Pet Master

Top 10 Lovable Pets in a Movie

2010-07-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

1. Mike Tyson’s Tiger – The Hangover

2. Lassie

3. Rhino – Bolt

4. Toto – The Wizard of Oz

5. Milo – The Mask

6. Mr. Jinx – Meet the Parents

7. Dog – Road Warrior

8. Spike – Pet Detective (Ace Ventura)

9. Doug – Up

10. Beethoven – Beethoven

http://www.film.com

World's Most Expensive Pet

2010-07-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Tibetan Mastiff - $582,000

A woman from Northern China has just taken delivery of what has reportedly become the most expensive dog in the world for which she paid 4 million yuan, or about $600,000.

The 18-month-old Tibetan mastiff, called Yangtze River Number Two, arrived at its new home in Xi'an on 02/12/2010.

Upon its arrival in Xi'an airport, Yangtze River Number Two was greeted by dog lovers waving welcome banners. According to reports, the dog's owner, identified only as Mrs. Wang, arranged for a motorcade of 30 black Mercedes-Benz cars led by two sports utility vehicles to transport the canine to its new home in style.

To guarantee that her massive expenditure was not overlooked among her social circle, reports say that Mrs. Wang contacted her wealthy friends after making the purchase, and spread the word about the exact price of her new pet as well as her arrival time in Xi'an. The dog's welcome crowd was so large and lavish, that passersby gathered round thinking a human celebrity was in their midst.

The millionairess has reportedly been searching for the perfect dog for years. This dog, which she spotted in Yushu made the grade. "Gold has a price," she said, "But this Tibetan mastiff doesn't." -http://blogs.dogtime.com

Top 10 Best Zoos in the World

2010-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:00

The following are the top 10 Zoos in the World According to Forbes

1. Animal Kingdom (Orlando, the USA)
“Animal Kingdom” with the total area of more than 500 acres is the biggest Disney thematic park in the world. Here live rhinoceros, antelopes and other representatives of the animal kingdom. The park is divided into seven thematic parts – from the Oasis to the Tree of Life – an artificial tree as high as a 14-storey building with carved images of 325 animals, among which you shall also come across Mickey Mouse.

2. Basel Zoo (Basel, Switzerland)
The citizens of Basel call it simply Zolli. The annual number of its visitors makes up approximately one million people, fact that makes it the second most popular Swiss point of interest. Zolli was opened in 1874. Today approximately 6 000 animals of more than 600 different species live there. One of the most interesting places in the zoo is “vivarium” which permits to trace the evolution of life on the Earth.

3. Beauval Zoo (France)
Beauval Zoo was opened in 1980 as an open-air cage for birds. Ten years later such exotic animals like giraffes and monkeys were brought here, and the poultry-yard turned into a zoo. Today more than 4 000 animals of different species from white tigers to sea-cows live here.

4. Berlin Zoological Garden (Berlin, Germany)
The Berlin Zoological Garden may boast of the biggest collection of animals – 13 900 animals of 1400 different species. The area of the zoo makes up 86 acres. It was opened in 1844, and it is interesting not only from zoological but also from the historical point of view.

5. Bronx Zoo (New-York, the USA)
The Bronx Zoo is the biggest city zoo in the USA. It has more than 4000 animals, many of which belong to rare species under the danger of extinction. Its main point of interest is the monorail railway “Wild Asia” which permits visitors to observe all representatives of the Asiatic fauna of the Zoo. “The World of Jungles”, the closed part of the Zoo, gives on opportunity to see tropical plants and animals.

6. Chester Zoo (Great Britain)
In the Chester Zoo with the area of 110 acres live coati, guanaco, tuatara and other rare species. It was founded in 1934 by George Mottershead and today is governed by the Charity Fund of the North of England Zoological Society. Chester Zoo is considered the most popular Zoo in Great Britain.

7. Prague Zoological Garden (Prague, the Czech Republic)
In spite of a rather modest area of 111 acres, the Zoo has 4 600 animals of 630 species. Calves of Comodo Lizard, Southern Pudu deer (the smallest deer in the world), Rothschild giraffes and leopard tortoise were born in the Zoo only during last year.

8. National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (The Republic of South Africa)
Since the Republic of South Africa is rich in various fauna it should have a wonderful Zoo, and the National Zoological Gardens of Pretoria come up to your expectations. The total area of the Zoo makes up 198 acres. It has 2568 animals, 99% of which were born here.

