The Siberian Husky | HuskyFinder.com

Mar 1, 2010 Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2010 in Books | 0 comments The Siberian Husky

The mischievous face of the Siberian Husky is a familiar sight wherever dog lovers gather, and you don’t even need snow or a sled to appreciate the breed’s many fine qualities. The spirit of this able athlete and able friend can be recognized throughout this bright, new book. like the other titles in Howell’s best of Breed Library, this book features chapters on all aspects of caring for and competing with a dog. Written for experienced breeders and novices alike, the book is practical yet complete and includes over 100 full-color photos.

User ReviewsWonderful Book, great Photography, Quality Presentation and Appearance. good Information, Unbiased and Covers many Subjects of Concern or Intrests. — Wonderful BookA very good general background book for the Siberian Husky owner. This book has beautiful color photos. Shows various markings and colors of Huskies, describes in detail Breed Standard + show expectations. Tells the history of this breed and explains why a Husky may not be the best dog for everyone. The Siberian Husky is a beautiful, intellegent + spirited dog. Reading this book, you can tell that it’s author really loves them. — Good info + photosI purchased a siberian husky 1 year ago and wanted to learn as much as I could about the breed. This book says it all. I have bought several other books, and basically they stink. This book is well written, has beautiful pictures and truely says how a husky is. If you are thinking of purchasing a husky or already own one, and want some help in understanding your dog – this book is for you. Cannot say enough about this book. If I could give it more than five stars I would. — The best Husky BookDescribing the Siberian Husky as being too intelligent, clean, charming and clownish, and mentioning their strong need for company, their greatness in digging up your lawn, ignoring your calls, and loving children, dogs and burglars alike, makes me recognise my affectionate friend in every aspect of this great new book. It provides extensive background on the history of “the little Chukchi dogs”, from the people that bred these dogs as an integral part of their lives to their appearance in Alaska sledding races. The book describes how a healthy husky should look, how to be groomed, showed and taken care of. The book also warns of treating huskies as “hairy, little people”, instead of wolf-like, noble dogs with a sledding heritage that should rather be trained firmly. When you have always wanted to own a husky, or have purchased one already, the book is an enjoying read about wonderful husky moments, making you definitely laugh when you realise they ALL bolt after the squirrel across the road. It also provides a great guide for those considering purchasing a husky, describing all the needs of this beautiful dog breed. This book is all about understanding your (future) companion, and making them and yourself happiest! — you’ll laugh when you realise they ALL bolt after squirrelsThis book is amazing; there are interesting facts about Siberian Husky history [did you know they were turned loose by the tribe that bred them and hunted freely in packs for part of the year?], anatomy [the 'stop', or angle where their snout joins their face, has to be at a precise degree so air can warm up and lungs will not be frostbitten when working in the snow], and tons of useful information for sibe novices and experts alike. I recommend this book ENTHUSIASTICALLY to anyone who owns or is thinking of owning a Siberian! — Best Siberian Husky Book Ever!

Last Update: 5 hours ago

  1. Siberian Huskies Complete Owner’s Manual This intelligent dog is naturally friendly and gentle. Though widely…

Related posts brought to you by Yet another Related Posts Plugin.

Leave a reply

The Siberian Husky | HuskyFinder.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Maintaining Your Havanese Nutrition With A Raw Food Diet …

The Havanese has quickly become one of the most popular toy breeds in the country today. but with so many genetic health problems that these dogs are prone to, it is essential that you maintain the proper balanced nutrition for your dog. One of the best ways to do this is to feed your Havanese a raw food diet. This is a relative straightforward diet that you can make in the comfort of your own kitchen, at a price that is most often more affordable than commercial dog foods. With so many different health scares that can occur when feeding your Havanese commercial dog food, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your Havanese was getting the right balance of vitamins and minerals; without the concerns of tainted food that many dog owners face?

The Havanese is currently one of the most popular breeds among toy dog lovers. only gaining in popularity since the 1970’s, we are still learning much there is to know about these sweet and loveable little dogs. One of the most important things about Havanese ownership, however, is maintaining the proper balance of nutrition and exercise for your dog to help ensure that your dog has a long and happy life.

