Animal Pet

Anjing Kintamani

2008-07-01T17:14:00.001+07:00

Anjing Kintamani banyak ditemukan didaerah pegunungan Kintamani, pulau Bali. Anjing yang memiliki sifat pemberani ini sudah lama ingin dimuliabiakan sehingga dapat diakui oleh dunia internasional. Sejak tahun 1988 PERKIN menerbitkan Sertifikasi-Silsilah S.K. Ketua Umum PERKIN No. 11/KU/PP/III/1988 khusus untuk Penelitian Anjing Kintamni warna putih spesifik. Namun walaupun telah ditetapkan sementara, Pengamatan, Penelitian dan Pemuliabiakan terus ditumbuhkembangkan sampai Federation Cynologique Internationale â€˜FCI) mensyaratkan pemilik kennel-kennel Anjing Kintamani yang terdaftar pada PERKIN memberikan hasil Pemuliabiakanperformans fenotip pada generasi ke XV sama dengan generasi I dari minimal 10 kennel yang ada.

Secara fenotip Anjing Kintamani mudah dikenal; dapat dibandingkan dengan jelas antara Anjing Kintamani dengan anjing-anjing Lokal yang ada, ataupun anjing hasil persilangan antara ras yang sama maupun persilangan lainnya.

Melalui uji pengamatan lapangan dengan membandingkan antara Anjing Kintamani dari hasil kennel pemuliabiakan dan Anjing Kintamani di kawasan Kintamani, disusunlah Deskripsi dan Standar Fenotip Anjing Kintamani meliputi ciri-ciri umum, sifat-sifat umum, tinggi badan/gumba, dasar pigmentasi kulit, bentuk kepala, telinga, mata, hidung, gigi, bentuk leher, bentuk badan, kaki dan ekor mempunyai kesamaan. Perbedaannya pada distribusi warna bulu dan ditetapkan pada tanggal 16 Oktober 1994. Standar ini dipakai sebagai acuan dasar pada setiap Kontes dan Pameran Anjing Kintamani dan mendapat pengakuan PERKIN (Dharma.M.N. Dewa; PudjiRahardjo; Kertayadnya I.G, 1994.).

Standarisasi

Untuk memperoleh Standar Anjing Kintamani diperlukan pengamatan dan penelitian yang terus menerus dan berkelanjutan. Gambaran sementara yang dapat dilihat dari keunggulan Anjing Kintamani dari hasil pengamatan lapangan dan hasil pemuliabiakan pada Anjing Kintamani yang berbulu putih spesifik dapat diuraikan sebagai berikut:

Ciri-ciri Umum

Anjing ini dapat digolongkan dalam kelompok anjing jenis pekerja (working dog) dengan ukuran sedang, memiliki keseimbangan tubuh dan proporsi tubuh yang baik dengan pertulangan kuat yang dibungkus oleh otot yang kuat, sebagai anjing pegunungan memiliki bulu yang panjang (moderat) dengan warna putih spesifik, hitam atau cokelat. Pengelompokan dalam sistem FCI, anjing Kintamani masuk dalam group V karena memiliki ciri-ciri anjing spitz dan tipe primitif seperti Chow Chow, Basenji, dan Samoyed.

Sifat-sifat Umum:

Anjing Kintamani memiliki sifat pemberani, tangkas, waspada dan curiga yang cukup tinggi. Merupakan anjing penjaga (guard dog) yang cukup handal, sebagai pengabdi yang baik terhadap pemiliknya, loyal terhadap seluruh keluarga pemilik dan tidak lupa pada pemilik atau perawatnya. Anjing Kintamani (Bali) suka menyerang anjing atau hewan lain yang memasuki â€œwilayah kekuasaannyaâ€ dan juga menggaruk-garuk tanah sebagai tempat perlindungan. Pergerakannya bebas, ringan dan lentur.

Bentuk kepala

Kepala bagian atas lebar dengan dahi dan pipi datar, moncong proporsional dan kuat terhadap ukuran bentuk kepala, rahang tampak kuat dan kompak, memiliki gigi-geligi kuat dengan gerakan gigi seperti menggunting, bibir berwama hitam atau cokelat tua. Telinganya tebal, kuat, berdiri berbentuk V terbalik dengan ujung agak membulat. Jarak antara kedua telinga cukup lebar, panjang telinga kurang lebih sama bila dibandingkan dengan jarak antara dasar dua telinga bagian dalam dengan sudut mata luar.

Mata berbentuk lonjong seperti buah almond dengan bola mata berwarna cokelat gelap dan bulu mata berwarna putih. Hidung berwarna hitam atau coklat tua dan warna hidung ini sering berubah karena penambahan umur dan musim.

