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December 22nd, 2011 by Steve Chung

Want to know what animal you are? Find out the legendary origins of the Chinese New Year animals.

The event of Chinese New Year is without a doubt considered to be the most important event in the Chinese lunar calendar. The traditional celebrations have been going on for years and the festive spirit is pretty much alive even today. The unique characteristic of the Chinese New Year is however the twelve year cycle that associates the coming of the year with an animal symbol.

The Chinese New Year animal reappearsevery twelve years. According to their current standing the next year should be the year of the Ox. The ancient philosophers of China studied the behavior of the animals in the calendar and drew a similitude with their personality traits and human nature.

You may believe the fact that the Chinese feel the person born on a particular animal year will have similar characteristics of the animal. If you are born in the year of ox then you will have good skill for organizing while loyalty and dependability will be your big assets. Ox is also known to be strong and patient.

It is believed that the twelve year concept of the animals representing each year is deduced from the Buddhist dharma. According to the legend Buddha himself summoned the animals prior to his coming to the Earth. Moreover, a com petition was held amongst these animals where the animal that came first would be assigned to the first year.

When the race began, the com petition was tough. The act of betrayal was seen in the rat who made a deal with the cat but eventually didn’t keep his word. All along the race it looked like the ox would win as he wadedthrough the crowd but little did he know that the rat was riding on his back all through the race and just when the ox was about to finish the race first, the rat leaped off his back and claimed the first position.

Hence we find that the first year of the twelve year cycle is the year of the rat because he managed to finish the race in first place, by hook or by crook. The year of the ox follows the rat as the hard working animal came in at second place. The ox is then followed by the rest of the animals according to the order in which they finished. The cycle ends with the pig!

If you are thinking why just twelve animals came to Buddha and why distinctly these animals then keep wondering because you will find no answers to these questions! The fact of the matter is that this is an age-old tradition which has been kept alive up till today and is deeply embedded in the Chinese culture. As a token of appreciation for their coming Buddha apparently assigned a year to each of the animals and that’s the way the legend has it.

Chinese new year animals are a wonderful way to introduce the festival to children. If you would like ot learn about other fun activities for Chinese new year follow the hyperlinks.

December 21st, 2011 by Owen Jones

Cats are so commonplace that we scarcely look at what they do and why they do it, but cat behaviour is quite an interesting subject really, particularly for cat owners and animal lovers.

Cat behaviour is normally taken to refer to that of domestic cats, although they do share some characteristics with their larger wild relatives.

A cat’s behaviour for the most part depends on whether it is a solitary cat or one of several in a household. Cats are normally solitary animals only coming together to mate, although they will usually co-exist with other cats in a house, particularly if they met when they were young or those that were introduced were juvenile.

You may get problems of territorialism if you attempt to introduce an older cat into a house, where another cat has been living for a time. This is similar to wild cats, which have their hunting ground that they patrol and delineate with urine and faeces every day. Tom cats occasionally do this at home, much to the annoyance of their owners.

Rubbing has an equivalent meaning. A cat rubs with scent glands on its face to mark something as its own, especially territory, which is all cats actually worry about except food.

Kneading or knitting is another prevalent mannerism in household cats, although it is not really well understood.

One theory goes that domestic cats stay juveniles, never really growing up, so kneading is reminiscent of kneading its mother’s teats to encourage the flow milk. Others say that it is reminiscent of flattening grass to make a bed, but this does not seem to explain the ecstasy that cats seem to get from kneading.

We like to hear our cats purr because we see it as a sign of happiness, but is it? Well, it almost certainly is, but it almost certainly comes from the fact that cats are born sightless and, like most babies, fairly stupid, so the sound of mum purring almost certainly attracts the kittens to her for a feed. The ‘memory’ of this glad event almost certainly triggers purring in adult cats.

When a cat arches its back, it is probably signalling to its assailant that it is bigger than they think it is. It is also an attack stance. With its back arched, a cat can rear up in order to claw a taller opponent, but it can also jump or run, whichever action is apposite. The hissing goes with arching to deter the antagonist.

Cats do not have a broad vocal range and, being nocturnal hunters, they have developed a great deal of ‘eye language’. For instance, if a cat is pleased, it’s eyes dilate – a bit like when humans look at their loved ones.

However, it also happens in cats whilst they are hunting, which means either that they enjoy that activity or that they have to get as much light as possible to see by.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on several subjects, but is now concerned with feline distemper vaccination. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Distemper Vaccines

December 20th, 2011 by Cleo Burston

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The SPCA International (www.spcai.org) announced on September 26th, 2011, the presence of hope and support for author Terri Crisp’s new book on the SPCA international efforts to save and bring U.S. Troops’ dogs and cats safely home from the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Terri Crisp works as SPCA International’s program manager for the organization’s famous ‘Operation Baghdad Pups’. Crisp and a team of SPCA International staff and volunteers have saved the lives of 280 dogs, 70 cats and 1 donkey, all of which were rescued and befriended by United States military troops since the month of February 2008.

