The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Friday, September 28, 2018

Woman Had to Put Her Dog Down - Boyfriend Gets Her a Puppy, See Her Reaction (Video)

This woman’s boyfriend got her a puppy when her dog had to be put down.  Her reaction is priceless.

When his girlfriend had to put down her beloved 10-year-old beagle, this thoughtful guy knew just what to do to cure her broken heart.

See her touching reaction to his gift below.









Dog Eats 43.5 Socks and Lives

Portland, Oregon - A 3-year-old Great Dane was retching when its owners rushed him to a northwest Portland emergency animal hospital.

X-rays showed a stomach full of "a large quantity of foreign material." Nearly two hours of surgery later, Dr. Ashley Magee had the answer…the dog had consumed 43 ½ socks.

DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital spokeswoman Shawna Harch said it's perhaps the strangest case in the hospital's history, The Oregonian reported.

The DoveLewis entry summary says the Great Dane was discharged home a day after surgery. Harch says the owners aren't available for comment but she confirms the dog is alive.


Thursday, September 27, 2018

Are Cats Domesticated?

The cat does not offer services," William Burroughs wrote. "The cat offers itself." But it does so with unapologetic ambivalence. Greet a cat enthusiastically and it might respond with nothing more than a few unhurried blinks. Later, as you're trying to work, it will commandeer your lap, keyboard, and attention, purring all the while. A cat will mew at the food bowl in the morning and set off on a multiple-day trek in the afternoon. Dogs are dependent on us to the point of being obsequious, but cats seem to be constantly reëvaluating the merits of our relationship, as well as their role in domestic life. "Are cats domesticated?" is one of the most frequently Googled questions about the animals, based on the search engine's autocomplete suggestions.

It's a question that scientists have been asking, too. The latest answer, based on insights from recent archeological discoveries and genome-sequencing studies, is that cats are semi-domesticated. Conventional wisdom holds that the ancient Egyptians were the first people to bond with the cat, only four thousand years ago. In 2004, however, a team of French researchers working in Cyprus unearthed the ninety-five-hundred-year-old remains of a human and a cat buried side by side. Last year, an analysis of cat bones and teeth from a fifty-three-hundred-year-old settlement in China indicated that the animals were eating rodents, grains, and the leftovers of human meals. It appears that, following the advent of agriculture, wildcats in the Near East and Asia likely began to congregate near farms and grain stores, where mice and rats were abundant. People tolerated the volunteer exterminators, and wildcats became increasingly comfortable with people. Whether this affiliation began five or ten millennia ago, the evidence suggests that cats have not been part of our domestic domain for nearly as long as dogs, which have been our companions for perhaps forty thousand years.

To read more on this story, click here: Are Cats Domesticated?

10 Things Service Dog Handlers Want You to Know

Many people have a vague sense of awareness that Service Dogs “help” their person and that they’re allowed to be in public, but there’s a lot more to Service Dog handlers and teams than meets the eye. To help fill in the holes, here are the top 10 things Service Dog handlers want every member of the public to know and understand.

1.) My Service Dog Is Working
When you see my partner and I out and about in public, please understand that she’s doing vital work for me, even if she doesn’t “look like” she’s working to you. Just like when you’re working, she just wants (and needs) to be left alone to do her job. Please don’t distract my Service Dog from her job by yelling at her, talking to her, using baby talk at her, touching her, touching her equipment, crowding her, whistling at her, barking at her or otherwise doing anything except politely ignoring her.

2.) My Service Dog Is My Lifeline
Depending on my disability, my Service Dog may be the only thing standing between me and death. She’s my lifeline and she means the world to me. Please don’t distract her from doing her job or her tasks because my life, health, and peace of mind, rests in her paws. If you distract her and she isn’t able to respond appropriately, my ensuing illness or injury is YOUR fault. Please just ignore her entirely and let her focus on her job, which is keeping me safe.

To read more on this story, click here: 10 Things Service Dog Handlers Want You to Know

Take A Look At These Adorable Mini-Puppies

Puppies are things of pure joy. Everyone loves the big proud dogs they grow up to be, of course, but there is something infinitely soothing about cuddling up beside a newly born pup.

Not only that, but they come in all sorts of precious shapes and sizes! Sometimes they’re fluffy, while other times they’re little short-haired cuties. They only ever have one thing in common: they are all adorable! These 22 puppies are no exception, and they just so happen to be some of the cuddliest and cutest you’ll ever see…

1. You think you’ve seen tiny? Well, you’re wrong, because you haven’t seen this puppy before. And this puppy? He is 100 percent tiny! Thankfully, what he lacks in size he’s more than willing to make up for in attitude.




2. Aww! What’s better than an adorable, doe-eyed, floppy-eared puppy, you might ask? Why, that would be an adorable, doe-eyed, floppy-eared puppy who is so tiny that you can tuck him into your pocket!