Untuk mempercepat pengakuan dari Federation Cynologique Internationale, dalam memenuhi ketentuan/persyaratan perlu upaya-upaya secara ilmiah dan dapat dipertanggungjawabkan. Salah satu upaya adalah meneliti hubungan antara stuktur dan profil DNA distribusi warna bulu putih spesifik secara genotip dengan fenotip warna bulu putih spesifik pada Anjing Kintamani.

Distribusi warna bulu pada Anjing Kintamani dapat dikelompokkan menjadi 4 macam yaitu:

1. Warna bulu putih sedikit kemerahan dengan warna coklat-kemerahan pada telinga, bulu di bagian belakang paha dan ujung ekornya.

2. Warna hitam mulus atau dengan dada putih sedikit.

3. Warna coklat muda atau cokiat tua dengan ujung moncong kehitaman, sering disebut oleh masyarakat sebagai warna Bang-bungkem.

4. Warna dasar coklat atau coklat muda dengan garis-garis warna kehitaman, yang oleh masyarakat disebut warna Poleng atau Anggrek.

Tinggi dan bentuk badan

Anjing Kintamani jantan mempunyai tinggi 45 cm-55 cm dan anjing betina 40 cm-45 cm. Dengan warna bulu kebanyakan berwarna putih spesifik (sedikit kemerahan) dengan warna merah kecoklatan (krem) pada ujung telinga, ekor dan bulu dibelakang paha. Warna lainnya adalah hitam mulus dan cokelat dengan moncong berwarna hitam (bangbungkem), pigmentasi kulit, hidung, bibir kelopak mata, skrotum, anus dan telapak kaki berwarna hitam atau cokelat gelap.

Lehernya tampak anggun dengan panjang sedang, kuat dengan perototan yang kuat pula. Dada dalam dan lebar, punggung datar, panjangnya sedang dengan otot yang baik. Badan anjing betina relatif lebih panjang dari jantan. Anjing Kintamani (Bali) memiliki bulu krah (badong) panjang berbentuk kipas di daerah bahu (gumba),makin panjang bulu badong makin baik.

Kaki agak panjang, kuat dan lurus jika dilihat dan depan atau belakang. Tumit tanpa tajir, gerakan kaki ringan. Ekor bulunya bersurai, posisinya tegak membentuk sudut 45 derajat atau sedikit melengkung tetapi tidak jatuh atau melingkar di atas pinggang atau jatuh ke samping. Makin panjang bulu ekor makin baik .

Catatan : Penulis adalah seorang dokter hewan yang sudah lama meneliti dan melakukan pemuliabiakan anjing Kintamani agar dapat diakui oleh dunia internasional. Jika anda memerlukan informasi lebih lanjut dapat menghubungi beliau di 08123973112 .

source : (anjingkita.com)

Animal Pet Health : RESCUE Hosts National Pet Idol Contest to Support Animal Rescue Efforts

2008-01-16T18:13:00.000+07:00

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Oct. 2 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Look out American Idol, there's a new game in town. RESCUE, a non-profit 501(c)3, based in Phoenix, had such success with their first Pet Idol Contest at the local level, that this year, they are taking it national.

"We are so excited about this year's contest," Jennifer Klein, Executive Director, RESCUE, said. "The first year we raised over $9,000 and that was just at the local level. We know people love their pets, so we wanted to open up the contest to everyone."

The national Pet Idol Contest will benefit the efforts of RESCUE, an organization that is dedicated to saving the lives of animals on euthanasia lists.

The registration process is simple. Interested contestants submit photos of their pets, and viewers vote for their favorites; entries and votes are $1 a piece.

All entries must be received by midnight on Tuesday, October 23 and the voting begins the next day. There are three rounds of voting with the winners of each round proceeding to the next. The winners are those entries receiving the most votes. Final winners will be announced on November 15 and will receive prizes from sponsors and their pet's photo will appear in "Animal Wellness."

All pet photos are welcomed - cute, funny, simple and curious. Turtles, ferrets, and chinchillas are among the more non-traditional entrants.

"We know that your pet is a star," Klein said. "Now, is the opportunity to show the world."

Based on this year's success, RESCUE hopes to time next year's Pet Idol to coincide with the national talent phenomena "American Idol."

RESCUE relies on no government funding and is proud to reveal that they have been in existence since 1995. They rely on volunteers and private funding and have no central facility; they are volunteer run.