“No Buddy Left Behind captures the incredible effort and diplomatic work it takes to bring these animals safely home to America and each story is not only gripping but emotional as they show the real loving bond between our men and women who serve and these animals who have become a part of their lives so far away,” said Stephanie Scott of SPCA International.

“This book like no other really shows the tight bond American troops serving in the Middle East have with stray dogs and cats that would have died on war-torn streets but became part of the military family. To see them reunited after combat is amazing.”

In addition to this book, Terri Crisp is also the author of Out of Harm’s Way and Emergency Animal Rescue Stories. As program manager for SPCA International’s Operation Baghdad Pups, she had made 37 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan and has appeared on national TV news programs and been featured in several publications for her international work.

To learn more on ‘No Buddy Left Behind’, author Terri Crisp and Operation Baghdad Pups go to www.spcai.org. To schedule interviews with Terri Crisp please contact Jack Heath at jack.heath@spcai.org.

Find out a great deal more associated with SPCA International by visiting their web-site.

December 15th, 2011 by Raul Nordstrom

Sea turtle conservation is an effort of widespread interest among conservationists, especially since so many species are currently under threat by habitat loss or diminishing resources such as food and nesting areas. Turtles that are not under threat by lack of habitat or food often face commercial exploitation by humans who poach turtles for their meat or harvest their eggs as a delicacy. Sea turtles are important to the ecosystem because they are natural predators of many species of jellyfish, which can help keep exploding populations in check. Natural oceanic ecosystems suffer damage by the rapid decline in sea turtle populations.

A common problem with turtle populations is pollution, especially among olive ridley sea turtles that prey on jellyfish, since plastic debris can look like jellyfish and lead turtles to consume them accidentally. Consumption of plastic frequently leads to malabsorption, which means that despite a regular diet turtles will suffer from malnutrition because they cannot absorb essential vitamins, minerals or amino acids. Another problem is intestinal blockage, which can lead to fast death. Small olive ridley turtles may strangulate on plastic debris and die immediately, while larger adults will ingest the plastic whole. Most conservation groups agree that pollution needs to stay in check and make an effort to keep garbage, debris and chemicals out of the oceans for the sake of turtles and other wildlife.

One other issue is natural predation exacerbated by imbalanced ecosystems. Leatherback turtles in particular are independent and possess no real predators as adults, but juveniles are particularly small and unprotected by their parents. They hatch independently and enter the ocean, where they become prey for large fish and invertebrates. Some do not even make it into the ocean, instead becoming prey for shore crustaceans and birds while still on the sand. Conservationists agree that healthier populations of leatherbacks in addition to more normally distributed predators would result in a higher survival rate for young leatherbacks.

Conservation initiatives are varied and a few of the most common include tagging individuals and tracking them by satellite. This is most regularly performed on critically endangered species to assure healthy breeding individuals remain healthy. Tracking adult females may help monitor where they lay eggs so that poachers and predators can be discouraged and future breeding encouraged. Relocation can be a potential treatment for population issues, especially where a disproportionate number of predators exist. Additionally, ecotourism helps individual species and populations to become understood by the general public, making it easier to help prevent population decline.

Measuring the effectiveness of various conservation efforts is quite a challenge. Often populations are estimated through the reporting and recording of nesting sites. While this does not give researchers an exact number, it can be measured and compared to previous year’s data. It is not the most precise gauge but it is the best method we currently have and is our best bet for saving sea turtles for future generations.

Visit eturtlefacts.com for more sea turtle info.

December 11th, 2011 by Rosemary Morris

If you happen to be a pet owner, one of your goals is to give the best care to your favored companion. It would give you so much happiness to see them smell good and look good. Pet grooming Houston can make them live healthier and happier.

A lot of people have so much passion for animals. They need services that could pamper their precious companion. With this, many facilities have opened to provide pampering services such as trims, toenail clipping, massage, baths and even a luxurious spa.

A bath most especially is very important to their hygiene and health. It can get rid them of germs and other impurities that may compromise their health. This also eliminated unpleasant odor. A good shampoo session can maintain their coat and skin.

Several facilities at present offer to give quality services and they are dedicated to the well being of your favored creature. Their services are designed to make sure you and your furry friend are satisfied when you leave the facility.

Their team of professionals have experience in caring for cats and dogs of different breeds. Like you, these people are also passionate about animals which is an important trait so they can provide care best. They can care for your furry friend just like you would.

The internet can provide you information about the different options available. You can find companies through their respective websites. It is also a great idea to ask fellow animal lovers for any referral or suggestion as they surely have a similar concern.

As there are several facilities for pet grooming Houston these days, it can be confusing to choose one. What better way to find out about the quality of their services than to know it from previous clients who are also animal lovers just like you. Find out what they have to say about the facilities. Pet Grooming Houston

Find out more about Pet Grooming Houston at our website