http://swkpets.com The very best advice on pet care, training, products, and much more Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:05:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It seems that blood drives are going on everywhere all the time.  As a society we are aware that blood shortages are common at hospitals around the country and that it is imperative that blood is available for those who are injured or have to undergo surgery.  What we may ... http://swkpets.com/blood-banks-not-just-for-humans/ By MONICA SPRINGER mspringer@gctelegram.com Dog lovers in western Kansas will get a chance this weekend to see the 19th sanctioned American Kennel Club dog show at the Finney County Fairgrounds in Garden City. [caption id="attachment_521" align="alignleft" width="211" caption="Brad Nading/Telegram - Tina Star, Paradise, Texas,left, and other handlers move boxer ... http://swkpets.com/dog-show-starts-friday/ LOS ANGELES (AP) — One hundred sheriff’s deputies and 400 part-time deputies were laid off. SWAT officers were ordered back to the streets. Narcotics and gang units were disbanded. Helicopters were grounded. K-9 survived. [caption id="attachment_505" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Associated Press - Jesse, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and a member of ... http://swkpets.com/k-9-units-surviving-cuts/ By LINDA LOMBARDI For The Associated Press Dog agility competitions make great TV, with pooches racing around an obstacle course, jumping through hoops and dashing through tunnels. If you’ve seen it, though, your reaction probably wasn’t, “What about cats?” But that’s exactly the thought that Kim Everett-Hirsch of Portland, Ore., had before launching ... http://swkpets.com/agility-competitions-for-cats-gaining-popularity/ (ARA) - Whether city or country, bird watching is fun and you can create an environment for it in your own backyard in less time than you think. John Robinson, chief ornithologist and manager of Scotts Birding Center of Excellence, says there are three components to making your backyard an oasis ... http://swkpets.com/expert-tips-for-creating-a-backyard-habitat-for-colorful-birds/ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year.  While this is an alarming statistic, most of these bites are preventable. “Human behavior is a major factor in dog bites,” explains Dr. Mark Stickney Director of General Surgery Services at the Texas ... http://swkpets.com/dog-bites/ By MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON For The Associated Press When Maj. Randall Baucom received word that the Army was sending him to Iraq in 2006, he immediately began to worry about what he would do with his two mixed-breed dogs. Buster and Little Girl, a 70-pound male and a 40-pound female, were about a ... http://swkpets.com/groups-offer-pets-temporary-homes/ Today, most people own at least one pet whom they consider to be a part of the family. We are very attached to our pets, and try to provide them with the best nutrition and health care that we can possibly afford. As pet owners, we must remember that some ... http://swkpets.com/cat-scratch-fever/ By AMY LORENTZEN For The Associated Press Cynthia Frank is one of a growing number of pet owners using social networking sites to show off their animals and connect with other pet lovers. Since she and her husband separated, Frank can’t be with her dog, Scout, every day, but she can share news ... http://swkpets.com/social-networking-and-pets/ This posting may not be about dogs and cats, but I'm sure cattlemen small and large can relate to the story, and some of us not familiar with cow-calf operations may learn something. So here's the story: By KATIE STOCKSTILL The McPherson Sentinel MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — Jeff Smith has to make his rounds ... http://swkpets.com/calving-season-a-hectic-time/