I knew that…

I just read an article (nothing overly scientific) on Yahoo News entitled “Do Animals Smile?”– Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I absolutely believe that animals have emotions and feelings and yes, they smile.

Tell me that's not a smile...

I didn’t really need an empirical study to feel this, but it’s a little reaffirming to see it somewhere that’s not myself:

According to Professor Nicholas Dodman, head of animal behavior at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine and a regular on Animal Planet’sDogs 101 and Cats 101, until recently, scientists have generally underestimated the emotional range of animals.

No really?

I’ve been a pet owner for 23 years–  I have believed for all 23 of those years, that every animal I’ve had in my life has had a personality, a smile and emotional range.

… today it is widely understood by scientists that mammals do experience primary emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and happiness and even some secondary emotions like jealously and embarrassment—and they communicate them. Dodman says that dogs even have a sense of humor and laugh with a kind of huffing sound.

I have several stories that can attest to this– most recently with Luka:

Angelic... Not

The first time I really saw a dog be embarrassed, was a few months ago– Luka likes to sit on Mom’s ottoman (as seen above).  He really shouldn’t be up there, he knows he really shouldn’t be up there and Mom tells him he really shouldn’t be up there, but it kind of just happens anyway.  On this particular day, Luka was messing around on the ottoman, playing with a toy and not paying attention to what he was doing.  I tried warning him that he was particularly close to falling off from where he was, but since he’s a dog and he wasn’t even a year old yet… He didn’t listen.  Annnnd as I and everyone else in the room suspected, he fell off.  And not very flatteringly.

Needless to say, he was shocked and we all started laughing.  He became intensely embarrassed, he howled at us as we giggled over his gracelessness and kidney punched my Dad as he stood by and had a good laugh over his fall from his pedestal.  I’ve never seen a dog have such a reaction to people laughing at them before, but he genuinely seemed annoyed that we even dared.

The second was also a Luka experience and just happened this Monday.  My Dad had intended to take both Luka and Mystic for a walk.  Something Luka desperately loves and is even willing to leave toys for.  We’ve been watching a lot of Cesar Millan recently and Cesar says when you’re preparing for a walk, your dog should be calm submissive.  Well.  Luka was neither calm, nor was he submissive.  Mom warned him and gave him commands to calm down and he just wouldn’t.  So she sent Dad off with Mystic in tow and Luka– I kid you not– pouted.  Like this:

For over an hour.

This just goes to prove that Luka is a perfect example of how animals, dogs in particular, really do have a wider emotional range than some people give them credit for.  I knew that the minute I met any of my pets they did and I can see it every day, when Faith smiles when I wake her from a bad dream, or Luka laughs when he gets something he steals from someone or Mystic leans into one of us with all the love someone who realizes she has a family now can have.  I was validated even before the Yahoo article, as pointless or invalid as it might seem without pages of research to back it up.

I did my research in real life, that’s all that matters.

I just thought I’d share that, since I’ve been doing such a fabulous job updating.

Here’s the link to the rest of the article if you want to read it in its entirety

Think about it!

Until then,

Jaina

Zzzzzzzzz

I have no idea how I’m still awake and I’m COMPLETELY not sure why I’m taking the time to write a post when I’m about two seconds from my face becoming one with my keyboard; I guess I just wanted to share my ridiculous, self-induced afternoon and the results of what I put myself through.

Let me start with why this even became a task for me:

I have fish tanks, for those of you who are still joining us for the first time and maybe haven’t had a chance to read the pet biography pages:

<—- Thattaway. 

I originally started out with a 1 gallon fish tank when I brought home several baby fish from my second job at the pet store.  Then the baby fish got too big for the 1 gallon fish tank, so I took advantage of a sale at said job and got myself 10 gallon tank for $20.  Unfortunately, my baby fish did not handle the switch very well and passed away.  This was a little heartbreaking, since I had raised them from pups, annnnd also frustrating because I had just purchased this tank and now had nothing in it.  However,  unbeknownst to me, it appears our house has old enough pipes, that when I was limited to getting water from the UPSTAIRS bathroom, I was inadvertently exposing my fish to heavy metals.  Thus, I killed them.  Again, heartbreaking, but I at least felt better that it wasn’t necessarily something I had done, just needed to become more educated about.  After discovering this and concocting a potion to fix said problem, I now have a tank that works. (Let me know if you have this problem, as I can easily suggest a quick and inexpensive fix!).  I now have fish (way more guppies than I ever wanted, thanks customer that can’t tell the difference between a male and female guppy!) and a snail and even a frog that seems to be doing pretty well.