3. Some dogs love taking a bath… that is, once they get used to it! This puppy’s shock and indignation at being forced to take such a dip would be very tragic indeed if it also wasn’t one of the cutest facial expressions around.



4. When puppies are small, it can seem as if everything is so big and exciting. For this little guy, every single day holds a million new discoveries just waiting to be made. Today’s discovery? Shoes.



5. Snuggle buddies for life! They say that being born into a big family can be stressful, but clearly no one told this massive litter of puppies about the stress big families can bring.



6. You’ve probably heard that dogs hate soda (and, to be fair, they shouldn’t be drinking it anyway), but this is just a lie started by a cat. There is, in fact, almost nothing else that makes a pup lick their lips in anticipation quite like a delicious 7 Up!



7. Peekaboo! He sees you. The question is… do you see him? This pup is so teeny-tiny that every time he decides to take a nap it’s like a new installment of Where’s Waldo? Except this time, it’s the Sleepy Puppy Edition!



8. Here’s a little known fact about this utterly adorable floof: If you stare into his eyes long enough, pure candy goodness will rain from the clouds. You might also find that you have developed the ability to levitate.





9. “I shall call him Mini-Me.” Every dog needs a furry friend of their own, and if you’re going to get your pet their own pet, why not make it one that could also double as their very teeny-tiny identical twin? Totally genius.



10. They told this puppy that he was too small to be on the football team. Sure, he was a brilliant offensive lineman, but only against opponents like his tiny stuffed bear, Mr. Stuffy, and his bitter rival, Mom’s Sock.



11. “We’re super cute, huh?” Somebody clearly knows that they are adorable. Normally you would worry about these animals getting big egos, but it’s clear that these two have nothing but more love to share with the world!




12. In France, it’s normal to start your day off with a freshly baked croissant. This big dog clearly heard of this tradition and, in lieu of eating actual croissants herself, she opted to become one… with a tasty puppy filling.




13. This chubby little dog is actually pretty darn small, but you would never know what with that massive ball of floof covering his entire body. A creature that needs to be protected and cuddled? Sign us up.




14. This dog might be way too young to run for president, and also way too much of not-a-human-being. Still, you have to admit that when it comes to posing for presidential pictures, he’s got the look down—and then some!



15. “I really like belly rubs!” And we like giving them! When you’re this adorable and you seem to be constantly begging for scratches and cuddles and pets, how could we not? Thank goodness this little puppy seems keen for all the cuddles she can get!




16. “I’m a fox!” Here is how many people you are fooling with this ruse, little pup: absolutely no one. This adorable doggo might like to pretend that he’s a fearsome beast of the wild, but he couldn’t be more wrong.



17. “How’s it hangin’? Oh, me? I’m just chillin’.” This cool pup knows he’s the cat’s meow, so to speak, and he hasn’t a care in the world. Well, except for whomever he’s looking at.



18. This photograph would almost be picture-perfect were it not for the creepy fingers above the pup placed there to indicate just how tiny she was. It’s almost as if these two are reenacting the claw game at the arcade!



19. “You can call me Dr. Pupper.” You’ve always heard that there is a “secret ingredient” in Dr. Pepper. Now, this puppy isn’t saying that he’s responsible for said “secret ingredient,” but he’s also not not saying it.


20. “I’m a little teacup… wait, shoot, that’s not how it goes!” These puppies may not be very good at remembering the words to little old nursery rhymes, but the fact that they are so itty bitty more than makes up for it.



21. Say “cheese!” This puppy is so cute, that smiling big for the camera just comes naturally to him. Look at him posing like it’s his first day of school! All he needs to complete the look is a backpack and a brown bag lunch.




22. Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, may have been the king of the Rat Pack, but this dog is definitely king of the Pup Pack. It’s better that way. They don’t smoke, drink, or gad about with leggy blondes in Vegas; rather, they cuddle and howl to the sound of their own tunes.


Seal Slaps Kayaker with Octopus in Viral GoPro Video

A kayaker in New Zealand has become a viral sensation after a seal slapped him the face with an octopus. A GoPro video camera captured the whole odd ordeal.

Kyle Mulinder was kayaking with friends off the coast of Kaikoura, New Zealand, when he felt the big wet slap in the face and realized it was an octopus that was whipped at him by a seal. 

"Out of nowhere, it literally rose from the depths, as it was mid-fight, thrashed it around, and the rest is history," Mulinder told Australia's Network 10 News. Video of the chance encounter was shared on social media and quickly went viral.

Mulinder said he instantly got attention for the video, and was recognized while he was on his way to the Network 10 interview. "My Uber driver who just brought us here just goes 'you're the guy, you're the octopus guy'," Mulinder told Network 10.

To read more, and see the video, click here: Seal Slaps Kayaker with Octopus in Viral GoPro Video





Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Do Cats Wear Muzzles? - Yes, But Only for Temporary Use

Unruly cats are a danger, and while controlling them is never easy, there is something that can help. Cat muzzles can help protect the handler of an aggressive cat from bites, though they are not 100% protection. Aspen Cat Muzzles come in three different sizes, and finding the right size is the key. They can be a useful tool, but require some caution, depending on the level of aggression of the cat.