There are several schools of thought as to what is the best diet to feed your Havanese, but even so it is most commonly accepted that these little dogs need a well-balanced combination of meats, vegetables, and grain to stay healthy. The diet that is becoming that most popular amongst Havanese owners is the raw diet – a diet consisting of mainly raw meats and ground vegetables, combined with well cooked long grain rice. it is this diet that we will focus on here.

The biggest part of Havanese nutrition is making certain that they are getting all of the nutrients necessary to maintain their naturally long, shiny coat and playful nature. The main premise behind the raw diet being the best diet to feed your Havanese, is that the essential vitamins and nutrients in the meats and vegetables are not cooked out as they are in commercially processed dog food. This is especially vital for the Havanese, as they are prone to congenital defects, which can greatly affect their health.

You don’t have to buy expensive raw food from a fancy boutique, either. You can actually make the best diet to feed your Havanese right in your very own kitchen. The most important part of making raw food a part of your Havanese nutrition, is to remember to perfectly balance the mixture with meats (such as chicken, beef, and lamb), vegetables (such as carrots), and add well-cooked long grain rice as a binder.

The best diet you can feed your Havanese is one that offers a complete balance of vitamins and minerals. there are a number of supplements available in veterinary supply stores and at vet offices around the world that you can feed your dog if you are afraid they may not be fulfilling your Havanese’ nutrition needs from their food alone. while commercial dog food offers most dogs sustenance, they are not always the best for ensuring proper nutrition.

With so many different concerns that many dog owners have had to face with the commercial food that is available, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your Havanese is getting the very best in nutrition possible? Making your own dog food for your Havanese is the best way to ensure that your dog is getting all of the vitamins and nutrients that they need and to help give you the peace of mind that your dog’s food is safe and healthy.

Fiona Kelly is a long time lover of the Havanese breed, their playful personality, as well as their beautiful looks. a well balanced diet is a vital part of Havanese care. Ensuring that your dog has a well balanced diet will help to make certain that your dog is as healthy as he or she can be. This article is for dog owners who want to ensure that the Havanese dog food recipes they feed their dogs are properly balanced.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Filed under: Raw Food Articles

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!

Possibly related posts

Maintaining your Havanese Nutrition With a Raw Food Diet …

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tips for Finding the Perfect Purebred Dog or Puppy | Everything …

Finding a Dog 101 – Dogs are fantastic companions, and love you no matter what, but remember:

• Dogs DO take time! Remember, just like us, they are social animals who do not like being left alone. You can’t just stick them out in the yard or leave them in the house alone all the time and expect everything to be all right. many types of behavioral problems occur just as a result of this one thing. do you honestly have ample time every day to spend walking, feeding, cleaning up after, grooming, exercising and playing with your dog? and dogs often live for ten to fifteen years, so enter into this as a seriously long-term commitment.

• Dogs DO cost money. There are food requirements which vary from dog to dog. they will need regular health care as well including: shots, wormings, check ups, etc. some dog breeds will additionally need regular grooming. Puppies will damage things in your house from time to time – it’s a fact. Finding a dog may lead to things being replaced more often. You will have to do more cleaning from time to time – shedding fur, etc.

• Dogs DO require ample space which can vary from breed to breed. Take the time to research ALL the requirements needed for all breeds you may be interested in. do you live in an apartment? A duplex/townhouse or condo? A single family home? do you have a securely fenced yard or access to a securely fenced in area for your dog to play in? if not, can you seriously make some other kind of suitable and realistic arrangements for your dog to get adequate DAILY exercise? Finding a dog requires a lot of forethought and planning.

1) Be honest. Finding a dog can take some time. first of all, do you really want a dog? Is a purebred dog perfect for you? Or would you be just as happy adopting a dog from the local animal shelter or rescue organization in your area?

2) so you still really want a dog even will all the needs listed above in mind …

If you can honestly answer all these needs mentioned above with a positive response then you’re ready for step 2.

So now, you must now ask yourself:

Finding a Dog 101 – What breed of purebred dog do you want?