9. San Diego Zoo (San Diego, the USA)
One of the biggest and the most progressive zoos in the world makes significant efforts to preserve rare species of animals. Nowadays it has the biggest population on pandas beyond the bounds of China. Besides the zoo, there is the Wild Animal Park where animals may be observed in more natural conditions.

10. Schonbrunner Zoo (Austria)
As early as 1752 the imperial menagerie was founded here, therefore Schonbrunner Zoo may truly be called the oldest zoo in the world. Among its sights are the Tropical House with the jungle scenery of Borneo and the Arctic “Polarium” with whales and penguins.

Virtual Pets

2010-07-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Virtual Pets? These are pets which exist in virtual reality in form of computer games or in other digital device. Examples of virtual pets are Tamagotchi and Giga Pets. They became very popular several years ago and most schoolchildren have these virtual pets.

Other virtual pets exist online and computer games. Some are similar to Tamagotchi but you should have an internet access in order to take care of your virtual pet. As for computer games with pets, you can buy disk with the game, install it on your computer and play.

There are plenty of information about virtual pets in the internet. You can download certain games from the internet on your computer.

If you are interested in virtual pets, in the Internet there are plenty of information on this theme, you just have to make a search. It is also possible to download certain games from the Internet on your computer. There are different games simulators in which pets looks very realistically and you get to know a lot about pet care from such games. Also such games offer great choice of different pet supplies, pet toys, pet accessories. Such knowledge can help you in future when you will be ready to have a real pet.

Things to Consider When Buying a Pet

2010-07-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

When buying a pet, there are many, many things to take into consideration.

1. Do you know what kind of pet you want?

2. What are you looking for in a pet?

3. What size pet are you looking for?

4. Do you want a cat, dog, ferret?

5. Or do you want rat, mouse, hamster, lizard, snake, etc?

6. Are you looking for a companion or a working animal?

You need to take into consideration the type of lifestyle you have; active, inactive to your family size and structure. You also need to take into consideration any potential allergies, not just yours but also your family's. What's your financial status? Can you afford to take care of a pet long term? They can get very expensive, depending on the pet.

Once you have considered all these options, you can start the process of picking a pet to meet your needs and lifestyle. If you decide on a small animal, you should, if renting, check with your landlord to see if they allow pets. They might not like any pets, caged or not.

You will also need to do your research. Will the pet you choose be okay being held and played with by children, or only adults? Do you have existing pets, say cats or dogs, that might not get along with or adapt with the pet of your choosing?

Always research the pet you choose before bringing it home. You might find information about that pet that completely changes your mind. You don't want to decide on a hamster only to find out they are high maintenance and tend to bite a lot. This could greatly upset a child who would want to hold the pet, as they couldn't if it was always biting. Rats, while they initially bring a bad image to our minds, are actually able to form quite solid bonds with humans, and tend to be gentle and cuddly when handled appropriately.

Do your research and find a pet that displays the qualities you are looking for. If you choose a snake, will you feed it live or frozen food, and can you feed it mice and rats without hesitation? Snakes are actually a lot more responsibility than most would assume and if you are considering a snake, especially a large one, I highly recommend that you do in depth research about caging and handling needs before actually purchasing a snake.

If you decide on a cat or dog, once again, look at your lifestyle, but with some additional questions. Can you afford the vet bills required to vaccinate your pets every year. Food is more expensive for larger breed animals. There are rules about leashes, poop scooping, and registering your pet. You should know them before acquiring a pet. Where will your pet stay while you are at work? Will you adopt from a breeder, pet store, animal shelter, or private advertisement in the newspaper? A pet store or breeder should be able to give you background information on the pet, if they cannot, be wary of improper or inhumane breeding services.

Research breeds and temperaments before choosing a pet. If you are looking for a lap dog, small is not necessarily the answer. Many people adopt breeds like Jack Russels thinking they have a cute little lap dog, and are surprised to learn how much energy these little dogs have to burn. When dogs get bored, they develop behavioral issues such as aggression and destructive behavior. They needs structure and discipline no matter how large or small. If you cannot offer that, you should not consider a dog.

If you are going to have an outdoor pet, is there adequate shelter for it? Do you need a taller fence or dog/cat house? How much access do strangers have to the animal?

Also, don't forget to consider everyday costs, like food, toys, treats, pet deposits and rental increases, collars and leashes, etc. If you are considering a puppy or a kitten, remember that they will have to be trained. That there will be accidents on your carpet and you may consider crate training a puppy. They will chew stuff up if they are bored.