Not my tank, but a good representation of what mine looked like after all the fish deaths.

I also have a 5 gallon tank, that houses my Green Spotted Puffer, Winston.  Winston is very special to me, in the few short months I’ve known him, he’s actually proven to be very intelligent, fierce and resilient despite my numerous attempts of unwitting homicide.  Although I had done my research on Winston’s brethren, I was and still am fairly inexperienced in their care.  I am still grasping the concept of proper salinity and the fact I need to be vigilant about water changes as he’s in a tank that will eventually be too small for him.  And he’s really good at pooping.  Combine those three not being taken care of and you have a very sick fish.  Which I found out last month, when Winston was nearly knocking on his tank sides to get my attention he wasn’t feeling good.  I have upped my game and thankfully he’s still with us.  I should have realized he’d be a fighter from the moment I met him though, as he was waiting patiently at Wal-Mart for someone to find him.  WAL-MART!  Don’t even get me started.  I might have my fish in a small tank, but at LEAST I know he’s taken care of and he looks infinitely better than he did there.  I have witnesses.

We're good folks, I promise!

Anyway, this long and very drawn out, insomnia forced story has a point–ish?

I had a desk that I had my tanks on, but it wasn’t in the most ideal of places.  The desk had just fit into a dormer in my room which had been fine for my computer and homework, but add the tanks and it became less so.  It was hard to reach the tank to siphon or do full water changes and once I added Winston, I couldn’t see parts of my tank to make sure everyone was ok and there was nothing strange going on.  So I purchased this:

This one.

It was on sale and although it did NOT match my room decor, I figured it would be easy enough to paint it and make it work.

Holy crap, how wrong was I?

This piece of **** must have had EVERY water resistant paint, lacquer and sealant known to man used on it. AND IT’S PARTICLE BOARD!  I sanded that sucker within an inch of it’s life but every paint my Dad tried on it peeled off or crackled.  I had talked him into painting some designs on it to make it go even more with my room, but it took over a month just to find a paint that STUCK to the damn thing!  It ended up accepting a spray paint, sort of, which, if you bump into it, flakes off or scratches, but whatever.  At least it’s the “heirloom” white I was hoping for.  Took three months, but hey, it’s up now.

My Dad has requested I never buy another one of these again.

Long story short (not really), once it became clear it was actually going to work and be put together, I had to figure out how I was going to get it into my room.  Although I love my room, and it’s technically the biggest in the house, space is an issue.  I have a few pieces I got for my apartment three or four years ago that I wanted to take with me when I moved back in with my parents, so that does chew up wall space.  I sat down last night and devised a potential set-up that required me to be heavy-handed with what I intended to keep.  This afternoon after we got home from lunch, I got to work and rearranged all but two pieces of furniture in my room.  By myself.  Single-handedly.  On my own.  And boy am I going to pay for it later.  I don’t think my right bicep has stopped twitching for at least an hour.  Although I doubt it’s considered Feng-Shui, I’m happy with the results.

I have to be, or, as Jack Sparrow once said, “I hope everyone saw that, because I will not be doing it, again.”

It might not be the prettiest set up to most people, but at least now it’s more conducive to my fish being cared for.  I’m less afraid of it breaking this than I was the desk as the stand is a little sturdier than the desk was.  I can also reach my window again, which is a joyous experience now that it’s getting warmer and warmer up here.

AND, this is exciting for me and hopefully will be for my pigs too; now that I’ve moved my computer/TV to the other side of the room.  The pigs have the whole wall to themselves!

Don't look too hard, ran out of energy to clean their Royal Messinesses' cage.

Excuse the clutter, I had to choose which side of the room (I almost spelled tomb, subliminal?  I think so) to finish first, so they got a quick vacuum and I’ll get to it sometime tomorrow.  This will be more exciting in the next however many weeks because I will be upgrading them (hopefully they consider it an upgrade) to a C&C cage, or my own version if I can find the right materials.

For example…

I would love to make one just like this for them, but even with the newly acquired square footage, I don’t think it’ll be possible.  I will of course make a top for it, as we have dogs in the house that don’t understand little fuzzy things are for looking at, not munching on.  It looks insanely simple, but I have to make sure if I make it myself that the grids are not too wide for them to get their heads stuck in.  Buddha may be smart enough to stay away from that, but Dharma– is a special flower.  She does what she does and doesn’t really think about it.  How do I know this?

She’s knocked their water bottle off the cage 4+ times a night, every night for the last month.  I don’t know what she’s trying to tell me, but she’s grounded.