Research, research, research! Before selecting a purebred puppy breed you must first carefully consider many things about yourself and your family, such as: your exercise schedule, your own personality, your family and home situation, what you expect of your dog (watchdog, companion for your children, Hunting, etc.), whether you live in a house with a fenced yard or in an apartment/duplex/condo, etc. You want to honestly match the dog’s needs to yours as closely as possible for the best match possible. Finding a dog takes plenty of forethought and research.

For example, if you’re athletically inclined, you don’t want a doggie couch potato – a dog that has low exercise needs. if you’re a couch potato yourself, you don’t want a purebred puppy that needs a lot of exercise.

• first, DO NOT decide on any dog breed based on looks alone. when finding a dog take your time and do lots of research BEFORE making any new kind of new doggie addition to your family. the eight major purebred dog groups found in the AKC in particular (Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, Herding and Miscellaneous) is a great place to start. Feel free to use the dog breed resources on our site as a good place to start as well. We offer many individual dog breed profiles including lots of in-depth information on many kinds of purebred dog…

Finding a Dog 101 – Next: Selecting your Dog. do you want an adult or puppy?

Almost everyone wants a puppy. Puppies are lots of fun and can be easy to train and socialize, but they require a lot of time and care. Adult dogs often require less care overall than puppies but may have developed some types of behavioral or socialization problems during their life. if you are more inclined to get an adult dog, one good choice to start with is a rescue dog, possibly from a local shelter or rescue organization. There are many shelters and breed rescue groups available which can be visited on the internet, via the phone or in person depending on your area and finding a dog in one of these places can potentially mean saving it’s life. Sometimes these organizations may have puppies for adoption as well.

Finding a Dog 101 – Where is the best place to find a dog or puppy?

• first, consider adopting a dog from a shelter or purebred dog rescue organization. Way too many dogs are euthanized each year, and you might just find a dog – the perfect companion for you, at the local pound or through a rescue group for your favorite breed. and you saved a life in the process!

• second, find a “real” breeder. A real breeder of purebred dogs usually belongs to a breed club for their specific dog breed as well as belonging to several other dog related organizations. Additionally, many purebred dog breeders may be involved in showing their own dogs or participating in other dog related activities as agility, lure coursing or herding events. Finding purebred dogs or purebred puppies here means you have a much better chance at learning about the dogs ancestors, breed health problems, littermates, seeing the actual living conditions the puppy was raised in, and have a resource for future questions and a new friend for the life of your new dog.

Other very important things to look for in a purebred dog breeder – do they: provide references; have a clean kennel with healthy, well-socialized animals; provide a pedigree and registration application form; give you written instructions on feeding, training and care; provide a written contract with conditions of sale and warranty; give you a record of vaccinations and wormings?

Are the breeders: interested in your qualifications to be an owner of one of their precious puppies (your home and family situation, etc); insistent that you take the purebred puppy to a vet for a check-up immediately after purchase; insistent that you continue with vaccinations and wormings on a regular basis; encouraging the relationship between you and the breeder as a continuing one; there for you on an “on-call” basis with ANY future questions or problems that you may have about you new puppy or dog?

Places to avoid when finding a dog:

• Pet shop. These poor puppies are often poorly bred and raised in the most terrible living conditions. You’ll never get a chance to see the parents, littermates or the actual original home they were bred in and you will never know what kind of inherited health problems they have until way too late. Finding a dog here means a potential lifetime of health problems as well as the potential to carry on this awful practice of puppy milling by supporting the sellers of their animals.

• Backyard breeders. Typically these are people who own a dog but are not knowledgeable at all in the details about the breed, inherent health problems and risks, history of their dogs (other than their “papers”), etc. and think it will be “fun” or maybe even “profitable” to have a litter of puppies. any dog breeders who lets you handle a very young puppy, shows signs of neglect (such as lack of water, and dirty conditions) in their kennel, are willing to sell a puppy under seven weeks of age are not looking out for the puppies best interest. Leave and find a reputable breeder asap! Finding a dog here also means many potential problems and no real support for your new puppy in the future.