"Community effort and involvement has been overwhelming," Klein said. "The old adage 'it takes a village' holds true when it comes to meeting the goals of RESCUE."

RESCUE is an acronym for "Reducing euthanasia at shelters through commitment and underlying education." They are a registered non-profit that has found homes for over 8,800 dogs and cats. Their motto is "for every animal we place, we are back to rescue another."

For more information about RESCUE and the Pet Idol Contest, visit: www.azrescue.org.

Note: Pet Idol has no relationship with American Idol or any other "Idol" TV show.

Animal Pet Info : Animal Health Summit 2008

2008-01-16T17:43:00.000+07:00

The meeting place for senior-level executives working within or servicing the animal health industry

“There is now a huge interdependence between animal health concerns and needs with issues such as public health and medicine, economics, global trade and national and international security.”

For delegates

Animal Health Summit 2008 is an executive level forum where local and global experts in Government, regulatory affairs, industry, academia and research will meet to discuss the key issues, and pioneer solutions for the benefit of animal health in Australia.

The aim of the conference is to identify strategies to prepare Australia's animal health system to meet future challenges and take advantage of the opportunities facing our livestock industries.

The conference will provide an opportunity for delegates to examine Australia's animal health system at a national level.

For sponsors

If you have products, solutions or services that can assist in the successful implementation and delivery of Animal Health programs and initiatives, this is the only event which will deliver the chance to:

Network with key Animal Health stakeholders
Hear unique networking sessions, expert panels, and time to talk in a relaxed environment with new business contacts
Capture new prospects whilst enhancing your corporate profile to existing clients
Increase your brand recognition with a decision-making audience

» Reserve your seat now

Top 10 Things You Can Do For Your Dog

2008-01-06T16:30:00.000+07:00

October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month—and here at the ASPCA, that means that we’re not gonna stop talking about how great dogs are from now until October 31!
To get the pooch party started, we prepared a list of 10 things you can do for your dog this month…and every month!
1. Is your pooch an action hero or a couch potato? If you can’t feel Rover’s ribs, he may need to shed a few pounds. Ask your vet about a healthy and safe doggie diet-and-exercise program.
2. Tag, you’re it! Be sure your dog wears a collar with ID tag that includes your family’s name and phone number.
3. Did you know that your dog has her own personal hair stylist? She sure does—and that would be YOU, of course! It’s a good idea to brush her once or twice a week. (If she has long or curly hair, you’ll need to comb her every day.)
4. Your dog has her own personal trainer, too! Yup, that’s right, you again! Spend at least 20 minutes a day playing her favorite game, whether it’s fetch, Frisbee or find-the-biscuit.
5. Fur sure! Check your dog’s coat and skin for lumps, bumps, flakes and scabs. If you find what looks like teeny specks of black pepper, tell an adult. Poochie may have fleas!
6. Snip tip! Did you know that your dog’s nails should be clipped regularly? Your vet can show you how.
7. Is Boo Boo on his best behavior? A well-mannered pooch can walk on a leash without pulling and understands the commands “Come,” “Sit!” and “Stay!”
8. Mean greens! Keep Kookie away from poisonous plants and trees, including lilies, azaleas, rhododendron, English ivy and yew.
9. Puppies just wanna have fun…and when they start teething, they just wanna chew. Get your pup set up with a nylon bone.
10. Be a hot shot and make sure your dog visits the veterinarian for a checkup once a year.

Adopting a Dog

2008-01-04T09:47:00.000+07:00

There are lots of ways that people choose a new family dog. Some may search the newspaper for advertisements from breeders who are selling new puppies; others find breeders via listings on the internet, while still more may simply purchase a puppy from a local pet store. Perhaps the best method, however, in terms of being helpful to society in general is to adopt a dog from a local animal shelter.

Adopting a dog brings a new friend into your life. It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless dogs in your area. Unless the shelter is a “no kill” facility (and these are sadly few and far between), it will also save a dog’s life. Animal lovers everywhere champion the adoption of dogs from shelters as opposed to any other method of bringing home a new pet for this reason alone, but there are other reasons to choose the adoption option.

Adopted pets have had their shotsShelters often have information about a dog’s temperamentAdopting a pet frees space in the shelter for more dogs
When you adopt a dog you can be sure that the staff at the shelter has had the dog examined by a vet for diseases and parasites and that the dog has had its shots. This is not always true of dogs acquired by other means such as kids giving away “free puppies” from a box in front of the local grocery store or PetsMart.

The dogs at a shelter are not just strays and often are turned in to the shelter by former owners for various reasons. When this happens, the shelter collects as much information about the dog as possible, including whether its good with children, how much it barks, how playful or obedient it is, whether its housebroken, and other important details. While it’s true that this information is only as good as the honesty of the former owner, most of the time it is fairly accurate.