I know there’s a lot of people out their that probably think I’m a nut for the amount of time and money I put into my animals (I think I’m related to at least two of them).  They’re right.  I am a nut, but at least I’m a happy nut.  They bring me joy and if I can give that back to them in any amount, whether by letting them stretch their legs outside for a grassy snack, chop their veggies into chewable bites or make sure they have enough space to be happy, then I’ll do it.  I may fall behind on clean-up or playtime, but I do try (I think) and it is important to me.

This is the face of a dog who doesn't get why Mom is getting emotional.

Had to get some Faith love in there, somewhere.

Ok.  I think I’ve wasted enough time on here.  I congratulate you if you actually read the post and didn’t just look at the pictures.  I don’t blame if you did, I might too, but I figured I had to have worked half my weight in sweat off this afternoon trying to get the majority of this furniture moving done.  Might as well share my accomplishments.

I’m not very good at finishing things and when I do, it’s a milestone, so why not celebrate?  Everyone pack your bags, we’re going to Disney World!

I need sleep!
Until then,

Jaina

There’s this thing… Called an Update….

I do that.  Occasionally.

A conversation I had on Facebook made me realize I’ve neglected updating in about a million years.  Whiiiich of course I remembered, AFTER I had already given them a link to the site.  That’s never embarrassing.  We haven’t had any recent adventures here at Chez Lotta Pets, but then again, Mom of Lotta Pets hasn’t had a day off in a while.  Well.  That’s not true, I went to Disney for a week, but despite it being a vacation, still didn’t get to adventure with the pets.  Which may have been a good thing, because as much as I adore all of them.  I have days I need to not think about medication,  chopping cucumbers or if there’s enough chewsticks in the house to keep Uno satisfied.

Summer camp started for my work two weeks ago, so I’ve been a little busy with that, getting into my schedule and trying to not to burn to a crisp every time we go to the pool, which is twice a week and several times for field trips over the next few weeks.  Although it doesn’t require me to get up at 5am every morning now, I do have 8 hour days at the park, pool and whatever adventures the kids have planned for them, and I must admit it’s definitely exhausted me and put a bit of a damper on me doing anything of the things I normally do.  I get off work in the afternoon tomorrow and I have Sunday off, so I’m hoping to be slightly more productive.  Creatively, housework-idly and of course pet care-idly.

Too Hotz for Husky Puppies! Need Freezer!

I’ve also been battling a sinus infection since Tuesday, it was ugly for a day, now I’m just trying to stop hacking near anyone I like.

Ah needz a Kleenex

It’s been warm around here, to the point of being yucky. and so has the room with all the animals.  I have two fans going and most of the lights are off, but I don’t know if it’s helping.  The Pigs have been flattened out like little piggy rugs to keep from sweltering, both Evie and Uno seem to have gone into summer hibernation and my tanks have warmed up enough I was greeted to an algae bloom in Winston’s tank.  Turned off the heaters until I feel like they aren’t going to boil and I don’t have oddly colored algae crawling all over the glass.

Is Gud!

I think the only ones that have been staying reasonably cool are the rabbits.  The weathermen have been crying rain for the entire week and although it’s rained, sort of, it hasn’t been the thunderstorm special I was expecting.  Plus with the heat, I was afraid they’d get overheated and I wouldn’t be home to prevent them from getting sick, so they’ve had to stay in their indoor hutch.  I think it’s time to just get the outdoor hutch and figure out how to stabilize it from The Tank AKA Mystic doesn’t knock it over in her haste to see them.  I want them to enjoy the outdoors without risking them getting hurt or overheated.  Any of the hutches I’ve looked at have nesting boxes that a few frozen bottles of water won’t cool down.

Regardless of all this chatter, I should get to sleep.  Still have to get up for work even if I have the afternoon off.  Maybe I’ll end up being more consistent.

…..

Who am I kidding?

Until then,

Jaina

P.S. I’m not sure when I’ll get the actual button, but I recently decided to participate in a little blog program in conjunction with a company called Ears of Experience.  It’s a Travel Agency that I assume works fairly independently sending people to Disney, which, as you know, is one of the greatest places in the world in my opinion.  If you decide to go on a trip, you can get their information from me, just let them know I referred you and it looks like we both benefit.  The TA I set this up with is an independent contractor and her little business is called Wonders Dreams and Wishes.  I have her card if you need it, just let me know!

You'll always have a blast

Winston

Everyone, welcome Winston– Winston, everyone.

Hai everyone!

