Category Archives: Pets

Woof or Meow?

“Woof or Meow?” You are probably asking yourself, “What the heck does that mean?” Well, in simpler terms, cat or dog? The feud between the two top domestic animals has been going on for years. It is proven that roughly 83.3 million people in the United States own a dog. While cats on the other hand, are owned by roughly 95.6 million people in the United States. Studies have shown that people who choose dogs tend to be very energetic. This is most likely due to the fact that dogs are typically energetic and sometimes almost “insane.” This is also why people with dogs tend to have young kids so as to give them a playmate who will always be available. Cat owners on the other hand tend to be more independent, similar to the lone-wolf nature of most cats. So ask yourself now that you know this information, “Woof or Meow?”

I personally am more of a dog guy, and here is why. Dogs in my opinion are more lovable for several reasons. First, I have noticed among my dogs and other dogs that they tend to enjoy attention, and will keep coming back to get it. Dogs also, (if you train them right), are not very dangerous. Although they have sharp teeth and nails, they don’t typically find a reason to use their weapons. Cats on the other hand tend to be more aggressive, using their claws when scared, and latching on to anything they can find, which I notice is usually me. Cats also bite if they’re bitten in the wrong spot, as proven by wikihow.com. They also tend to get feisty when someone tries to pick them up (self-defense), which is a pain for anyone who likes to pet animals, such as myself. Dogs on the other hand gladly get picked up, which makes it easy to pet them and, takes them out of harm’s way. They also are very easy to train, unlike cats who are hard to train and pee everywhere… A lot. Dogs overall are awesome and definitely take the cake over cats.

~Jason

Claws vs Paws

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There is always an argument about something, whether it be sports, or who’s better at something. The one I found to be most common would be the argument between which pet animal is the best. Specifically the dog and cat. Many consider the dog to be man’s best friend. They are known to protect, alert others to danger and play fetch. Others say cats are the better pet. Cats can crawl up on your lap and purr when they are content. Everyone has their own opinion. Cats have been known to save dogs, and dogs have saved cats. It is hard to declare the better pet because both animals have their own loyal followers.

I for one am on the dog’s side of the feud. I have always liked the dog (K9) .They stand their ground and are nice to people. They keep you company and love to play and then relax with you. I myself had a dog, and he was so easy to train. People take points off of dogs because they may bite, but only because there has been a lack of proper training. Cats scratch people and their small claws  plus their sharp teeth can hurt. Cats can also be unpredictable and some just like to be left alone. Both sides have their strengths and weaknesses. The feud could go on, and on. My heart and mind will always be set on the dog’s side of the feud.

~Alex

Hayes Equestrian Center

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Hayes Equestrian Center is “Just A Wonderful Place To Grow And Learn.” Hayes Equestrian Center is a barn owned by Colleen and Gary Saucier. Colleen and Gary bought “Hayes”, in 2006. Their daughter Julie rode there when she was younger and fell in love with the horses. Since it went for sale in 2006, they have owned this barn and specialized with Arabian horses.

In my opinion, Hayes Equestrian Center is a great place to learn and grow as a rider and is one of my favorite places ever.  I have been taking horseback riding lessons here for about 3 years now and it has changed my life. They have the horse of my dreams, Lucy, and I love her more than anything else in the world.

~Lauren

Do “Fluffy Cows” really exist?

Web surfers have always been in love with cute little kittens, but now ever since a web post appeared, their fingers have been searching for pictures of “Fluffy Cows”. Are they real?  Yes they are!  They have been a well-kept secret from the city folk.  Fluffy Cows are bred to compete in cattle shows.  Lautner Farm in Iowa breeds these cows. Lautner Farms recently updated their website which led to someone spotting those adorable cows.  The site then went viral!

These cows are not born this way.  It takes a lot of work to make the cows cute and cuddly looking.  The cows have to be broken and trained.  These cows are tame and let humans pamper them.  The cow’s fur is blown dry.  This makes it stand up like a teddy bear’s fur.  This takes about 2 hours to blow out the whole cow.  This is usually done by 4-H programs.

