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Happy Birthday, Mei Lan!
Zoo Atlanta reports that their beloved panda cub, Mei Lan, turns a year old this month. You can often catch Mei Lan on the zoo's online panda cam. There was more good news for this beautiful, endangered species in the birth of a new panda cub at the San Diego Zoo on August 3. The news of Mei Lan's birthday is a happy thing, but recently I was reading about NFL player Michael Vick's decision to plead guilty to charges related to dog fighting, and I found myself thinking about just how many tough stories we hear about animal cruelty almost everyday. Right next to the story about Vick, which was written to make us feel as if justice was being done, AOL had published its "Best Sports Photos." The one on display was a picture of a bull being speared during a bull-fighting exhibition in Spain. You call that sport? Never mind, "best of sport?" I was surprised at how insensitive AOL was to post that photo right next to the article about Vick. One day a few years ago I was taking a walk along a lake path when I saw a young boy laughing and urging his dog on while the dog barked at and chased some terrified wild geese. The boy's father was standing by, watching and doing nothing. Without thinking, I stepped toward the boy and said, "Please leave those geese alone." I don't know what happened next, because the companion I was walking with pulled me aside and told me that he didn't want to have to get into a fist fight over the geese and that we should keep on walking. It's not the first time I've been accused of wading into someone else's business when it comes to animals. I remember once when I was staying in a cottage in the woods in upstate New York during deer hunting season, and I heard a shot gun blast that was very close to the cottage, and clearly illegal. I ran outside to watch a deer run by, and saw a hunter running after it. "Hey!" I shouted, "What are you doing?" "I've been chasing that deer all day!" the hunter shouted back. "Well that deer is on MY land!" I yelled, and the hunter, knowing full well that if I had gotten his license number he'd be in trouble, high-tailed it right out of there. Most of the time I'm glad I speak up when I see an animal in need. And then there have been times when I perhaps should have stayed quiet when a friend made a decision about how to care for their own beloved animal, and their decision had nothing to do with me. But for better of for worse, if I see an animal in need, I'll usually act before I think, even if it gets me into trouble. What about you? Have you ever stepped in when an animal, stranger or not, needed help? Do you think it's right to get involved? Please write to me at faye@ourplacetopaws.com and let me know. In this issue:
You might be wondering why Opus' column is our feature story this month. Well, a reader wrote in to ask Opus why he only comes out at night, and if he meets any interesting animals while he's out in the darkness. Opus got a little carried away. We told him to send us a 200-word answer, but I think he thought we said 200 pages. Never fear, it's not really that long, but it is a lot of fun. We've posted the beginning of his column here, and the rest, including some delightful descriptions and photos of his animal friends, on our site. Poor Opus, still living among those "Crazy Folks" on a homestead in North Carolina! Meow. Woof. Naaaaayy. - Editor FEATURE STORY ON OUR PLACE TO PAWS
Days have been longer and nights shorter, and I am one, as you know, dedicated to my duties as an opossum of the highest standing. Folks need reassurance in their short lives that everything has some level of order, and the universe is not really in complete chaos. If I were to start cuttin’ corners and not performing my duties as expected every night claimin’ being short on time, they might be a bit shaky and take to hiding in those large rectangular boxes they insist upon living in. Read full text on Our Place to Paws | ||
 SPONSORS |
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Before we get to the rest of our issue, A NOTE OF THANKS to AETREX WORLDWIDE, Inc., a world-class footwear company and the first advertising sponsor in our 10% for Animals advertising program. Aetrex Worldwide is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ and currently employs 170 people, including 25 board certified pedorthists. The 60-year old company is comprised of three divisions; Aetrex Performance Products, Aetrex Technology & Education, and Apex Therapeutic Footcare. For more information, please visit www.aetrex.com or contact Donille Perrone Massa, Marketing Director extraordinaire (she has the cutest dog named Versace...and I have to tell you, they really sell the greatest running shoes) at 800-526-2739. Aetrex is donating 10% of their advertising fee to the Animal Alliance of New Jersey. |
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| YOUR LETTERS |
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Dear Editor, This letter is in loving memory of Cinnamon A.K.A. “Smushy”… A loved one is not gone, until they are forgotten! And to live in the hearts of those left behind is to live forever. Jaclyn, during this very sad and difficult time, we are here in support and in understanding of your eternal love for Smushy. May he rest in peace forever. With All Our Sympathy, Donille & Trina oxoxox Dear Editor, I saw a picture of a cat that you called a "Scottish Fold" on The Our Place to Paws blog. What is a Scottish Fold?
Thanks! - Laura H., Madison, Wisconsin
Editor’s Note: Hi Laura! To get this explanation right, I looked it up online for you. Wikipedia says this: The Scottish Fold is a breed of cat with a natural mutation to its ears. The ear cartilage contains a fold so the ears bend forward and down towards the front of their head. The original Scottish Fold was a long-haired white-haired barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland in 1961. Susie's ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one of the siblings was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier. Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in Great Britain and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. Read the rest and see a cute pic here | ||
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| BOOK REVIEW
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LARABEE Every day Larabee gets up early and helps his owner, Mr. Bowman, who is a mail carrier, to deliver the mail. An earnest dog if ever there was one, he not only rides along in the mail truck and accompanies Mr. Bowman on all his foot routes, but he also helps to haul the mail bag, which is not always so easy for such a little pup. Larabee loves his work though; he loves seeing the looks on the faces of the people he and Mr. Bowman deliver to; and he loves imagining what might be in their envelopes and packages. His only grievance is that never, never is there any mail for him. | ||
| KIDS CORNER |
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Turtles are cute, fun and very different from most animals. Making your own turtle is double the fun, and it's easy to do with just a few small things you probably have at home. Click here to learn how to make your own pet turtle! | ||
| FEATURED ANIMAL RESCUE |
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 When Nye County Animal Control took control of FLOCK (For the Love of Cats and Kittens), a nonprofit organization located on a two-acre spread in the desert outside Pahrump, Nev., it turned to Best Friends Animal Society for help.
Best Friends is working with you -- and with humane groups all across the country -- to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. The sanctuary, at the heart of Southern Utah's Golden Circle of national parks, is home, on any given day, to about 1,500 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds and other animals. Click here to read more about this very special place.
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| OUR PLACE TO PAWS STAFF |
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Well now folks, I know it has been a bit since last you heard from me, and I hope you’ll see clear to forgive me. The late spring and summer nights of the year are challenging for one of my particular disposition. I was lured out from my comfy winter home under the stairs of the basement in the large square box home of “The Crazy People” when the magnificent odor of the compost bin was heavy in the humid air and the music of the wakening tree frogs was just getting fired up in the later twilight hours.
There are so many creative, fun projects you can do with things you can find right in your own home.