The Robo Pope

Hosting a hog roast is now one of the most popular ways of catering for parties and any event big or little. A hog roast can feed upwards of one hundred individuals, and are well suited to informal occasions. Anyone can have a hog roast, its all changed from the medieval times when simply the very prosperous and very important could afford to host a hog roast.Acquiring the correct hog roasting company can be a bit hard, but these few tips that I’m about to inform you of should make things a lot simpler. You will require a number of other things for a hog roast so make sure you acquire a company that will supply everything you want.These things include bread rolls and salads to go with the attractively prepared meat, all the cooking equipment and a chef for the length of the event and of course a hog. Picking Out the optimum company will increase the quality of your event, better companies will supply better equipment, better chefs and better quality meat. Spit roasts are a enjoyable thing because you can roast any type or size of animal, so if your not a big fan of pork don’t get put of the spit roasting idea.Various spit roasting fables exist, such as goat roasts and even a whole cow roast, but its a lot more average to see things such as chickens and lambs.Hopefully these tips will help make sure that your event runs to plans and that your guests all have a great time.

Comments Off

It is often risky and impractical to try to move fish. Fish are most sensible to to temperature changes that can hardly be avoidable during a move. So if they don’t have any special sentimental value to you - just don’t move them. Many aquarium stores may accept them and even offer a store credit, which you can use in another location close to the place you moved in. But if you don’t have this option here are some suggestions you may consider during your move:

Firstly, you need to take fish out of the aquarium and move them separately. Tanks are rarely built to withstand the stress of a move, especially with water inside. So you need to drain it after, of course, you finished putting all your fish in carrying containers. The main concern when moving a fishtank is its filtration system. The aerobic bacteria needed to preserve the life cycle of an aquarium and the life of fish starts to die after few hours without a flow of oxygen-laden water. It is not as crucial when you move short distance. What you need is to move about half of the water you’ve had in you fishtank to a new location to make sure the colony of aerobic bacteria survive. If you are moving long distance you’ll have to set up the tank exactly like a new one at your destination including one week delay.

Disassemble your aquarium before the move; heaters, pumps, filters and other media should be packed separately like fragile items. The tank itself should be in bubble wrap and packed in moving blankets. If possible, it is better not to use a moving van for transporting a fishtank but to put it in a trunk of your car.

Provided you are moving local, the actual move of your tank can take about a week with all the neccessary precautions making sure your beloved fish won’t sufer from the New Tank Syndrome. During this period you can put them either into your friend’s tank or into the pet store aquarium. Some pet stores do it for free, some can even offer additional services like packing and air shipping your fish for additional fees.

Now we came close to the actual packing and moving of the fish. Long before the move prepare the accessories you’ll need to move your fish. It might be styrofoam boxes, polythene bags, a cooler or other compartmentalized container. Take the fish out of the aquarium 15 minutes before you’ll drain it and put them in bags or styrofoam boxes: one fish per each container. Fill the fish containers with tank water and don’t forget that about a half of a container space should be left for the air pocket. Don’t feed your fish 24 hours before the move in order to make water in the containers as clean as possible. As a matter of fact, fish would feel too stressed to eat during the whole move - so don’t worry about feeding them; fish can live more than a week without food. Seal the styrofoam boxes with lids and bags - with rubber bands; to reduce the chance of leaking you can double bag your fish. Put the water plants in the separate containers too - they also need to be wet during the move. After you’ve finished packing the fish put all the bags with your pets into a container that can hold steady temperature during the whole period of the move - it might be a cooler. If you are moving far - it might be a good suggestion to get a battery powered air pump and occasionally change air in fish containers.

When you arrive to the place you’re moving in - set up the aquarium first. Add gravel, preferably from your old home; gravel contains ammonia-eating bacterias that are crucial for the aquarium not to go through New Tank Syndrome. Then fill the tank with the water you brought from the old place adding some chlorine remover. Fill the tank up with tap water of proper temperature, and turn on the filters. As the water is clearing out you may add a fish or two and watch closely for their reaction. It is absolutely normal for fish to panic and breathe harder in the new surroundings. But if a fish lies on the side and doesn’t move for few seconds put it back to a travelling container and check the tank for the proper temperature and water chemistry. Watch your fish and regularly check the tank during the first week to be sure your beloved ones haven’t got any disease.

http://www.ezmoving.com

Comments Off

Many people would say that if you get a dog they should be part of the family and live inside. I wholeheartedly agree. But sometimes that is just not possible. If you find yourself in this predicament what can you do?

A good resource for finding pet friendly rental properties can be found through the U.S.Humane Society.

Buying an enclosure is one option

Now days they come in all sizes. You could also build one using cyclone fence. If you choose this option I would recommend putting it on a slab of cement. Not only does this keep the enclosure floor dry it also prevents them from digging underneath. I also recommend a roof. This protects your dog from the elements and also keeps them from jumping over. If you have bought an enclosure they usually come with a top. You can create a cover with wood, plastic or whatever works for you. This will also help protect them from the sun. I recommend using wood because they can not pull this through the fence and chew it up. Having a lock on the enclosure is a must because most dogs will learn how to open the latch by watching you.