Animals are messy, no matter how you look at it. Any and all animals add additional cleaning time to your life. They cannot tell you when they are ill and need to go outside to have an diarrhea or vomit. There will undoubtedly be accidents, despite the best training one can offer. Be prepared to have extra chores and consider how much time you have to spare before choosing a pet. What it really boils down to is that each pet has individual responsibilities and you should research individually before choosing to take home any new creature.

Top 10 Bad Pets

2010-07-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

With the variety of animals available to potential pet owners, one may have a hard time deciding which one is best for them. There are a number of animals that can be a great addition to your household, but plenty more that should only be kept under special circumstances, if at all. There are plenty of other kinds of animals that would make much better pets, and be far less dangerous to care for. Consider the following a list of 10 bad pets.

1. Primates - Lemurs, monkeys, chimpanzees, and baboons all fall into this primate category. They are cute and “child like”, but are not a substitute for human babies. Sure they are treated like babies with their owners putting them in diapers and strollers, but they also act like babies. Permanently. If they get angry they scream and throw a tantrum. But the biggest problem with pet monkeys is that they may go on a rampage without warning since they have no moral conscience, or bite their owners. This is especially scary given the fact that they can transmit diseases like Hepatitis A and HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

2. Large Cats - Cougars, lions, tigers, and leopards make up the majority of large cats kept as pets. They are strong and dangerous, to say the least. Think you can just de-claw them like you did your little housecat, Fluffy? Think again. De-clawing removes the entire last bone in each toe. If you remove the tips of the toes of a large cat, they are unable to properly walk because of their size, and become paralyzed when done incorrectly. Plus, large cats like tigers kill their prey by biting their throats, not by clawing them to death. And if the teeth don’t kill you, their crushing jaw pressure will.

3. Venomous Snakes - These snakes could kill you with a single bite, and there is most likely no anti-venom close enough to help you. Some cobras can also cause immense pain and blindness just by spitting their venom into your eyes! There are plenty of pet snakes available that do not produce venom, so stick with the safer species. Extreme safety measures must be taken if kept in a home, and if they do escape, you are endangering the lives of all your neighbors.

4. Bears - Despite the fact that bears can weigh over 1500 pounds full grown, people still feel they are like cute and cuddly teddy bears. Bear cubs are appealing for many reasons, but they don’t stay small for long. They will tower over you when they stand on their hind legs, and can knock you over, or even kill you, with a swift blow of their paw. Are they trainable? Perhaps. Trustworthy, I think not.

5. Coatis - The coati (pronounced ko-wot-ee) is a member of the raccoon family. Originally from South America, these omnivores require a very large enclosure to roam about. They are extremely active and difficult to train. They have 38-40 sharp teeth, forage for their food, and require a lot of mental stimulation. Needless to say, even though they are kept as pets, they are still very much wild animals that deliver a pretty nasty bite.

6. Bats - What carries Rabies and SARS, has sharp teeth, sleeps all day, and flies all night? Bats. I shouldn’t have to say anything more than that. The truth is, bats are extremely cute and intriguing, but a hands-off approach is best. There is the possibility of zoonotic disease, plus no realistic way to care for a bat in your home. They can live over 30 years, hibernate for months in colder climates, and eat insects, fruit or blood at night. These little guys are better left outside. Don't bring one of these cute critters into your home intentionally.

7. Wolves and Coyotes - There are reasons why we domesticated dogs. Their wolf and coyote ancestors were too wild to live alongside humans. Wolves and coyotes are still wild. They act on their instincts. They hunt when they are hungry, play when they want to, and sleep the rest of the day. If they feel threatened, they will attack. They can kill a full-grown moose, and sense the sickest animal in a herd, even when that animal shows no symptoms. Like large cats and bears, they are far from domesticated, and cannot be trusted. Wolfdogs have also grown in popularity as pets but are not much different from their pure wolf cousins; therefore, they too should be avoided.

8. Kinkajous - Also in the raccoon family, the kinkajou has grown in popularity in recent years. Smaller then its coati cousin, a kinkajou only reaches seven pounds but still has very sharp teeth and a high activity level. They are also nocturnal creatures and known to be aggressive on occasion. They especially do not like being awoken during the day, and can emit quite a scream and attack by clawing and biting their owners.

9. Alligators and Crocodiles - Think these reptiles look cute and harmless as babies? That won’t last long. The American Alligator can reach over 14 feet in length and kill prey as large as cattle. Most homes in the US cannot accommodate such a large predator. These animals can cause serious infections from bites, causing limb amputations, knock you down with a whip of their tail while it breaks your legs, and even kill you with their bite force of around 2000 pounds.

