Mina Starsiak has been having an awesome year. For those who don’t share in our deep-seated HGTV obsession, Mina is one of the stars of Good Bones, where she flips houses with her mom, Karen Laine. The pair, who refer to themselves as ‘Two Chicks and a Hammer,” have been teasing season four of Good Bones. Mina also recently became a mom herself, welcoming a baby boy named Jack with her husband, Stephen Hawk. Mina is learning what it means to be a mom in the spotlight. She’s been pretty open with sharing her journey throughout pregnancy and her first few months as a new mom. Of course, sharing your life publicly means you’re opening yourself up to criticism, as so many moms have learned in the social media age. Mina recently posted a sweet shot of Jack alongside one of her three dogs, Frank. The sight of the tiny 2-month-old lying with the large-breed dog seems to have upset some of Mina’s followers, but she’s not standing for it. To read more on this story, click here:HGTV Star Defends Putting Her Infant Next To Her Big Dog After Bullies Try To Mommy-Shame Her
Summer is approaching and the flea and tick season is rampant. While you are with your dogs’ either walking, hiking, or at the beach, there is always a chance that they will get bitten by a flea or tick. And ticks can carry a number of illnesses, including Lyme disease which can affect dogs and humans. Lyme disease can cause tiredness, fever and joint pain in your dogs. What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is an infection that causes arthritis and lameness and is transmitted to dogs (and some cats) through the bite of infected ticks. If it is untreated, Lyme disease in dogs can cause heart, kidney, and neurological problems. Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread from animals to humans. Lyme disease can be transmitted if an infected tick from a dog bites a human. Cats can get Lyme Disease but it is very rare and the symptoms are just like those in dogs. Lyme disease is more common in certain areas of the United States, including the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest. Symptoms of Lyme disease Some of the symptoms may not appear for several months after a dog is infected with Lyme disease. And some infected dogs don’t always show the symptoms. The signs of infection can typically include the following: Your dog is very tired and stops exercising, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, symptoms seem to get better and then re-appear later. To read more on this story, click here:Lyme Disease in Dogs- What You Need to Know!
"Taming" a wild bird may be a flawed word when considering a wild bird as a pet. A better word would be "habituate." Habituating means the bird accepts the presence of humans in such a way that they aren't spooked and fly away when a human is present. Several small songbirds can be habituated easily by placing a bird feeder near your house and filling it with feed. As the birds visit and revisit your feeder, they recognize your human presence as not being a threat. Amazingly, a few of those songbirds can be so habituated that they can be "trained" to take food right out of your hand! But make no mistake, these birds will remain wild. Some of those common songbirds who are willing to become friends to humans include such species as the House Sparrow, the chickadee, the tufted titmouse and the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Other birds that will come close to humans but probably won't be trusting enough to be hand fed are the Cardinal, the Downey Woodpecker, the American Robin, the Purple and House Finches, the Goldfinch and the White-breasted nuthatch. To read more on this story, click here:Can Wild Birds Be Tamed and Kept As Pets?
Most states in the United States do allow ferrets as pets but some states do have laws prohibiting ferret ownership, so it's best to check with your state and municipality to confirm that you are allowed to keep ferrets in the home. As with other 'exotic' animals (such as snakes) your local laws may be stricter than your state laws and regulations may change, so it's a good idea to obtain up to date information from an animal control board or your local government. States Not Allowing Ferrets California or Busted In California, it is illegal to sell, import, transport or to have ferrets as pets unless you also have a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game. The permits are issued only for medical research and other special circumstances and not for home possession. This statewide ban stems from fears that escaped ferrets could establish wild populations that could upset the delicate balance of the ecosystem in the area. To read more on this story, click here: What States Don't Allow Ferrets?
Annapolis, Maryland - The Maryland Department of Agriculture confirmed on Thursday that a single adult spotted lanternfly has been found on a trap in northeast Cecil County. The invasive species poses a major threat to agricultural industries in the region as they feed on over 70 types of crops such as grapes, hops, apples, peaches, and many others. Originally from Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first seen on U.S. soil back in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Since then, the MDA has tracked its spread through Pennsylvania to Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey. The MDA will continue to look for spotted lanternfly egg masses through the fall and winter when they can be seen. As cold weather continues to set in, adult lanternflies will begin to die off. When spring comes, each egg mass will produce 30-50 black and white-speckled nymphs. The Maryland Department Of Agriculture asks that anyone who finds a spotted lanternfly, an egg mass, or a nymph, take a picture, put it in a bag, freeze it, and then call (410) 841-5920.
