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         An American Animal Hospital Association survey of animal guardians found that 87 to 99% of respondents see their cat or dog as family members. 79% reported that they give their animals holiday or birthday presents. 33% talk to their dogs on the phone or through an answering machine when they're away. If stranded on a desert island, 57% would chose their dog as their only companion. 48% of the female respondents said that they relied more on their animals than their partners or families for affection.

    The amount you can expect to spend on your animal buddy during his/her lifetime: $11,500.

         If you grew up with a cat, you're more likely to consider yourself a "cat person" as an adult. Growing up with a dog, you'll probably consider yourself a "dog person." It"s called "species loyalty," and has been studied by James Serpell, professor of animal welfare at the University of Pennsylvania.

    The European Commission has recently proposed the creation of special passports for dogs, cats and ferrets! The passports would make it easier for humans to travel with their companion animals, and would contain information regarding identification (whether the animal is tattooed or microchipped), a vaccination history, and a photograph. They would replace the pet-travel papers which are currently required, and would be valid in all 15 EU countries.

Chinese Symbols

According to the Pet Food Industry Journal, July-August 1998, the animal food industry has grown to become one of the largest in existence, bringing in over 22 billion dollars each year.

   Cats' remarkable ability to survive falls from heights may be based on the fact that the dominant frequency of their purr is the exact frequency that heals bones, muscles, and ligaments. There's an old saying that's popular among veterinarians, "If you put a cat and a bunch of broken bones the same room, the bones will heal." Read more.

 Here are names of some Egyptian dogs translated from hieroglyphic:  Blackie, Reliable, Good Herdsman, One Who is Fashioned as an Arrow, Useless, Cook-pot, and She-of-The-Town. Often names would be prefaced or followed by abu or jwjw, which translates to bow-wow. (From The Bark magazine)

  Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, but dogs only have about ten.
  Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
  A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
  A snail can sleep for three years.
  Butterflies taste with their feet.
  The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.
  An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
  All polar bears are left handed. (4% of Norweigen bears are transgendered, due to pollution.)
  On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
  You are more likely to be killed by a Champagne cork than by a poisonous spider.

   Recently, doctors have concluded that the very clean environments we try to achieve for babies and young children may leave them susceptible to allergies as they grow older. Now, doctors at Ford Hospital in Detroit say their 10-year study shows that kids who were regularly exposed to animals during their first year of life (when the immune system is still developing) are less likely to be allergic to grass, dust, and mold, as well as to dogs and cats. The doctors theorize that exposure to animals' bacteria helps children lower their susceptibility to allergens. Though allergies run in families, even kids whose parents had them were less likely to be allergic themselves if there was a companion animal in the home.

    According to the American Animal Hospital Association's 1999 "National Pet Owner Survey," 31 percent of companion animal guardians have used some form of complementary medicine on their animals. Compare this to the 1996 survey, in which only 6 percent had tried any alternative therapies.

        Cats have AB blood groups, just like humans. (Source: Purina Cat Chow)

    At the end of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life," an ultrasonic whistle, audible only to dogs, was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog. (Source: Still Life With Dogs: part of the PBS.org website)

   To promote the adoption of often hard to place senior animals, the Animal Defense League of Texas offers free food for life for any animal who was over the age of eight when adopted from them. What a great idea!

    In Europe, permanent companion animal identification is mandatory. Years ago tattoos were the norm. Modern technology, in the form of microchips, is rapidly surpassing tattoos. Mandatory systems are coming into place in several other countries. The latest figures from the English National Dog Warden Association show: 73,230 dogs picked up, 12,966 (18%) were returned directly to their humans, 24,391 (33%) claimed by their guardian from kennels. This indicates 51% of dogs are being returned to their human companions in England. The United States, slow to implement permanent identification, has a 14% national return to guardian rate. More animals die as a result from being lost than from all diseases combined.

    France has one of the highest rates of companion animal guardianship in all of Europe, with almost 53% of the population sharing a home with dogs or cats.

    Each day, 1200 guests visit Europe's oldest continuously operating vegetarian restaurant. Hiltl Vegi has been in business since 1898! Read more.

    A vegetarian traveling abroad? Here are some phrases you'll want to know.

    Several public schools in Oakland and Berkeley, Calif. have converted their cafeterias to all-vegetarian, all-organic menus. (Far cry from the mystery meats served when I was a kid... Of course, there was probably little, if any, meat in those patties, so we were vegetarian, too, come to think of it!)

    There's a radio program devoted to all things vegan! Listen to Go Vegan! Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on KRLA 870 AM in Los Angeles, or live on the Internet.

    From DawnWatch: LA Channel 9 news anchor, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and "a group of like-minded people in the television industry" have launched a web-based vegetarian TV network. It is brand new, but will feature pieces on all the latest "alternative" happenings, long format videos on everything from organic gardening to juicing, infomercials on ecofriendly, cruelty-free products (great advertising opportunity!) and ultimately live shows with an accent on interaction. They are looking for vegetarians with interesting stories and say, "Send us your videos!" www.VEGtv.com

      

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