I think this is really cool!  I wish I had my own cow.  Cow shows seem like a great hobby and would be fun to do with my family.  I cannot believe how these cows have been kept a secret for so long from us in the city.

~Drew Spalding

The Tabby Tiger who Prides Over your Home

It’s always the nicest thing ever to curl up in your bed and begin reading your favorite book. You turn the page and – MEOW! That furry, fluffy face pops over your book. The next thing you know, Puss has climbed over the book and settled onto your lap – against your will. But before you push the kitty off of you, the soft warm weight feels good, and soon your cute kitten is reading the book with you.

Cats are not as needy as dogs, and they aren’t as loud either. But the feline animal is as much a man’s best friend as a dog is. They’re just more respectful creatures. The cat lets its owner know who the boss is. In case you were wondering, the boss is the cat. If the cat needs attention, it does not go running joyfully into the owner’s arms. Instead, it simply walks up to you, making sure that you know that it is there with a meow, and leaps lightly into your lap. If it is pleased with the condition of your lap, the way it is being petted, or simply because it is happy to be with you, the cat will purr. As soon as it’s had its fair share of attention, the cat will jump down and attend to cat business, such as cleaning itself for the umpteenth time.

My cat Frisky is rather small, but she is made of plenty of spitfire. She will come to the people she trusts with love, and regards those unfamiliar to her with fear. Always neat and proper, Frisky stalks the house like an heiress. She and Mom are competing with each other for the position of queen of the household, and even though Mom is currently in the lead, Frisky comes pretty darn close. Frisky has so much spirit in the summer. She will go to the door every morning and plead to go out to play in the woods. Sometimes she comes in late at night after staying outside for most of the day. I love her unconditionally for her incredible power and care she gives to this house. She and I are pretty much best friends!

~Savannah Nowicki

Dog Saves Owner’s Life

 

“Recent studies have shown that some dogs can sometimes accurately detect cancer.”  A Basset Hound mix named Lexie uses her great sense of smell to sniff out her owner, Lisa Hillje’s tumor.  She began jumping on Hillje’s chest and barking at her. Startled by the dog’s unusual behavior, the owner put her hand over the area where Lexie was jumping and found a sign of cancer. With a history of breast cancer in her family, the 39-year-old went to a doctor. This appointment revealed that Hillje had cancer, even though she received a negative test only a few months prior. Thanks to the early detection, founded by Lexie, Hillje’s cancer was successfully treated and has remained in remission.

Hillje credits being alive today to her dog, so she was more than happy to help Lexie when her own moment of need arrived. Shortly after Hillje’s battle with cancer ended, she noticed that Lexie was drinking excessive amounts of water and refusing food. Hillje brought her beloved pet to the vet’s office, where three cancerous tumors were discovered in Lexie’s liver. Her vet said that Lexie most likely only had a month to live, but Hillje refused to give up. She researched and paid for expensive holistic treatments and doted on Lexie’s every need. The devotion appears to have worked. Lexie is alive and well. Now the pair are even when it comes to life saving, but Hillje is sure that won’t stop either of them from helping each other again.

~Taylor Monti

For many years, the rate of abuse to animals and pets has been getting higher and higher. You may wonder why people who decide to own a pet treat them so badly? What possesses them to hit them, not feed them, and leave them out in the cold? It kills me inside to know that people can neglect them so much, when they don’t do anything to deserve it. It sounds really bad, but unfortunately there are many ways people abuse their pets. One example, is the disturbing and bloody sport of dog fighting. Animals such as Pitbulls, Boxers, Beagles, and even Chickens, are bought, put in a small arena, and are trained to fight one another to the death. You may recognize the 2007 case of the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. Forensic evidence which found carcasses and skeletal remains of numerous Pitbulls, helped convict the football star of operating a competitive dog fighting ring.

Websites such as the ASPCA or even your local humane society can give you information on how you can get involved in helping save these animals’ lives. They even give some good tips on how to care for your new dog or cat. Donate money, volunteer at shelters, or even adopt a pet. At Dodd, students can join the club Speaking for the Speechless which holds events to donate money to animals in need. Because animals are my passion and after losing my dog, Alice, that wasn’t even two years old yet, I hope that one day people in the world won’t treat their pets like prisoners, but like actual members of the family.

