Tag: animals

Animal Control

How the 12 Animals Were Selected For Chinese New Years and Astrology!

Rusty

The Chinese Calendar’s 12 Animal Cycle (2008-20): 2008 Rat, 2009 Ox, 2010 Tiger, 2011 Rabbit/Hare, 2012 Dragon, 2013 Snake, 2014 Horse, 2015 Sheep, 2016 Monkey, 2017 Rooster/Chicken, 2018 Dog, 2019-20 Pig.
A puzzle to many in the West. At last, the ‘true’ explanation of how the twelve Animals of Chinese New Years were incorporated into the Chinese Calendar, New Years and Astrology!
Animal Olympics
These were held long-ago to determine which animal should start the 12-Year Cycle and comprised a race, plus a raging river-crossing, before a sprint home. Smart Rat met the Cat (Tiger) the day before and gave the wrong start time. Rat then sneaked a ride and crossed the river on powerful Ox’s back, before dashing over the finish line First (Ox came Second). The furious Tiger, arriving late for the race, came Third and has been chasing the Rat ever since! Lucky Rabbit found some stepping-stones and arrived next, in 4th place.
Enter the Dragon
The Dragon/’Lung’ arrived next. Returning from making rain, Lung noticed Rabbit trying to cross a river using stepping-stones. The last stone was missing but Rabbit couldn’t see the attempt was doomed. Noble Dragon paused and used his mighty breath to blow a log into position, allowing lucky Rabbit to cross. Commended for such noble altruism, Dragon was awarded 5th place.
The Horse pounded powerfully towards 6th place without noticing Snake wrapped around a foreleg. Near the finish line, Snake jumped off and Horse reared up and leaped backwards in surprise. Taking advantage of this, Snake crossed the finish-line before Horse and so the two were awarded 6th and 7th place, respectively.
Chicken on a Raft
Goat, Monkey and Rooster suddenly arrived all-at-once, in a group. Rooster had found a raft but couldn’t move it until Goat arrived and started to push. Monkey then appeared and helped launch the craft on which all three crossed successfully together. Congratulated for their team-work, Goat, Monkey and Rooster were awarded 8th, 9th and 10th place, in that order.
Appearing on the scene next was Dog, looking smart and frisky. The river water was so clean and clear that dog couldn’t resist taking a bath in it, but still achieved 11th place. Finally, with an amiable grunt Pig arrived. Stopping to eat on the way, Pig felt tired after the meal and fell asleep and so was consequently awarded 12th and last place in the Chinese Zodiac!
Chinese New Year Hint!
Hard to remember the 12 Animals, let alone their correct sequence? Learn this story and you will know both in a very short time. Children, too, can benefit from learning this traditional tale, considering the list and sequence it contains.
In Fact
The Chinese Calendar in its current form goes back to the time of the Yellow Emperor, Huang Di (circa 2,690-2,590 BC) who is credited with its inception in its present form, although it is certain it was in use before. Yin/Yang and 5 Elements Theory, fundamentally affecting the way the Calendar operates (1),(2) are also credited to the Yellow Emperor and exert powerful influences on events to this day. Dragon Year 2012-13 is Year 4,709 according to this Calendar, which is also used by many other countries of S.E. Asia!
Notes
(1) See ‘Yin-Yang Aspects of Rabbit, Dragon, and Snake Years (2011-14)’ EzineArticles, for details of Yin/Yang influences on Animal Years.
(2) ‘China’s 5 Elements, Pentagram and Pentagon–Influential Originals!’, EzineArticles, provides information regarding the ‘Famous Five’.…

Animal Rescue

Choosing The Best Animals For Your FarmVille Farm

Rusty

FarmVille is a very popular online game that is played primarily by Facebook account holders where the objective of the game is to raise your own farm complete with fields, crop and cattle and the players are also involved in trading with other players. This article is for those readers who wish to know more about the animals involved in the game and which suit each other’s needs the best.
There are various opinions on the advantages of having a livestock in the game. Few consider them as unnecessary liabilities as they are not as advantageous as the plants while others consider them important in order to have a thriving farm.
One of the positive aspects of having animals on the farm is that they do not rot away like plants which need to be replenished at intervals. The livestock just remain as they are till you decide to harvest them. This means that they are much easier to handle and so create less of a mess and reduces time consuming labour.
In FarmVille, there exists two varieties of animals that one encounters. One is the livestock which can be purchased at the market while the other type refers to the lost animals who wanders into your fields without any prior notice.
At the market venue, your choice of animals that you wish to procure is limited. The players can buy animals like cows, pigs and sheep which are the basic requirements for any farm. One needs to keep an eye on particular holiday sessions where new varieties of cattle are on sale for a limited period of time. Green cows available due to the “Alien Invasion” were available for 2400 coins and their specialty lied in their ability to give “milktonium” which the players could raise to 18 coins.
During Thanksgiving in USA, the Baby Turkey was out on sale which could develop into a fully fledged turkey if it was harvested for the initial time period. An added advantageous feature of this new breed was that it could be harvested for feathers every two days.
Animals require a lot of time to reach their productive age and this feature irritates a few of the players who then turn to the plants which take less time to harvest but are less productive in the long run.
The other type of animals are those that stray into your farm. These appear erratically but one thing to keep in mind is that you can only adopt those that stray into your friends’ fields not in yours.…