Animal shelters provide a valuable service to the community that they serve by keeping the streets as free of stray animals as possible. Because many of them do this with little or no public funding or governmental support, they are very limited in the number of dogs they can have in the shelter at any given time. The only way that they can bring in more stray animals is if they remove the ones they currently have. This is done through adoption or euthanasia. Obviously they would prefer to have the dogs adopted rather than killed. Adopting a dog could very well save its life and allows the shelter to bring in another dog in its place.

source : http://animaltreats.biz/

Animal Pet Contest ; Spoke Animal

2008-01-01T17:07:00.000+07:00

Click Here to See the Finalists!

Think Your Pet Has Celebrity Potential??

This year, APS is not only looking for a worthy pup for our 2008 Spokesdog Contest, but also a deserving cat for the addition of our 2008 Spokescat Contest!

APS is searching for candidates, who are friendly toward people and other animals, to represent APS at the 2008 Walk for the Animals and other APS events throughout the year.

The contest:
-The Spokesdog and Spokescat contests are an opportunity for APS to recognize

one outstanding dog and one outstanding cat in the community, and for APS to

have representatives at its events.
- Since APS is an advocate of pet spaying and neutering, only those animals that

have been spayed or neutered may qualify to win.
- Entries for each contest will be read and reviewed by a panel of judges at APS and

narrowed down to a small group of finalists.
- Once the dog and cat finalists are chosen, the Herald Sun will post the pictures

where the public will vote online to decide the two winners.

Winners will Receive:

- $50 PetsMart Gift Card
- Satisfaction of seeing your pet as a Local Celebrity!

APS thanks this year's Spokesdog and Spokescat Contest Sponsors: The Herald Sun, NBC-17

To enter:

- Enter Online
- Fill out an entry form (pick one up at the Durham County Animal Shelter, one of our

upcoming events, or print one here)
- Write a brief essay (250 words or less), explaining why your pet should be the

2008 Spokesdog or Spokescat.
- Mail the entry form, essay, a photo of your pet, and the $10 entry fee (proceeds

go to APS) to:
APS of Durham
ATTN: Walk Spokesdog/Spokescat Contest
2117 E. Club Blvd.
Durham, NC 27704

**If Submitting online, your entry is not complete unless you do one of the following by October 31st:

Email: Please send your picture file to associate@apsofdurham.org. Include in the subject line "Spokesdog/cat Picture" and in the body include your first and last name, your pet's name and your contact information.

Mail: Please send your picture to:
APS of Durham, 2117 E. Club Blvd, Durham NC 27704 ATTN: Spokesdog/cat
Include with your picture your first and last name, your pet's name and your contact information. Pictures will not be returned.

Animal Pet Picture ; Top 15 Vote Getters

2008-01-01T16:37:00.000+07:00

The Greater Huntsville Humane Society sponsors an annual "Hot Dogs & Cool Cats" photo contest for their calendar. Proceeds from the contest will be used to further the work of GHHS for homeless and abandoned animals. The Top 15 vote getters for the 2008 Calendar are listed below. Each of these pets will be featured on one of the month's of the calendar, while Baxter will be on the cover. GHHS raised $57,500 for the shelter this year. Many animals will be saved and rescued with this money!

See some of the 2008 Calendar Contest Entries.

Privacy policy

2007-12-15T15:49:00.000+07:00

f you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at joe.pramo@gmail.com.

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Animal Pet Event 2008 : Best Dressed Pet

2007-12-15T12:44:00.000+07:00

Best-Dressed Pet Contest 2008

When:Double Decker Saturday Registration Time: 10:45 a.m.Contest Time:12:00 p.m. Where: The Children’s Square Fair in front of First Presbyterian ChurchRegistration Fee: $15 Whether dressed in couture or a creative catwalk costume, it’s time to hit the runway and award the coveted 2008 Oxford’s Best Dressed Pet. You know how the more time you spend with someone, the more you start to look-a-like? New to the Event is the Pet/Owner Look-a-Like Contest. Pets and their owners will be judged on how much they look like each other. Both events promise to bring applauds and prizes.

