Dogs with Expensive Taste – One Swallows $10,000 Worth of Diamonds- The Other Swallows a Diamond Worth $20,000!

I would first like to say that both dogs in this story are okay.

I always thought that diamonds…were a girl’s best friend! Not any more, apparently dogs have taken a liking to them!

In Albany, Georgia a dog named Honey Bun, had a special attraction to the sparking little gems, or at least a curiosity that got him in a lot of trouble. He consumed close to $10,000 worth of diamonds.

The co-owner of John Ross jewelers Cuck Roberts says, “he’s a staple of the jewelry store, but this appears to be the first time he's dined on the gems.”

Roberts got up from his chair to greet a customer when one of the four packs of diamonds (each containing about $10,000 in loose 1-karat diamonds for earrings) on his desk went missing. Upon finding an empty pack on the floor, the shop owner immediately had a suspect.

X-rays later confirmed Honey Bun's guilt. While carbon doesn't show through on an x-ray, two blank spots made him the likely culprit

The diamonds were cleaned up and sent back to the supplier, while the dog seemed unfazed by the incident. Roberts is now a bit more cautious about where he leaves his chair.

Now, Honey Bun isn’t the only diamond stealing dog. In January 2010, at Robert Bernard Jewelers, in Rockville, Maryland, Sollie, a golden retriever swallowed a $20,000 3-karat diamond after it was simply
dropped on the floor in a jewelry store.

George Kaufmann brings his dog Sollie to his store, every day. On the evening of January 26, Kaufmann and his business partner, Robert Rosin, were meeting with a diamond dealer and were taking a look at a 3-carat stone when it fell on the floor right next to Sollie. The men watched in horror as Sollie ate it.


The men quickly called a veterinarian to find out what they should do to retrieve the diamond.

The doctor said nature would have to take its course, so for three days Kaufmann walked Sollie hoping to find the gem in Sollie's stool.

"When we took a walk in the morning and evening I collected and went through everything. It wasn't glamorous, but you gotta do what you gotta do," said Kaufmann.

Can Cats And Dogs Really Live Together?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Absolutely! Dogs and cats can become fast friends. Ideally, they should become accustomed to the other species as youngsters. This early exposure teaches them that it is normal to co-exist in a household.

The sensitive period of learning regarding social acceptability is between 3 and 12 weeks of age in dogs and between 2 and 7 weeks of age in cats. During this time a plethora of unlikely liaisons can be engineered using appropriate ploys. During the sensitive period it is possible to arrange seemingly impossible feats like lions being made to lie down with lambs. However, it is often not possible to raise kittens with puppies to create such "bon accord au naturelle."  But a huge step in the right direction involves introducing puppies and kittens to friendly members of the opposite species during this window of time.

It is not uncommon for dogs and cats to enjoy each other's company. Take the time to manage your cat-dog introduction properly, and you could be setting up a friendship that will last for the rest your pets' lives.

Can cats and dogs really live together? What do you think?

Facts to consider when cohabiting cats and dogs:

1. Gentle, sweet-natured, or lazy dogs are more likely to be good with cats than strong-willed, active, alert dogs.

2. Strong-willed cats that stand their ground and hiss and spit, or swipe with a paw, are more likely to cope with a new dog, than the timid sort that run from everything.

3. As a cat owner who wants to own a dog, never choose a stray, or ones you don't know the history of.

4. Consider its temperament, breed and past history. Ask the advice of shelter staff, your vet and friends, if you are inexperienced. Choose a cat that has been used to dogs if possible, preferably one which is not timid and shy.

5. Some dogs have a very high predatory drive and cannot be trusted with any small, fast moving creature.

6. Allow your cat to go where it likes, but not to leave the room. Most of these encounters will be, or should be, uneventful.

7. If you are a dog owner who wants to own a cat, think carefully about whether your dog would be suitable first.

8. A word of caution to owners of more than one dog. One dog will act as an individual, more than one will act as a pack which could have dire consequences for a new cat.