After you have your enclosure all set up and ready for your dog it’s time for decorating. For large dogs I recommend a bucket of water placed inside an old tire. This also works for a food bowl. If the water bucket is kept filled at all times it usually will not get tipped over. Other things that you may want to put in the enclosure include: dog house, dog bed and toys. The one thing to remember is that most dogs will chew when they are bored. If you don’t want it chewed I would not put it in the enclosure. But they should have something to entertain themselves with like tennis balls, kong toys or something designed to be chewed. Being locked up does create stress for most dogs and if you do not have something in there for them to play with or chew they sometimes start chewing themselves.

Another thing to consider with this option is placement of the enclosure. If you live in a wind prone area you may want to consider putting the enclosure on the side of the house where the wind is usually blocked. If you live where it snows you may want to put it far enough away from the house so the snow from the roof does not fall on it. Wherever you place it make sure that there is some area of the enclosure that is shaded from the sun at all times. Even though the enclosure has a roof or cover there may be no shade in the early morning or, late afternoon when the temperature is usually the hottest. Attaching wood, in a small area, to the east and west sides is a solution and along with the top will provide shade at all times. Just make sure that the shaded area is large enough for your dog or dogs. As long as your dog has shade, water, food and shelter they should be fine outside. But use common sense. If you have a greyhound and you move to Alaska, your dog should live inside or in a heated environment. If you have a Malamute and live in the Mojave desert, you have a real challenge keeping your dog from over heating outside. And remember, no dog should be locked in an enclosure, given water and food but no attention and no freedom. If you find yourself saying, “He’s a great dog, I just can’t seem to find time for him with my job” then perhaps it is time to find a new home for him or create time.

Invisible Fence

Invisible fence is a another tool. Your dog has the freedom to roam and play inside the designated area. Most collars emit a warning sound when the dog gets too close to the perimeter. Through proper training it can be very effective. The cons to this are that anyone can go into your yard and take your pet. Other dogs also have the freedom to come into your yard. If you have a dog that is jumping over your fence or going under your fence this might be a way to prevent that, using both a conventional fence and an invisible fence. It’s important to know that you shouldn’t just put up an invisible fence and let your dog loose while you go shopping or to work. Without proper training you may end up with a dog that thinks he should just run “really fast” while being zapped by the fence.

If your dog is older with a heart condition I would do my research about a product, especially if he is a small breed. And I have seen highly motivated dogs, motivated by cats, who have just run right through the perimeter fence (very fast). This is another thing to consider.

Doggie Doors

This is a great option if you can let your dog stay in the garage with a doggie door to the outside. Being able to go in the garage is nice for an outdoor dog because of the protection from the elements. You just have to make sure that your dog can not escape your property. Doggie doors give your dog options and a little more freedom. They can choose if they want to go bask in the sun or lay on the cool concrete floor. You can purchase dog doors at most pet retail stores.

Run Lines and Tethers

Personally I believe that putting a dog on a run line is an accident waiting to happen. Especially if you have more than one dog on separate lines. Dogs can jump over fences, dog houses and things you wouldn’t even think about and get hurt or worse. Chaining a dog to something is another accident waiting to happen. Enough said.

You should take into consideration that all dogs are different in size, tolerance, and intellect. Some large dogs can stay behind a two foot fence and never try to escape. Some small dogs can stay behind a six foot fence and figure out a way over the top. If you have your dog spayed or neutered they have less desire to go roaming. If you make the time at the house more fun than running amok away from the house your dog is more likely to stick around.

If you leave your dog unattended they should not be wearing a choke collar.
They can get caught inside a kennel, outside on a tree or stuck to a water sprinkler. Even if you think your property is safe, they can find something to get stuck on and possibly choke.

Katherine Durr is a professional dog groomer and the author of “How to Groom your Mutt”. Visit her website at Doggie Dews

Comments Off

Two types of dog ticks are commonly found in the United States. These are the American dog tick and the brown dog tick. Their scientific names are Dermacentor variabilis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, respectively. The brown dog tick does not pose a threat to humans, as it rarely feeds on them.

American dog ticks are reddish-brown. The female has a silver spot, while the male has silver lines on the body. They are found in grasslands and woods. Larvae and nymphs feed on mice, squirrels, and other small animals, while adults feed on cattle, deer, raccoons, dogs, and humans. Adults are active between April and June. These ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia to humans.

Brown dog ticks are unique in the sense that they can live and grow indoors. They are found in kennels or in homes where dogs stay and can cause canine babesiosis, canine ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. These ticks are also reddish-brown and their preferred host is a dog. To prevent brown dog tick bites, it is necessary to treat the dog, kennel, and home with tick-killing pesticide. Outdoor pesticide treatment is also crucial.

Dog ticks must be removed immediately if found attached to a host. Tweezers or commercial tick removal aids should be used for this purpose. Gloves must be worn during tick removal. Ticks should never be touched with bare hands because they can transmit infections. The correct method is to slowly pull the tick out from the point of attachment, ensuring that its mouth is not embedded in the skin of the host. The tick should not be crushed in the process. After removal, the bitten area and the tool used to remove the tick should be cleaned with antiseptic. Vaseline, alcohol, nail-polish, or glowing match should not be used for removing ticks.

To conclude, dog tick bites need to be prevented at all costs as they have the potential to infect people and animals with serious diseases. People living in tick-infested areas need to examine themselves and their pets regularly to rule out ticks.

Ticks provides detailed information on Ticks, Tick Bites, Deer Ticks, Dog Ticks and more. Ticks is affiliated with Mosquito Magnets.

Comments Off