10. Foxes - With the exception of the tiny Fennec fox, I don't recommend keeping Arctic or Red foxes as pets. They can become very tame, but never fully trustworthy and are especially dangerous around children. They are far from being domesticated. They also have a musky odor that is far worse than a ferret's. They have teeth like any other canine and if scared they may resort to their wild instincts and cause you or someone else harm. Most states will destroy a pet fox if a bite is reported because there is no vaccination protocol.

- http://exoticpets.about.com

Top 10 Best Pets

2010-07-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Deciding on the new family pet can be a fairly difficult choice. That being said, it can be a huge help to have as much information as possible before making the final decision.

Like with any other choice in life, deciding on a pet is something that needs to be carefully thought over. In order to help decide on what would make the best possible pet for you, here are the 10 most popular animals for pets.

1. Dogs. One of the perennial top four in pets. Dogs are faithful and obedient if treated well, and can be just the opposite if neglected or abused in any way. The initial cost of a dog can run you about $740.00 to $1850.00 depending on the species, and on average live around 14 years.

2. Cats. Another of the popular pets that many people purchase. It is interesting to note that cats have their own distinct personalities, and is something that might take some time to get used to. Another thing that takes many people by surprise is the cost associated with these pets. Even with the bare bones cost, over the life of your cat, it can run you around $13,000.

3. Fish. Fish are without a doubt the single most popular type of pets available. Depending on the species, the cost and life span is going to vary widely. These pets are popular for probably the relatively simple fact that they are low maintenance.

4. Birds. Birds are a fairly popular pet as well. However, some take more care of others, while others are going to live longer than what you might be prepared for.

5. Snakes. These pets are quite popular, though it can be fairly confusing about how to take care of them. The reason for this is that not all snakes behave the same way. Some snakes are more laid back than others, while still others can be extremely aggressive and deadly.

6. Ferrets. Ferrets are probably one of the more exotic common pets out on the market today. These nocturnal animals are extremely playful and curious and for the most part very easy to get along with. Probably one of the more fun, and easy to take care of type of animals out there.

7. Hamsters. A perennial favorite among young families. However families should know that these pets should not really be given to youngsters. The reason for this is that they are nocturnal creatures, which means that they sleep during the day when most children want to play around with them. When woken up they tend to get a little cranky when this happens.

8. Guinea Pigs. Larger than hamsters, and smaller than rabbits (for the most part). Guinea pigs are fairly cuddly creatures that are another popular choice among young families. However, these pets are easily stressed (and thus prone to the fight or flight instinct), so should be handled with care. Such animals that are easily panicked should not be used as a family pet for families that have young children.

9. Mice/Rats. These pets are among the more popular ones simply due to the ease of their care. For the most part, these pets can be left to their own devices, but they do need to have some special care when handling. Because these are such small animals, they are usually easily frightened, and may bite if not handled properly.

10. Reptiles. One of the more popular animals that can be purchased due to the easy nature that their care provides. Quite often, these pets are considered perfect for younger children because of how easy they are to take care of. Depending on the reptile though, you are going to wan tot be careful since some are more cranky than others, and as such should not be used for pets around small children. -http://pet.tips.net

History

2010-07-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

History of Pets

Pets have been there since the beginning of time however; historians are not sure when humans first started keeping animals as pets. Keeping an animal for pleasure rather than for food or work was possible only for people who were well off and had the resources to feed extra mouths.

Pets have been around since the beginning of time. Cats are among the first to be domesticated. They were thought to be domesticated from the African wild cat. The cat is a predator and very intelligent. They supposedly hunt over 1,000 species. Cats have been domestic pets since Ancient Egypt times. They were around in circa 4000 b.c. and their job was keeping mice and rats away. Although this was what they were initially kept for, cats are trainable and obey simple commands, so after a while they became a companion.

The dog was domesticated from Wolves as recent as 15,000 years ago or possibly as early as 100,000 years ago. The dog was thought to have been from East Asia. The early settlers brought domestic dogs over to North America with them. The first were the Chow, Shar Pei, Akita Inu, Shiba Inu and the Basenji. These breeds are associated with China, which seems to be behind the theory of domestic dogs originating in East Asia. Dogs were initially used for work and protection and then in time became more like a part of the family.

Definiton

2010-07-06T22:37:00.000-07:00

A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits;keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who like having animals around.- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pets