We suggest you take your time when searching for your new canine companion. call breeders, visit their websites if possible, contact parent clubs for references for reputable breeders in your area. the more research you do BEFORE you bring your new companion home, the better off everyone, including the new doggie, will be.

Debbie Ray
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-for-finding-the-perfect-purebred-dog-or-puppy-625254.html

Tips for Finding the Perfect Purebred Dog or Puppy | Everything …

Popularity: 1% [?]

Community Extra: Calendar

Meetings

Catholic Daughter of America, St. Rita Court of Everett: 10:30 a.m. third Saturdays at Washington Oakes Retirement Home, 1717 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. Barbara, 425-514-3016, or Dorothy, 425-377-6202.

Daughters of Norway Thelma Lodge 26: 10 a.m. March 20 at St. Paul’s Church, 2005 Colby Ave., Everett. the program will be by Beth Koll, a Nordic and Celtic harpist from Seattle. Guests are welcome. Membership is open to women over age 13 of Scandinavian descent.

Edmonds Lions Club: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays at Stevens Hospital cafeteria, 21601 76th Ave. W., Edmonds. 425-774-6353.

Everett Pacesetters Toastmaster Club: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Washington Oaks, 1717 Rockefeller, in Everett. A club for those interested in becoming a better speaker, listener and communicator. Heather, 425-252-7649.

Everett PROBUS Club: Meets for fellowship and a program at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month at Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave., Everett. 425-334-4327.

Got’Cha Referrals: A business networking group that meets from 7:15 to 8:45 a.m. Wednesdays at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 21616 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell. 425 775-6295, www.gotchareferrals.com.

PBY Memorial Foundation: 11:30 a.m. fourth Tuesdays at the CPO Club on Ault Field Road, Oak Harbor. Speakers’ talks are related to a range of historical subjects.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Arlington Post 1561: Meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesdays at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum, 20722 67th Ave. NE, Arlington. all veterans who have served honorably and received a combat or campaign medal are eligible to join. 425-232-8453 or 360-435-6677.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lynnwood Post 1040: Meets first Thursdays at the Alderwood Youth Club, 19619 24th Ave. W., Lynnwood. all veterans who have served honorably and received a combat or campaign medal are eligible to join. 425-774-7416, 425-697-4102 or 425-486-2637.

Music and Theater

Archbishop Murphy High School spring musical: “Once upon a Mattress” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and March 19, 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday and March 20 at PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Ticket Prices: $13 adults, $11 seniors 62 and over, students, children under 10. 425-379-6363 or http://tinyurl.com/amhsplay.

Northshore Christian Academy: “Seussical, Jr.!” features 36 of NCA’s students at 6:30 p.m. March 21 and March 22 at Northshore Christian Church, 5700 23rd Drive W., Everett. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Village Community Services: Friday music jam sessions, 1 to 3 p.m. at 338 N. MacLeod Ave., Arlington. Kids and adults are invited. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. 360-653-7752, ext. 14.

Events

Archbishop Murphy High School Parent Association: Parent forums on adolescence and alcohol at 7 tonight and March 18 in the Multipurpose Room at the high school, 12911 39th Ave. SE, Everett. 425-379-6363 or www.am-hs.org.

Benefit dance and dessert auction for Haiti: 7 p.m. March 20 at the Snohomish Senior Center, 506 4th St., Snohomish. An evening of live classic rock music presented by the King’s Project, a group of musicians from Snohomish, presented in partnership with Christ the King Lutheran Church. Advance tickets are $10, or $15 at the door, and include beverages, wine, cheese and dessert. A dessert auction also will be held following the dance; with all the proceeds from the evening going to Food for the Poor Inc. to purchase and distribute tents for Haitians left homeless by the earthquake in January. Advanced tickets can be purchased through Christ the King Lutheran Church, 360-568-5704, or the Snohomish Senior Center, 360-568-0934.

Bingo and fantasy casino night: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Meadowdale High School, 6002 168th St. SW, Lynnwood. A fundraiser hosted by the Meadowdale High School Grad Night Committee. Cost: $7.

