have you had problems finding accommodations , because of your dogs' size? I have traveled in the past with Gretchen, and used to take her to Traverse City each summer, as we traveled by car. We stayed at a motel and things worked out great. It was a little work, especially since we spent a lot of time at the beach - and getting her cleaned up and sand free before returning to the motel took only a little time. It was a blast, and some of my most treasured memories are from those vacations . There were times when other folks were a little put off by her size , but her calm demeanor and friendly disposition quickly won them over. Good training and careful attention to our proximity to other animals helped. Also, we made a point to not take her to places that were crowded or to do certain activities when it was too hot. Our motel was great, and very accommodating. Others, may be a bit ambiguous. There are others that I know are not so...

Saving your pets' life in a poisoning emergency: the basics - AnnArbor.com

Case study: Cat eating less, confused and incontinent — what's going on? - AnnArbor.com

Dog Training? Drop These 'Ds'! Too often owners misinterpret their dog's behavior or failure to perform a behavior. This can lead to problems and a breakdown in what should be a trusting relationship. Read More

As humans, we are capable of emotions that are all over the board. There is a myriad of reasons behind our mood and sometimes we are not even aware of how we are behaving. Our minds are busied with our 'to-do' lists, places we have to get and keeping other people happy. We have a tendency to ignore our non-verbal communication and the energy that we send out - and how it affects others around us. Most everyone else around us are simultaneously experiencing the same bustle of activity and emotion that we are individually. We walk around mindlessly, sometimes. Paying attention to our reactions really can affect and improve the way that we get along with other people along the course of our day; our body language, tone of voice, speed of our step, the measure of our breath. Funny how we can immediately notice when someone else is irritated, but fail to recognize when we are doing the same. (Maybe we pay attention to non-verbal communication more than we think!) Animals rely o...

Your pets vaccinations are more important than you think - AnnArbor.com Today on AnnArbor.com