For More Informatione-mail Stephanie Coghlan • call 662-236-7806

Source : http://www.oxfordpets.com/FYIView.asp?ID=1

Parrot lovers dedicate memorial garden for pets

2007-09-03T17:10:00.000+07:00

Long-lived, yet often endangered, the birds have won a following among humans as fine, feathered friends who deserve dignity after they last lift their wings.
By Vimal Patel Denver Post Staff Writer

Bear, a Moluccan cockatoo parrot from Indonesia, rested on Arvada resident John Krenetsky's shoulders Sunday afternoon as a scorching sun beat down.
It's been Bear's favorite place since he perched himself on the 68-year-old's left shoulder five years ago, pressed his orange-streaked head against him and said: "I love you."
"It was then that I knew this was my bird," said Krenetsky, who was at a parrot memorial garden dedication Sunday at the Aviary and Adoption Center in Elizabeth.
The memorial garden for deceased parrots helps show that the birds are complex creatures that have special needs, organizers said.
"Living with a parrot isn't like living with a dog or cat," said Julie Murad, founder of The Gabriel Foundation, a nonprofit that cares for parrots and administers the center. "We want to love on them like we do a dog or cat, but we can't. They're still wild."
The foundation has cared for about 1,000 parrots since its creation in 1996 and has found permanent homes for about 600.
It was named after Murad's parrot, Gabriel, a Hyacinth macaw who died before he turned 2 years old.
"Parrots are the most endangered species of birds," she said.
A lot of people abandon their parrots because of behavioral problems and their loud noise.
On Sunday, shrill parrot calls floated in the air throughout the center.
There was Rio, a blue yellow-naped Amazon, one of only about 40 in the world.
There was Baby, a nearly 27-year-old green-winged macaw who gently flapped around in his cage, playing with various toys, branches and rope.
Parrots generally don't bite, but just because the creatures don't use the raw power of their beaks - Baby's has 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch - doesn't mean they can't.
"If they wanted to, they could snap a broomstick in half with their beak," said Karen VanderHyde, avian specialist for the foundation.
They can have life spans up to a hundred years and are social animals. And they deserve dignity in death, she said.
VanderHyde petted Norman, a nearly 50-year-old African grey Congo parrot, and showered him with kisses, to which the nearly blind bird responded with an approving whistle.
For Krenetsky, a parrot is the best pet anyone could have.
"He's your friend, and he doesn't care who you are," he said. "You could be the worst person in the world, but as long as you treat him as your friend, he'll be your friend."

source : http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6788073

Pet care takes bigger bite of consumer spending

2007-09-03T16:38:00.000+07:00

Organized animal fighting rings such as that involving Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick aside, pet owners today are more likely to spend big to ensure their pet's health and comfort.
Veterinarians and entrepreneurs are there for them with technology formerly reserved for humans, special diets and care products.
Americans will spend about $41 billion this year on their pets, according to consumer research company Packaged Facts. And in the next two years, that number is expected to hit $52 billion.
"Why are we spending more on pets? It's because pets are now part of the family," said Pat LeBlanc, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Michigan State University.
Over the years the way families treat their pets has changed, he added.
"I go back three generations in my family to my great-grandparents," LeBlanc explained, "and they had a farm and a dog and it never left the farmhouse. And when (the dog) got sick, they killed it."
Today pet owners are more interested in helping their pet through sickness, often at a steep cost spurred by the same factors that human health care is more expensive. "I think part of it is our technology is catching up more," LeBlanc said. "People are willing to go into debt to pay for their animal's care."
VTH recently acquired a radiation therapy unit from Massachusetts General Hospital for VTH's cancer care wing, LeBlanc added.
Two years ago, VTH treated about 24,00 pets. And last year it treated about 27,000. Numbers from this year suggest the hospital is on pace to exceed last year's figures, he said.
"Dissolving a kidney stone through a laser without any kind of incision - we have the equipment to do these kinds of procedures now," he said. "In the past people have not wanted their animals to undergo surgery - now we are serving the needs of these types of clients."
In contrast, veterinary schools today report increasing difficulty in attracting large-animal vet students, who typically work on farm animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association said it is helping sponsor a Kansas State University study to gauge the scope of the problem.
Consumers' increased interest in making sure their companion animal is well looked after, at least, has created a larger market for pet pampering.
That includes Shaggy Chic in Birmingham, which sells decorative collars, pet apparel and pet-themed home decor. Though open for less than a year, owner Lisa Pullman says she has experienced positive growth and consistent clientele.
"Many people are enjoying their pets," she said. "They're an extension of the family and they're really willing to make their comfort paramount."
Achieving that level of comfort for your pet comes at a price, but that hasn't deterred pet owners, as the pet supply industry has become a major force in a short period of time.
There are about 58,000 licensed dogs in Oakland County, which accounts for about 75 percent of dogs in the area, according to the Oakland County Animal Care Center."In conversations I've had with pet store retailers and sellers, what I've come to find - and I suspect the data would demonstrate this - is that pets have become recession-proof," said Michael Bernacchi, professor of marketing at University of Detroit-Mercy.Desperate times call for desperate measures, just not when it involves pets.
"It's actually kind of surprising considering the economy is so horrible," said Catherine Saunders, manager of Premiere Pet Supply in Beverly Hills. "You'd think people would cut back, but I haven't seen any difference."
Consumer buying habits have evolved in such as way that pets have become part of a family's fiscal equation, Bernacchi added.
It's the same method retail has used for years to encourage shoppers to buy things they want, in addition to things they need.
"I can't tell you exactly over what period of time, but certainly it's been the case over the last 10 years that we've become better educated on the expenditure with relevance to pets," Bernacchi said.
That new attitude has helped Premiere Pet Supply record consistent growth, Saunders said.
Adding to that growth was the recent scare over contaminated pet food from China, which caused pet owners to consider spending more money on specialized pet foods.
"We had people wanting to switch to something more natural and that's impacted our business," Saunders said. "A lot of eyes were opened ... and people were willing to pay more to avoid problems like that."
About 8,500 pets died as a result of eating contaminated food, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates.
"I know someone who spent over $12,000 to bring their dog back after kidney failure from the recalled food," Saunders said.
For many, a pet is more than a pet - it's a companion and friend. We buy for our pets like we would for a best friend, spouse or child.
"Pets, as it turns out, are surrogate people," Bernacchi said. "As Americans, we are defined by our expenditures - isn't it true that pets should take part in this?"