~Gabriella Amodei

How Much do You Love Your Pets???

Being a proud volunteer at the Meriden Humane Society, I’ve seen multiple cases of animal abuse. These animals are promised a loving home, and are deceived, and left hopeless at a door step. What type of person would do this? Unfortunately they are all over the world. Think about your pet, whether it be a dog, cat, or anything else.  Do you really love it? Seriously, this topic is no joking matter, for an animals well being is at stake. How would you feel if your parents, beat you, set you on fire, took your eye out, or just dumped you on the street? Not very good, and that I can say that without a response. Our pets have feelings too. We are their lives, they love us, and we need to show them just how compassionate we can be.

Simple things like feeding, watering, and petting your dog or cat, can make a difference in their self esteem. Don’t complain about their behavior, when yours isn’t much different. Let me tell you, I met this dog named Henry, who had a loving home, but his owners were wild, energetic, and athletic, so he was too. Taking after his owners, he went wild and scared their new born child. Unfortunately Henry was beat, lost vision in both his eyes, had gashes in both his sides, and was dumped at the nearest shelters door, with little chance of survival. What kind of monster does this? HUMANS!!!!!!! Sadly this isn’t the worst case of animal abuse. We are their closest friends and their mortal enemy at the same time.

Don’t worry, if you believe these thoughts ring true, you can help. Go on the Meriden Humane Society’s website and click on Volunteer. You will find an application, to volunteer there and be a companion to the animals. If you can’t do this for what ever reason, then just love any animal you do come across. They are our companions, and we’re theirs. If you really love these animals, try to take action.

~Patricia LaRusso

Piglet Sized Pets

What I’m wondering, as many of you might be, is do pigs make good pets, and do humans make good owners for these pets? And no not the farm pigs, but the new trendy potbellied pig. Now before anyone thinks of adopting this cute intelligent little creature, one has to wonder why animal shelters are overflowing with the very animals people are rushing to buy. After all why would such an intelligent, clean, curious, quiet, and playful pet be abandoned? Could one reason for this be that the owner is the one with the problem? For example, a pot bellied pig can get bored and become destructive, but is that not the owners fault? So let’s see what it takes to own one of these little guys.

The first thing you should know about these little cuties is that they can be aggressive. Pot bellied pigs can become very territorial and without knowing who is the  boss they will strive to become “top pig”. So if you plan on getting one of these little rascals make sure you set yourself as “top pig” from the start. Also good to know is that pigs are on a 24/7 quest for food, no matter what. They will easily learn how to open your cabinets and fridge in their search. An easy solution to this is a childproof lock, or something similar, to keep out these persistent pigs. Another thing to know about these rascals is that they are instinctual diggers. So, make sure there is a nice spot of soft dirt where your pig can root (dig with their snout).

Now let’s move back into the positive of these little guys. After all, they can be great pets if you are ready for those couple of cons. One great thing about pot bellied pigs is they are easily trainable. So with the help of a little bribery, you will have a trained pet in no time. This also comes in handy with any bad behaviors as they can easily be trained away. Another reason potbellied pigs are a popular pet is because of how affectionate they are. Potbellied pigs enjoy companionship and closeness, so don’t be afraid to show your love to the little guy.

Lastly, a few warnings to anyone considering a potbellied pig as a pet. Make sure your pig is from a reputable breeder and also make sure to meet its parents and siblings before taking your pig home.  It could be prevent a lot of future problems. Further, if you have a dog, getting a pig may not be a good idea. To dogs pigs are prey, and if they are left alone together, assume the worst can and will happen. Also another tip about pigs is that they can’t stand heat. If you’ve ever heard that pigs can’t sweat, well, it’s true. So if you live somewhere very warm make sure your pig doesn’t just have shade, but also has a place to get wet and cool off, like a swimming pool.

One final tip about your little guy, give him or her lots of love, and enjoy!

~Brooke Claflin