A few weeks ago, I brought home a Green Spotted Puffer…  I was planning to get one at some point.  I wasn’t planning on it being a few weeks ago.  I was actually trying to maintain a modicum of resolve because although I had purchased the tank, I wanted it to be set up correctly for my new little friend and have time to cycle and all that jazz.  Since Puffers are actually brackish water fish and are commonly sold as freshwater, I wanted to see if I could buy one from a saltwater specialty store.  Since the pet store I work at, doesn’t sell them at all, the one up the street from us sells them as freshwater and Wal-Mart is just a bad idea.  That way, all I’d have to do is make sure the salinity was right and my life would be 10 kabajillion times easier.  So here was my plan:

1.) Get the tank set up with brackish water and all the ameneties

2.) Purchase the fish after our trip in May

3.) Do not buy the fish from Wal-Mart

Here’s what I did:

1.) Bought the fish in February

2.) Bought the fish from Wal-Mart

3.) Set the tank up

Ladies and gentlemen– I am a moron.

I had dinner with a few friends that evening and one of them and I decided to wander through Wal-Mart.  Seeing as we’re both animal lovers and we work at a pet store, we stopped in the fish section so we could be snobby.  Not that it takes a lot to be snobby about Wal-Mart’s fish section.  Even someone whose never owned a fish could probably tell they don’t take care of them and most of them are obviously sick.  Regardless, we were squawking to each other about the state they were in, when I saw they had Green Spotted Puffers.  My friend is aware that I’ve wanted one for a while and that I’ve been researching them– lately, I’ve been the go to girl at work when people have questions about Puffers, because I won’t shut up about the ONE kind of fish I know a lot about now.

Needless to say, my heart broke when I saw the state they were in.  There were probably ten Puffers in a small sectioned off portion of their tanks.  All of them were pathetic beyond belief, hovering around the tank looking miserable.  Most of them had fins bitten to the point of tatters (because Puffers are aggressive and really shouldn’t live with others, unless it’s a very large tank) which is somewhat unavoidable when they’re for sale.  Some of them had Ick– Others were bloated from stress and there was one that was stuck to the filter with clamped fins.  There was also a handful of flake food floating all over the top of the tank from some haphazard attempt at keeping them alive– but if anyone had actually been trained in their care, they’d know Puffers don’t EAT flake, but are carnivorous.  Snails and brine shrimp and bloodworms are preferable, not tropical flake more fit for Guppies (I’m on my high horse, aren’t I?)  Not very good signs for a fish’s lifespan.  While I was looking at them and telling myself how I would save them all if I could, little Winston came to the front of the tank and eyeballed me.  He followed my finger around the tank glass and every time I came near he would swim to the front of the tank to greet me.

It was all over.

My friend didn’t help me all that much, seeing as she knew I’m soft-hearted and a pushover and told me that any life would be better than living at Wal-Mart and Winston (before he was named) was likely to die if he stayed there much longer and I could do so much more for him.  So I tackled (not literally) a Wal-Mart employee (who informed me the Ick would clear up in a few days– because you don’t need to treat that *eyeroll*) and had him bag me a fish.  Over the course of waiting for my fish I found out the man used to work at a pet store I had purchased a dog from several years ago that went out of business probably 10 or 12 years ago, watched him put almost a gallon of water in the bag and then blow (yes, blow) air INTO the bag with my fish.  Even if you don’t know much about science, I’d hope most people would know that when you EXHALE, it’s not oxygen that leaves your lungs but carbon dioxide– Which is not exactly healthy for fish, or– anything that needs air.

When I got home I scrambled to get the tank set up and hoped that his already stressed self would be able to handle a tank that hadn’t been running very long.  I always scold people who try to put fish in the tank too soon, especially since working at a pet store and I’ve had a little trouble keeping fish alive in my other tank, so my concerns were valid.

Not bad for someone who was on death row...

Although I still need to start mixing his brackish water (and switching it for freshwater– one blessed cup at a time) he’s done pretty well.  I fed him snails for the first time a few days after I got him and he immediately decided that was all he was going to eat.  So now to avoid having to go to work every few days to get him snails (thank heaven they’re free!) I’m attempting to colonize them in an old Betta tank.  They’ve started laying eggs, but I’ve lost a lot before being able to feed them to him, so I don’t know how effective it’s going to be.

Anyway, he’s doing quite well.  After a round of medication to get rid of any illness, his tail unclamped and I stopped wondering if he was just going to kick it right then and there.  Now when I walk in, he’s right there, waiting for me.

So much for sticking to the plan, right?

Oh, did I mention– had someone that’s been bugging us to take in his unwanted baby guppies for the last few weeks.  They were threatening to flush them.

Yeah.  They came home with me.  So much for not having a tank full of guppies.

~Jaina