Dog

Animals in the Wild – Television Viewing at Its Finest

Rusty

Some of TV’s finest moments come from performances that don’t involve trained actors. TV documentaries fascinate many people. News and information shows also serve to “entertain” those who thirst for knowledge.
Wacky programming that feature dysfunctional individuals with over-the-top problems help create an audience for people like Jerry Springer and Maury Povich. Their shows are far-out and, while the problems presented may be real, live audiences don’t share in the pain shown by invited guests. They often squeal with laughter at them.
However, there is a TV format that is worthy of respect and the time it takes to watch an entire show unfold. This format, generally presented by National Geographic, follows the daily lives of animals in the wild. This is truly fascinating TV – educational and very entertaining, absorbing and often exciting – words from an encyclopedia that come “thrillingly” to life.
I, for one, believe that TV that educates often does a better job of entertaining than TV that intends only to entertain. In other words, trailing “gorillas in the mist” is far more entertaining than today’s hottest half hour sitcom.
Others may disagree, but that is what I believe… and feel. Education is intoxicating. Education you can “see” is almost irresistible. I love it and I’m not alone. When you tune in to one of these shows and see close-up footage of lions in their natural habitat – resting during the day, hunting in the night – you wonder (at least I wonder) what the photographer had to endure to get the film footage. Surely, there was no 5-star hotel nearby.
Moreover, “getting the footage” had to be incredibly dangerous. Wild animals follow their instincts and that can turn a photographer who is not careful into prey. In fact, that happened several years ago to a “naturalist” who had dedicated his life to living part of each year in the habitat of grizzly bears.
His experiences lasted for thirteen years until a grizzly turned on him, attacked and killed him. It’s a dangerous life, but it must be a satisfying life, as well. The film footage of bears… lions… wildebeest… crocodiles… and so many other forms of wildlife make TV interesting, entertaining, educational and incredibly compelling. I love it.…

Puppies for Adoption

Qualities That Separate Dogs From Other Animals – Top 3 Qualities

Rusty

In this article, I examine the top 3 qualities that separate dogs, from other animals and explain just why these pets are so unique and truly are your best friend, for life and beyond. Adopting dogs since 1993, has been the best choice that, I have ever made and lets start looking at these qualities right now.
Quality #1 – Loyal
You will never find a more loyal friend, pal and pet outside a dog. These wonderful creatures live their lives to be loyal and care for those that have saved their lives. When you go to the pound ora breeder and get a dog, they will always remember it and they shall owe their lives to you.
In times of need when everything is ugly and no one is there, your dog will always be there and be by your side. I remember when a huge crisis hit my home a few years ago, my pet dog was there and helped me wipe the tears and he cared for me till, he passed on a few years ago.
You cannot buy loyalty in this world, only a true companion will be loyal to you and your pet will care for you, as long as you care for him or her.
Quality #2 – They Don’t Hold Grudges
These pets are so genuine and loving, they do not hold a grudge against you, they do not know the meaning of hatred and being evil. They remember the ones that, love them and they will love their owner in return. If you step on their tails, they will not try to step on you and get even.
This is a quality that is just amazing, your pet is there to help you and provide love. They are not here to keep score and get even with you.
Quality #3 – You Are their Idol
Dogs usually travel in packs and seek a leader or idol to follow, they will do their best to please their idol and owner. This is another super trait that dogs posses and your pet will listen, care and praise you for a lifetime.
Your dog worships the ground you walk on they have the highest respect for you and it is amazing just how much love they have for their owner(s).…