9. Introductions must be supervised, and they must be handled with planning, care and patience.

10. Ask if the dog has been used to living with cats and take the advice of shelter staff on the likelihood of it settling with cats.

11. .Do not force them together, let them move at their own speed - which will probably be very slowly.

12. You will need time and patience if these two animals from entirely different species are to become friends. It probably will happen eventually, but until you are absolutely sure, do not leave them alone together.

Are You Feeding Your Dog Table Food?

Sometimes you will hear people say…he’s just a little chubby, or he really doesn’t eat that much…and besides he’s cute! Yes, he is a cutie, but is he overweight?

We sit down to eat...and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this…and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your dog? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your dog fat, which can cause health problems.

While an extra 10 pounds on the average person can be a bit uncomfortable, for a normal 40-pound dog the excess could put it 25 percent over its ideal weight.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a dog. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

Couple Loses $7k on Dream Bali Honeymoon After Dog Chews Passport

THE ordeal that ruined this couple’s dream honeymoon takes the old excuse of “the dog ate my homework” to a whole new, very expensive level.

A COUPLE who had saved more than $7000 for their dream honeymoon in Bali ended up being turned away at the border, all because their dog had chewed a bit of the groom’s passport.

Daniel and Tia Farthing flew 16 hours from their home in the UK to Bali on October 16 — their first wedding anniversary — only to be told they couldn’t enter Indonesia.

Border officials told the couple Mr Farthing’s passport wasn’t in an acceptable condition and they were made to take the next flight back to the UK, leaving them devastated and well out of pocket.

They told The Mirror the passport has been bitten by their four-year-old labrador collie cross Milo when he was a puppy.

UK Border Force staff told him the passport would not be an issue for their trip to Indonesia, provided all the necessary details were in it, however Indonesian officials didn’t agree.

On their way home to Suffolk, UK, the couple had a stopover in Singapore where Mr Farthing said he was detained for seven hours.

Meanwhile a panicked Mrs Farthing ran up a phone bill of more than $390 trying to contact relatives back home.

When the couple eventually landed at London’s Heathrow Airport, they said a flight attendant who had been told of their ordeal looked at Mr Farthing’s passport and said: “Is that what all the fuss was about?”

With the couple having lost the $7000 they spent on the trip, Mrs Farthing’s sister has started a GoFundMe campaign to help them.

To read more on this story, click here: Couple Loses $7k on Dream Bali Honeymoon After Dog Chews Passport

Teaching Your Cat How To Walk On A Leash

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Teaching your cat to walk on a harness and leash is a great way to let your cat enjoy the outdoors while ensuring his safety.

There is an old belief that it is grossly unfair to confine such a free-spirited animal to the indoors. Some people believe that cats should never be outdoors.

If you would like to give your cat an opportunity to explore the out-of-doors safely, leash-training them is an ideal way to do it..

Whether your cat is exclusively indoors, or an indoor-outdoor variety, there are times you'll need to keep him confined with a leash. Even older cats can be trained, given patience.

The first thing to remember is that cats don't walk on a leash like a dog. They will want to go in the direction they choose, rather than following you.

Tips on walking your cat on a leash:

1. The key to successful training is do it slowly, about 5 minutes at a time each day. Gradually increasing the time the harness is worn. Let the cat get use to wearing it around the house.

2. At first the cat will not want to move around. After it has accepted wearing the harness, then add the leash and encourage the cat to walk to get something it wants like a food treat or toy.

3. A lot of praise and good kitty also helps in the acceptance of the wearing. The cat has to understand that there is a reward in store for its cooperation.

4. Never drag your cat.

5. Get to know your cat before you to walk it on a leash..

6. The first time you take your cat outside, carry it to a quiet, safe spot in your yard, and gently set it down. Always pick your cat up if another animal comes into your yard.

7. Be aware that your cat will be exposed to some dangers and parasites outdoors.

8. If you have an older cat, you'll still be able to train them to walk on a leash, but it may take a little longer.

9. If you want to take your cat out especially if you are in an unfamiliar location, put it in a harness with a leash to keep it safe.