Interfaith garden party and plant sale: 1 to 5 p.m. March 20 at the North Everett Lion’s Club, 2820 Oakes Ave., Everett. Proceeds help support the Interfaith Family Shelter. 425-252-6672 or www.interfaithwa.org.

Lynnwood Community Band and Archbishop Murphy High School Band combined concert: 7 p.m. March 26 at Advent Lutheran Church, 4306 132nd St. SE, mill Creek. Admission is free and food bank donations are appreciated. 206-550-0333, lynnwoodcommunityband@ msn.com, or www.lynnwoodcommunityband.org.

Mill Creek Foursquare Church community carnival: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 22 at 1415 164th St. SW, Lynnwood. Carnival games, obstacle course, car washes provided. Free. 425-742-3366, www.mc4square.org.

Northwest Western Swing Music Society March Showcase: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at 2711 Oakes Ave., Everett. Hosted by western swing band Longhorn and Keith Holter. Food available for purchase. 360-659-9713

Silvana fair Board auction: Silent auction starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Viking Hall, 1331 E. Pioneer Highway, Silvana. Live auction starts at 6 p.m. call 360-652-8682 to donate new merchandise.

Snohomish Senior Center Open House: 4 to 6 p.m. April 7 at the Snohomish Senior Center, 506 Fourth St. Snohomish. Celebrate the first anniversary of the facility with activities, free refreshments and tours of the center. 360-568-0934.

Zonta Club of Everett VIP dinner and awards ceremony: 5:30 p.m. social, 6 p.m. dinner April 15 at Everett Golf and Country Club, 1500 52nd St. SE, Everett. Speaker Dr. Alice Rowe will present how to Become the Hero of Your own Life: Lessons from the “Wizard of Oz.” Tickets $25. Reservations: 425-348-3501.

Classes

Baby-sitting Basics: A two-week Camp Fire USA course for ages 10 to 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ken Baxter Senior and Community Center, 514 Delta Ave., Marysville. Class is $30. Registration required, 360-363-8400.

Clothing and textile-adviser training: Weekly class for anyone interested in volunteering to teach sewing and needle arts to residents of Snohomish County from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 5 through June 7 at the Washington State University Extension Office, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. no class May 31. Classes are $75 for 30 hours of training. A refund of $50 will be given when 50 hours of volunteer time has been completed within a year of finishing the program. Register by April 1. Carla Peery, 425-338-2400, ext. 5545, or e-mail sno.cta@wsu.edu.

East County Senior Center: Free writing class at 2 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month, 276 Sky River Parkway, Monroe. 360-794-6359.

Genealogy class: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 20 at Bothell Sons of Norway, 23905 Bothell-Everett Highway. Genealogist Ginny Wegenast will walk through the basic steps to begin research. Selma Snaring, 425-385-2144.

Mill Creek Senior Center: A variety of classes for seniors, including computer classes at 15720 Main St., Suite 210, mill Creek. 425-948-7170.

Third Friday of the month dance: 7:30 p.m. at the South Camano Grange, 2227 S. Camano Drive, Camano Island. Swing dance lesson included in the $8 admission. 360-387-6842.

Groups

Mukilteo Arts Guild Writers Group: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Mukilteo YMCA, 10601 47th place W., Mukilteo. A literary salon for writers seeking supportive, collaborative and honest community of friends. the group is open to writers from all genres. 425-338-0114.

Parkinson’s disease support group: 2 to 4 p.m. fourth Saturdays in the Rainier Room at 1330 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. 425-327-9401.

Snohomish Antique Study Club: 6:30 p.m. every fourth Wednesday in the meeting room at Snohomish City Library, 311 Maple Ave., Snohomish. 360-568-8095.

Support group for caregivers: Daytime group at 10 a.m. every first Thursday. Evening group at 6 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month. both groups meet at Faith Lutheran Church, 6708 Cady Road, Everett. Prayer, brief Bible study and sharing with one another. 425-355-6005.

Support group for special education parents in the Everett School District: 6:30 to 8 p.m. every third Thursday at the ARC of Snohomish County, 2500 Hewitt Ave., Suite 300, Everett. www.arcsno.org.