Adopt a Pet

Honoring Animals, Nature, and Spirit

Rusty

I love all of Doreen Virtue’s books. She is truly a loving spirit and a pure channel. Although she is best known for her angelic messages, she is actually a Universal Communicator, which means she can communicate with the spirits of all life forms.
In her book, “Healing With the Fairies,” Doreen wrote something that has always stayed with me. The Nature Angels, also known as Fairies, told her that animals and plants are happy to serve the Greater Good. They told her that most animals and plants don’t really mind being used for service or for food. What they feel so very sad about is how they are mistreated and devalued by most humans.
Most of us want to feel that our lives have meaning, and that we have contributed something for a greater cause. Animals and plants feel that way, too. Like us, they want to be appreciated for who they are and the service they give. Just like we do.
If animals are treated kindly during life, and honored during death, then they will naturally impart love, health, and blessings upon those who partake of them. Sadly, as it is, most of us are actually ingesting fear and pain when we eat, especially when we eat meat. It doesn’t have to be this way. It wasn’t meant to be this way. Native Americans knew the truth of this, and honoring animals and Nature was a very important part of life for them. Many Native Americans and other indigenous peoples are remembering their heritage, and they are teaching the world ways to live in harmony with our Earth.
Some of us choose to live more consciously than others. But we all know the difference between kindness and cruelty. And each of us can make a huge difference in our world by making small adjustments in our habits. We can begin here and now, as easily as making a choice, to make this a Kinder World.
Here are some simple things each of us can do. You can just start with one or two, and then add others as it feels right to you. Every little bit helps.…

Adopt a Dog

Xingyiquan – Twelve Animals Kung Fu and Applications

Rusty

Okay, I’ll admit that one of the first things I noticed when reading the back of the DVD cover was that the DVD was 45 minutes long. The reason this stood out is because I’m so used to YMAA DVDs containing two and three hour programs. Even with the shorter length, “Xingyiquan: Twelve Animals Kung Fu and Applications” with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming and Master Liang, Shou-Yu is an informative and well produced DVD reference on this Chinese internal martial art that can be translated to “Shape-Mind Fist.”
The program begins with an introduction explaining what Xingyiquan is and some basics regarding the history and art. This is taught with a voice over and subtitles and you see demonstrations of movements without instruction and some charts to illustrate points. This brief introduction also points out that this DVD accompanies the book Xingyiquan by Master Liang, Shou-Yi and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. While the DVD provides good information, using it with the text will provide a much more complete understanding of this art.
The program progresses in the same way, with a voice over explaining certain movements and concepts and on the screen mainly students demonstrating. While the program and book were written by Dr. Yang and Master Liang, Dr. Yang does not appear in the DVD except for some still photographs near the end. Master Liang is shown in some scenes demonstrating certain movements, but he doesn’t “teach” to the camera. The only speaking is done through the voice over, and the program is demonstration, not instruction.
A person is not going to learn Xingyiquan from this DVD. It is however, a good demonstration of the art. Fundamental postures, explanations of the postures and their relationship to the Five Elements, two -person Five Phases Matching exercise and Linking sequences are demonstrated. Movements based on the twelve animals; Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Water Lizard, Chicken, Harrier, Swallow, Snake, Chinese Ostrich, Eagle, and Bear are demonstrated along with martial applications of the movements.
I see two groups of people who will find value in this DVD. The first group are those who are learning this art and want an additional resource for home. The book accompanied by this DVD would be good to review if you are already learning the art. Again, you won’t learn it from this DVD, but it will assist you if you are learning from a qualified instructor. The second group would be people like myself. I enjoyed learning a bit about the art and seeing the movements demonstrated for a better understanding of the art for my global perspective on martial arts as a whole. I like to learn about all arts, and once in a while borrow things to include in my training which has the Korean art of Hapkido as its core. I don’t anticipate trying to learn how to perform these animal forms, but I enjoyed learning about them. The video is a little slow to watch repeatedly, but I liked watching it to just find out more about this art.
It’s a well produced DVD, but I think it has a limited audience. You must enjoy learning about all martial arts like I do, or be a practitioner of Xingyiquan to gain value, and for deeper instruction and information you need the book that this DVD accompanies. And to learn the art, you will need a qualified instructor.…