source : http://blog.mlive.com/oak_business_review/2007/08/pet_care_takes_bigger_bite_of.html

Pet Insurance : Avoiding Snarls In Pet Insurance

2007-09-03T16:03:00.000+07:00

A pacemaker and cancer radiation treatments for your dog? An MRI and kidney transplant for your cat? These are the types of medical procedures available for our furry friends.As medical technology advances for pets, so do costs. They can run into the thousands of dollars. As a result, the topic of pet health insurance regularly crops up.With pet insurance you pay a monthly premium, and the insurer will reimburse you for eligible medical expenses related to accident or illness.Americans will spend nearly $41 billion on their pets this year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Of that, about $10 billion is for veterinary care.Generally, consumer advocates aren't fond of pet health insurance, 84 percent of which is for dogs. Consumer Reports published a quick take in its July issue. In an article titled "Why Pet Insurance is Usually a Dog," the magazine cited the deductibles - the portion you pay before insurance kicks in - and the list of procedures that many pet insurance policies exclude. As a result, you could pay far more money for pet health insurance than it will save you.Still many pet owners spend thousands of dollars to try to save their four-legged friends. Is pet health insurance worthwhile? The answer in large part comes down to one very indelicate question sure to give devoted pet owners angst: How much am I willing to spend to lengthen my ailing pet's life?The question is important because you are likely to incur the largest vet costs while attempting to extend the pet's life.Owners who consider the animal part of the family might consider it crass to come up with a maximum dollar figure. But that number is fundamental to the decision on whether to buy insurance. If you can afford that amount, you don't need insurance.Pet insurers often point to multi-thousand-dollar pet surgeries. Pet owners pay an average surgical vet visit per year of $453 for a dog and $363 for a cat, according to estimates by the pet products manufacturers association. But that's a yearly average of all pet owners, some of whom paid for no surgeries and others who paid thousands. If you are the type of pet owner who will extend the life of Fido or Fluffy at any cost - and would rack up debt to do it - pet insurance becomes more worthwhile.During the early 1980s a typical pet owner would put an animal to sleep if treatment cost more than $250, said Jack Stephens, a pioneer in the pet-insurance industry. For 24 years he was chief executive officer for the largest pet insurer, Veterinary Pet Insurance.Today the dollar figure is closer to $1,500, said Stephens, who now leads an insurer called Pets Best Insurance. He says the escalation has less to do with rising prices and more to do with pet owners developing a deeper bond with the animals.Some considerations:Math. With a fixed monthly insurance premium of $30 and a 12-year lifespan for a dog, for example, you would pay $4,320 in insurance premiums from birth to death. And if you don't pay extra for a fixed rate your premiums could increase each year as your pet ages. That's a lot of money if you have a healthy pet and receive very little in reimbursements. But you will make out well with insurance if you are reimbursed for a big-ticket vet bill before you have paid much in premiums.Many people who buy pet insurance aren't upset if they don't file large claims to make the math work, said Loran Hickton, a spokesman for Pets Best Insurance. It's similar to not being upset about not using a child's health insurance. "The value is what-if. The value is not what you use," he said.Self-insuring. If you instead set aside that $30 a month in an earmarked "Fido-gets-sick" account earning 5 percent interest you would accumulate almost $6,000 before he died, assuming you didn't need to tap the fund.Stephens said self-insuring is an option, but he contends that most people won't do it. "It sounds good, but most of us aren't disciplined enough to maintain it," he said. And self-insuring doesn't work well if you have a large veterinary expense before you have saved much in Fido's fund.Deductibles, co-pays and maximums. A number of factors reduce the amount the insurer will reimburse you. Most plans feature $50 or $100 deductibles per ailment. Some pay 80 percent of the vet bill, while you pay 20 percent, after the deductible. Most have lifetime maximum payouts and per-ailment maximums.Benefit schedules. Most insurers have benefit schedules that dictate the maximum amount they will reimburse for each diagnostic test or treatment, regardless of what your vet charged you.For example, imagine your dog was attacked by another dog and needed treatment for bite marks. VPI, the nation's largest insurer, would pay at most $275, $131 and $95 for various portions of the diagnosis and treatment of multiple bite wounds, for a total of $501, according to its "Superior Plan" benefit schedule. It wouldn't matter if you had to pay the vet more, you would not be reimbursed for any more than those limits.Exclusions. Insurers typically exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. So to have an ailment's cost covered you have to buy pet insurance before a problem develops. That means buying coverage early in the pet's life. And basic pet insurance does not pay for general wellness exams and routine care, such as vaccinations and neutering.Pet insurance can be expensive and, like most insurance, complicated. A disciplined consumer might be best off self-insuring. But if you think pet insurance might be for you, ask your veterinarian which insurers other clients have had good experience with. And become familiar with the details of policies you are considering.Gregory Karp is a personal finance writer for The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa. E-mail him at yourmoney@tribune.com.