These are 5 of the most common dog grooming mistakes that pet owners make when grooming their pet at home. 1. Lack of training Grooming is simply another aspect of training -- and improper training can create unhappy grooming sessions for everyone involved. If you have a new puppy, it’s important to get them used to brushing, bathing and having their feet, faces and ears handled from day one. Early, grooming is especially important for breeds who will need haircuts throughout their lifetime. For rescues or dogs acquired later in their life, it’s important to approach grooming with a calm manner and lots of praise, making every experience positive, even dogs who are predisposed to having a bad reaction to grooming can be turned around with the right encouragement. Approach a new dog’s grooming in a calm, firm and patient manner, and include lots of positive reinforcement like praise and treats for the dog’s calm cooperative behavior. If you aren't able to be calm and anxiety-free when teaching your pet about grooming, you should continue to use a professional groomer until you get used to it. 2. Long hair + water = mats A common problem that groomers deal frequently is matted fur in longer-haired dogs, but the cause of the mats isn’t always obvious to owners. Most pet owners don’t know that when a dog with long or thick fur gets wet, they have a higher likelihood of getting painfully tight tangles and mats. Brushing as much dead or tangled hair out of the coat before a bath, swim or walk in the rain or snow is recommended. A quick brush to check for tangles before getting wet can prevent a lot of uncomfortable brushing or a shave later on. Always do a quick brush after the dog has dried off, just to make sure any dead hair loosened up by the water comes out. If mats are discovered during a bath, use a conditioner and a comb to loosen them as much as possible, and blow drying will help break the tangles apart. 3. Incomplete grooming Be thorough, many owners concentrate their brushing efforts on their dog’s back, missing other areas that need grooming just as much. It’s important not to forget about those trickier areas like faces, ears, tails, bellies, bums and legs when grooming at home. For shorter-haired dogs, it’s still important to brush all areas to promote healthy skin, oil production and fur growth. Your groomer can tell you which at-home tools are best for your pet, as different coats need different brushes and tools. A part of a thorough groom includes checking the inside of ears and mouths. Ask your vet or groomer what the most appropriate cleaning schedule is for your dog. Expensive and painful dental and ear issues can be easily prevented with regular maintenance. 4. Creating bad grooming habits through improper play It seems cute when your pet snaps frantically at the garden hose, shakes her head when you blow on her ears or plays chase with the hair dryer or vacuum, but this type of teasing can make grooming really difficult for you, or your groomer, and scary for your pet. A professional groom involves equipment that vibrates, shakes, sprays, and blows air at the dog. You need to make sure that they’re not teaching the dog to bite or run when a groomer turns a tool on. According to the professional groomer, “playing shake a paw, or gently grabbing their tails, jowls or ears while giving lots of praise,” makes grooming safer, as the dog won’t overreact to being touched in those areas. 5. Make grooming a year-round priority When the weather starts to get colder, owners understandably want to make sure that their dog has enough fur to keep them warm, but neglecting grooming actually does more harm than good when it comes to protecting that insulating coat. When grooming is neglected for cooler months, matting often occurs before the weather warms up in springtime. The only cure for that kind of severe matting is a short shave, the exact opposite of what dogs and owners want in the middle of winter. Regular maintenance throughout cold wet, months can prevent a bald dog in February. Regular maintenance and appropriate training seem to be the keys to grooming success.
Every sane human being loves dogs. If you enjoy photography and scenic beauty along with dogs at the same time, Czechia based photographer Honza Řeháček is the one for you. He loves travelling and makes sure his dog Sitka is part of his beautiful photography. He pets Sitka in every photo to show his love for photography and his dog. To see these awesome pictures, click here:Photographer Takes Photos of Him Petting His Dog at The Most Stunning Places on Earth
Life can be pretty stressful, so it's important to find time to relax. You could start meditating, enter a yoga class or soak in a warm bath - that is, if you're totally basic. If you're feeling more adventurous, you could try out the latest wellness trend, and pay $300 to cuddle cows. I know this sounds udderly ridiculous. (Sorry). However, animal-assisted therapy has proven effective, and grown in popularity. Science says that animals provide a sense of comfort and improve your emotional well-being. When you bond with your pet, you develop a sense of trust and self-worth. Therapy animals are often prescribed for people suffering from mental illnesses, like depression, schizophrenia and addiction. Sure, dogs and cats are the most common therapy animals, but why not cows? The Mountain Horse Farm is located in upstate New York, and offers customers a "Horse & Cow Experience." In the session, you spend quality time with horses or cows. You can pet them, cuddle them, watch them graze and even go through an obstacle course. The sessions last ninety minutes and are attended by two professionals, a licensed counselor and an equine specialist. The sessions cost $300 for up to two people and $395 for up to four people. To read more on this story, click here:'Cow Cuddling' is the New Wellness Trend for People That Want to Relax