Cat Muzzle - Vet’s Advice on Cat Muzzles

What is a cat muzzle? 

A cat muzzle is a device that goes around a cats face used to prevent them from biting. It is primarily used in veterinary hospitals to prevent cats from biting when they are in pain or when they acting aggressive.

For people at home, muzzling a cat can be a very difficult thing to do. Cats typically do not like things on their face and will try to paw it off as soon as the muzzle was placed on. There are commercially available cat muzzles that prevent the cat from biting. The best type of cat muzzle is one that covers the eyes as well as the mouth. This can sometimes calm the cat if he/she cannot see. Muzzles are only for temporary use and you must watch your cat closely and be ready to remove the muzzle immediately if the cat starts to vomit or has difficulty breathing.

A cat muzzle can be a part of a first aid kit for cats or something to carry in your trunk along with a towel and a cat carrier. A cat muzzle can come in very handy if you happen upon an injured cat that is in pain in order to take him for help.

If you are looking to buy a cat muzzle, buy the type that does cover the eyes as this can be soothing. The style that is nylon, machine washable, with an adjustable Velcro closure seems to work very well. It should also have a good hole by the snout area that allows your cat to breath. After you place the cat muzzle on a cat, make sure the nostrils can be seen, and thus your cat can breathe, with the cat muzzle on.

Mother Tells Courageous Story About Dog Bite Responsibility - If You Have Dogs and Children, This is a Must Read!

I came across this story in a Facebook post this morning, and the woman that wrote it is asking people to share it, so that’s why it’s being duplicated here.

This woman is to be commended for being so courageous and open with her experience.

She says:

I do not have a blog. If I did I would post this there, as this will be lengthy. I keep things here on Facebook pretty light and post about my crazy, funny family life. I am posting this for 2 reasons. First, I see more and more pictures of babies with their pups. I am absolutely not saying there is anything wrong with that… I do it, too. Second, I am noticing my son being more and more aggressive with Daphne, our amazing white lab.

Putting together these pictures and writing this post brings up so many emotions that I really never wanted to feel again. I have realized, that when faced with it, the pain never goes away, ever. I can put myself in that hospital again in my mind like it was happening now. It’s a horrible, heart wrenching feeling.

Our gorgeous Scrappy suffered constantly from ear infections. This we knew. We have a pool and there was no way to keep him out, he loves to swim. Oftentimes I would come home and he would be alone just doing laps… So funny!! He was on meds for his ear infections but I became lazy on taking him to the vet which seemed like constantly. I started splitting his pills in half so they would last longer. Why? To save a buck? Shame, shame, shame on me!! I assumed he learned to live with the pain… I mean, why keep swimming? He was a smart dog!

THIS WAS/IS THE SWEETEST DOG ON THE PLANET!!

Hey, I consider myself pretty sweet too but I snap on occasion.

I was not home when this happened, I was on a shoot. I got a call from Tom saying he was on his way to the hospital, he told me what happened. I could not understand? I got in my car and drove. I don’t think I said a word to Britt, who was with me. My mind was numb. When we got to the hospital Brittany was ahead of me when walking into the room. She tried to stop me from entering. I have never felt that kind of pain in my heart, never. It is a different kind of pain when it is your child. The pain was crippling, hurt me to the core. When they stitched up Zach I had to leave the room because they had 2 nurses holding him down and the doctor straddled over him. I seriously thought I was going to faint. Daddy was with him, Zach was not alone.

Zach was playing with Scrappy… Sitting on him and reached forward and grabbed both of his ears, hard. Scrappy snapped. In about 5 seconds he ripped my son’s face to shreds. It was knee jerk. Kind of like when someone steps on your broken foot, you lash out.

Dogs can’t yell, they can’t curse you out or say ‘OUCH!!’ It was a knee jerk reaction from the sweetest Golden Retriever that would actually die for Zach. It just happened.

When we came home from the hospital I went to the backyard and looked at him and just cried… He cried, too. He felt awful, I know he did.

Because the hospital considered this a mauling, it was reported and he was to be put down. Within 24 hours animal control was at our door for quarantine. He did his 14 days. In the meantime my mom, who happened to own property in Texas at the time (but lives here), made a massive plea and campaign to keep him alive and she would take him to Texas (he is with her still). This was granted.

I can’t tell you enough how this was such a blow to our family because Scrappy was family, he was not just our ‘family dog.’

I am sharing these pictures after all of these years because if your animal is trying to tell you something, please listen. If your dog swims regularly there is a good chance they will have ear infections. Be proactive, listen to their eyes… They really want to tell you.

I LOVE my pets so much and I have learned so much by this experience. I ask, no I beg, that you share this because I wish I would have paid closer attention. Please, take your pets to the vet, the clinic. Anywhere where they can get the help they need because they do love you so much.


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