Rules for pet owners vary by municipality

2007-09-03T15:37:00.000+07:00

Depending on where you live, the magic number changes.

In Wilkes-Barre, it's four. In Hanover Township, it's three. In Rice Township, it's five, as resident Miller Stella found out in the last few weeks.Municipalities in Luzerne County vary on how many pets homeowners or renters can keep on their properties, but those interviewed agreed it all boils down to maintaining safety and health for the animals and residential areas."Our biggest problem is just the amount of dogs or cats they have in their house and we have to get them down. It's too much for the people to deal with," Wilkes-Barre Animal Enforcement Officer Rick Macko said. "A lot of times (the homeowner) is glad to sign them over to us."The question of how many pets homeowners can keep on their property sprang up in the last few weeks when Stella, who was keeping 15 beagles on his property, was told he was violating township zoning rules. He has since agreed to give up 10 dogs to comply with zoning rules. Although no one questioned the care Stella gave to his beagles, he was still in violation."Our solicitor is reviewing it, but it looks pretty clear," Rice Township Supervisor Bob Pipech said Friday.Stella's case is an exception, Macko said.Most of the time pet owners get in over their heads, continuing to collect animals. And costs rise. Dog food can cost anywhere from $100 to $500 annually; shots, checkups and other trips to the vet can cost a total of $50 to $200 and other expenses can add up to $1,000 or more per pet, according to estimates on the Web site of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County."It doesn't matter if you're broke," Macko said. "Not having enough money to be able to take your pet to the vet is not an excuse. It's a lot of upkeep, a lot of expenses."Stella said he didn't think a clear-cut rule addressed the problem most people had with dogs in a neighborhood, from barking to sanitary issues."How do you decide too many is too many?" he said. "Doesn't it matter the care someone gives their dog? That seems to be the bigger issues."But municipalities need a clear-cut rule, Macko said. "I usually try to work with people," Macko said. "I might be able to help them get rid of a few and then I'll give them a week. They are their pets. These people do love their animals. Like I said, it just gets out of hand for some people."cjones@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110