10. Be sure to attach an ID tag and write your phone number on the harness so someone knows who to call if your cat happens to get loose.

How To Keep Your Tank Safe During A Power Outage

A power outage may only be a minor inconvenience for you but, for your aquarium fish, it can be deadly.

A power outage is a minor convenience for most people – it simply means that you have to take a break from television, computer, and charging your cell phone. As long as the outage doesn’t last too long there will likely be no damage done. When it comes to your aquarium, however, a power outage can be a major problem. In order to maintain the delicate balance in your tank you need to keep your filtration system and heater running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether the outage lasts for a few hours or a few days, there are several things you can do to minimize the damage.

Types of Power Outages

Before getting into the details of how to protect your aquarium during a power outage, it is important that you understand that different types of outages will affect your aquarium in different ways. A localized power outage occurs when the main source of power to the aquarium is disrupted. This could be due to a power strip coming unplugged or a fuse being blown. In some cases the problem is easily remedied – you can just plug the cord back in or flip the switch on the circuit breaker. If the problem is due to an equipment malfunction, like a cracked heater, you may not even realize the problem right away. You may want to consider installing a plug-in alarm that will alert you if the power to your tank is interrupted – this is an especially good investment if you have a very large tank full of expensive fish. It is also a good idea that you use different plugs for different pieces of equipment so they do not all go out at once in the event of a localized power outage.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Keep Your Tank Safe During A Power Outage

Dog Safety In And Out of The Car - Using A Seatbelt, Harness or Leash

When you get into your car what is the first thing that you do? Of course, you buckle your seatbelt. When you put your young child in the car…you buckle their seatbelt. When it’s time to take you dog out for a trip…to you allow them to run freely in the car…or do you buckle their seatbelt?

If you let your dog run freely, you are not only endangering their life, your life, but the lives of others. A sudden stop can send your dog flying over the seat. Your dog can get frightened and jump on you causing you to lose control of the car. You love your dog and do everything to protect them at home, so why not protect them in the car. Remember, never leave your dog in a hot car.

Four Reasons to use a Pet Safety Belt
A Pet Safety Belt for your dog will help:                                  
                                                                                                           
1. Prevent Car or Truck Driver Distraction
2. Protect Passengers from injury in an accident
3. Reduce injury during travel to pet
4. Help rescue workers by keeping a dog restrained
                           
Walking your dog
Dogs are great walking companions! If you begin walking with your dog, you may soon find that they are ready to walk when you are The great health benefit is that you can combine your walk as a weight loss program!

Your dog  should never be running ahead of you, and should never be leading you. You should always have complete control over your animal. When you get a new puppy, Start attaching your dog's leash the day you bring him home, and venture out together as soon as possible.

Equipment for Walking your dog
Begin by selecting the right leash and collar for your dog. Make your choices not only on your dog's breed, but also on his current size, and behavior level. . Fixed  collars made of nylon are a much smarter choice for smaller pets. Head collars are also available for dogs of all sizes.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Welcomed Five African Penguin Chicks in October

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore welcomed five African penguin chicks in October.

“We are thrilled to continue our breeding success every year, and so far have hatched out another five chicks to kick off the beginning of our breeding season,” said Jen Kottyan, avian collection and conservation manager. “We anticipate we’ll have more chicks hatch soon.”

Penguin chicks will hatch 38 to 42 days after the eggs are laid.

“With African penguins, both the male and the female take turns incubating the eggs,” said Kottyan. “Once the eggs hatch, parents take turns caring for their offspring; they each protect, feed, and keep the chick warm for 2-3 days and then switch off.”

At Penguin Coast, chicks stay with their parents for about three weeks after they hatch and are fed regurgitated fish from their parents.

Zoo keepers will keep a close eye on the chicks, weighing them to make sure they are growing properly.

When the chicks are three weeks old, they’ll be removed from their nest and must learn that staff are the source for food.

It’ll help the chicks acclimate to the daily feedings, health checks and more.