Dog Shelter

Fluffy Bedding is Dangerous to Small Animals

Rusty

Fluffy Bedding is a cotton wool like material distributed as a nesting material for pocket pets. It comes in numerous colours and under various product names. It is sold as a harmless, cozy place for your pet to curl up and sleep, unfortunately it is not safe in the least.
Many deaths and injuries have been caused by this product. The material used does not breakdown if consumed, and it is very easy for your pet to become entangled in it. It may tighten around limbs, cutting off circulation. if the animal is not able to get his limb free, it can cause damage to the tissue causing the limb to swell up painfully. In a short amount of time the limb will turn black from tissue death potentially spreading infection throughout the body. In an attempt to escape from the pain, your pet may chew the limb off which could result in death from blood loss, shock or infection.
The bedding may also become wound around his neck strangling him. If your hamster delivers a litter in the fluffy bedding, it could result in the passing of the litter.
Hamsters have cheek pouches which they use to carry food and bedding to their nests. The bedding can become trapped in the pouch, causing an impacted pouch. An impacted pouch will frequently become infected making eating and drinking painful. Impacted pouches require a trip to the veterinarian for treatment which may include a surgical procedure.
If the animal swallows the bedding material it will not break up in his gastrointestinal tract and may cause an obstruction. This requires a surgical operation to correct, however, if not discovered soon enough it will result in death.
What can I use for safe bedding material?
A simple way to tell if the bedding/nesting material you are using is safe is to place some in water. If it breaks apart, the way bathroom tissue does, then it will also break down if consumed and is easy to tear should it become wrapped around your pet. As a matter of fact the most harmless, risk-free thing to use for nesting material is plain, unscented bathroom tissue. Your pet will have fun ripping it up, fluffing it and hauling it around the cage. It is warm and soft to sleep in and is also inexpensive and easy to obtain.…

Animal Shelter

Animals: More Human Than Humans

Rusty

What can we say about pets? They are warm, loving, always there wanting our affection; simply put to love and be loved. For many animals small animals especially, it is a simple life they are able to lead in homes where they are welcomed and treated as one of the family. In a perfect world this would be the scenario that all pets would have going for each and every one of them. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and the reality is there are many pets that are beaten, abused, and treated downright inhumanely by owners who choose to take their issues out on an innocent animal who can not fight back. For these unfortunate lost pets they are truly more human than the humans whose care they live under.
We see this kind of behaviour wherever we turn it’s sad to say; walking down the street the echoing sounds of a person screaming at their pet that quickly turns to violence and the painful cries of the innocent animal haunt our thoughts as we are forced to let it be. There are the advertisements from the SPCA or organizations similar in nature that show beaten, bruised, and scarred lost pets who have been rescued from the cruel habitat they were raised in; their eyes being in such broken pain that are begging for a home that will be humane for them, a home where they can be loved. It breaks our hearts seeing this kind of pain in these innocent animals knowing that the cause is because of a human, a human who by all regards is fully capable of exerting dominance over his/her pet with no regard for the deep pain he/she is actually causing. What’s worse is many of these cruel owners disregard that they are even doing anything wrong when in actuality beating down a pet morally and what should be legally, is as wrong as domestic violence towards a spouse or a child.
Now many people will argue that animals may not be as innocent as they appear to be arguing for example, a dog’s bite can be as dangerous as a human’s fist. While there is truth that a dog bite can be painful and possibly infectious, most dogs if treated right, will only lash out and bite in a defensive mechanism such as if they can’t see or sense someone sneaking up on their backside. Studies have shown that animals who are treated respectfully and with the care that would be shown to a child in return are very calm, very welcoming in return and as such are not violent by nature. To say then that a dog’s ability to bite out at a person justifies violently attacking the dog in return is ludicrous; by nature pets are to be loving and gentle provided they are not treated intolerably. It may be a cliche but the old rule ‘treat others how you would like to be treated’ is more valid than in just social scenarios with fellow people.
Animals have rights that are as valid as humans and to those that choose to disregard them, there should be punishable laws set against them. Children that are rescued from abusive families can lead to punishable imprisonment for their abuser(s); thus for pets, there should be no difference. Abuse is abuse whether to an innocent child or an innocent pet; domestic abuse is a punishable crime and should be enforced by those championing animal rights. Adjustments to the laws need to be made to help save more animals from being caught between a rock and a hard place in being homeless strays or victims of abuse. We as humans have humanity inside us for a reason and must use that inherent goodness to stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves.
Now sometimes people can go too far in their protests; a recent example is the PETA member from the States who came to Canada and slammed a pie in the face of one of our Members of Parliament. Granted for those of us who hate all politicians for THEIR inherent greed, sense of entitlement, and corrupt nature the sight of one of them being slammed with a pie so hard it could nearly break her nose is hilarious; but that very act of violence simple as it may be, hypocritically goes against what the member of PETA was trying to stand up against. Being a champion of animal rights and fighting against cruelty to animals does not give you the right to leave your country, come to another country, and assault a member of that country’s government to make your point. Peaceful protests, rallies; these can make the point and can gather the attention needed to spread the message. …