Pet Health :Cases of animal cruelty abound

2007-09-03T15:20:00.000+07:00

By BENITA Y. WILLIAMS

The Kansas City Star
Two dogs in northeast Kansas City found with a hind leg severed.
A man in Lawrence accused of putting his pet rabbit in a plastic bag and trying to break its neck.
A cat with a slit throat in Overland Park and a dead dog stuffed in the basement ceiling of a Shawnee home.
A rash of animal-cruelty cases has horrified area residents this summer, but officials say it’s premature to say such abuse is on the rise. More likely, they say, the attention is due to a growing awareness that animal abuse matters.
“People are starting to say this is a crime and it needs to be reported,” said Alison Gianotto, director and founder of Pet-Abuse.com, a national animal protection advocacy group. “Before, they would say it’s not my business.”
Lesly Forsberg, manager of the Kansas City Animal Health and Public Safety Department, said the violence inflicted on animals was a reflection, and sometimes an indicator, of violence in other parts of society.
“Most people who go on to commit crimes on people start by committing crimes against animals,” she said.
Then there is dogfighting, which is often motivated by profit or ego.
A couple in Atchison, Kan., has been charged with that crime, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick recently pleaded guilty in a dogfighting case.
On Thursday, the Johnson County district attorney discussed the details of a case accusing an Olathe man of breeding dogs for fighting.
Authorities said they found many of the same dogfighting implements federal authorities found in the Vick case: canine treadmills, jaw-strengthening rope devices, and “rape stands” used to restrain aggressive female dogs for mating.
“It’s not exactly the same thing (as animal cruelty) but it certainly falls under the category of the terrible things we do to our pets,” said Dale Bartlett deputy manager of animal-cruelty issues for the Humane Society of the United States.
• • •
Most cases uncovered by animal protection workers involve neglect or someone hording dogs or cats they cannot care for.
Sometimes, Forsberg said, a person obtains a pet without knowing how much care it needs and then abuses the animal out of frustration.
However, power motivates those rare offenders who intentionally harm a living creature for pleasure or sport.
According to literature from the Humane Society and others, animal torturers often feel powerless, and they cope by dominating a defenseless animal. Some do it to intimidate or seek revenge on someone.
Others are rejecting societal rules. Children who abuse animals often do poorly in school and have low self-esteem and few friends.
“The mind-set of those who torture, mutilate or intentionally harm an animal and derives pleasure doing so is a frightening mind-set,” said Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline.
However, Kline said, when it comes to dogfighting, there is another motivation: money.
“Breeding animals to fight doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” he said. “There must be those who purchase the animals … and those who wager.”
About 40,000 people are involved in organized, money-making, dogfighting, estimates John Goodwin, manager of animal-fighting issues for the Humane Society. An additional 100,000 participate at an amateur level, where owners fight their dogs for “street cred” or bragging rights.
Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states and is a felony in all but two. Federal laws make it illegal to transport animals across state lines for fighting or to profit from animal-fighting videos.

But despite the prohibitions, the popularity of animal fighting appears to be growing.
Goodwin said that about a dozen underground magazines were dedicated to dogfighting, and there are DVDs showing hours of canine carnage set to gangster rap music.
“There’s always something new,” Goodwin said. “But I think momentum is on our side. … I think it can be eradicated, but we have to keep plowing ahead.”
• • •
No federal law requires animal cruelty to be tracked.
Those crimes are not reported nationally to the FBI, like violent crimes against humans, and few states mandate that veterinarians report suspected abuse cases.
Pet-Abuse, however, tracks cases through the media or submissions by the public. It has an online database of more than 11,000 cases from six countries dating from 2000.
“We’re probably the best out there, but we know we’re not getting everything,” Gianotto said.
Pet-Abuse has logged 1,183 animal abuse cases in the United States so far this year, compared with 2,284 in all of 2006 and 1,962 in 2005.
Bartlett said that research over the past three decades had made the public recognize the link between animal cruelty and other violent crime.
For example, the American Humane Association reports that 71 percent of pet-owning women entering shelters said their abuser had harmed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or control. A study by the Chicago Police Department found that 86 percent of the people they arrested for animal cruelty and dogfighting had previous arrests; 65 percent had arrests for battery.
Meanwhile, stricter laws against animal brutality have been slow to evolve. Before 1986, four states had laws making animal cruelty a felony, compared with 43 states today.
Animal cruelty is a felony in both Missouri and Kansas. But neither is among a growing number of states that provide restraining orders in animal abuse cases or that ban abusers from again owning animals and mandate that they receive counseling.
Kansas Sen. David Haley said that it often took horrific animal abuse or the crimes it could lead to for lawmakers to act.
For eight years, Haley tried to pass “Scruffy’s law,” a bill to elevate Kansas’ animal cruelty law to a felony. The measure was named for a Yorkshire terrier that was burned to death on camera in 1997.
Still, the law wasn’t approved until 2006, after it became known that Wichita BTK killer Dennis Rader bound dogs and cats with wire and suffocated them in a barn long before he began slaying people.
“I think that really was where it became crystal clear how animal cruelty is a gateway to greater violence,” Haley said.

source : http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/258488.html