Whidbey Island Genealogical Searchers: 1 to 3 p.m. second Tuesdays at 2720 Heller Road, Oak Harbor. Lyle Zimmerman, 360-675-5565, zimlj@verizon.net, or Ruth Hancock, 360-675-4086, randr.hancock@verizon.net.

Libraries

Arlington Library: Book group 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Arlington Library, 135 N. Washington Ave., Arlington. 360-435-3033.

Granite Falls Library: Family story time at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Granite Falls Library, 815 E. Galena St., Granite Falls. 360-691-6087.

Friends of the Monroe Library: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Monroe Library, 1070 Village way, Monroe. 360-794-7851.

Friends of the Monroe Library annual book sale: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20 at the Monroe Library, 1070 Village way, Monroe. all proceeds benefit the Friends of the Monroe Library. 360-794-7851.

Mountlake Terrace Library: Senior citizens who need help figuring out a new gadget can get help from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the library, 23300 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace, from tech-savvy teens. Teens who are interested in volunteering should contact Dawn, 360-651-7069. the event will happen again from 1 to 3 p.m. March 27 at the Mountlake Terrace Library and from 4 to 5 p.m. on March 24 at the Lynnwood Library. 425-776-8722.

Mountlake Terrace Library: Free toddler play-and-learn group, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. Activities include open play, making friends, art, stories and music. Children ages 18 months to 3 years with caregiver are invited. 425-776-8722.

Mukilteo Library: Keepin’ Knit Real meets at 10 a.m. today and March 25 at the Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd., Mukilteo. Knitters of all ages and skill levels are welcome to come and work on their own project, or knit an item for Families for Kids, a nonprofit organization serving foster and adoptive families of Washington. Beginners should bring a pair of no. 8 or 9 needles and a skein of worsted-weight yarn. 425-493-8202.

Ongoing

AARP Tax Aide program: 4 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday through April 15 at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. Free tax preparation for middle- to low-income taxpayers, especially those ages 60 and older. call 425-776-8722 for an appointment.

AARP Tax Aide program: 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through April 15 at the Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Free E-filing held at the Lynnwood Public Library sponsored by AARP. call 425-778-2148 for an appointment.

Everett Rock and Gem Club: 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month, first United Methodist Church, 3530 Colby Ave., Everett. Families are encouraged to attend. 360-658-7435.

Everett Senior Center: Table tennis noon to 3 p.m. Mondays, 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon Fridays at 3025 Lombard Ave., Everett. 425-257-8780.

Pocahontas Tribe 11: 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month at Redman Hall, 6814 Washington Ave., Everett. 425-259-4567.

Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island: Meets 1 p.m. the second Monday of the month through June at Trinity Lutheran Church, 18341 Highway 525, Freeland. 360-579-2352.

Salt of the Earth Food Bank: Soup kitchen at noon Tuesdays at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2531 Hoyt Ave., Everett. Free sack lunches or hot meals are served to the homeless, low-income seniors and families, and kids on the streets. 425-355-1042.

Sno-Isle Genealogical Society: 6 p.m. first Wednesdays except July and August at the Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300 58th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. Brick-wall session begins at 6 p.m., the meeting is at 6:30 p.m. and the program is at 7 p.m. the genealogical research library, 19827 Poplar way, Lynnwood, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 425-775-6267.

Valley Spinners Guild: 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1512 Pine St., Snohomish. Learn to spin wool. Alice Lake, 360-668-8196, e-mail valleyspinnersguild@gmail.com or http://valleyspinnersguild.wordpress.com.

You can Help

Clothing and Textile Advisors of Snohomish County Community Sew Days: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. third Saturdays in the Evergreen Room at the WSU Extension Office, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. Work on charitable projects, such as tote bags for Pathways for Women or fleece jackets and hats for foster kids. 425-338-2400, ext. 5545, http://campstitchalot.blogspot.com.

Humane Society: Volunteer help needed to clean and socialize cats for one to two hours any late afternoon of the week in Stanwood. Volunteers in the construction trades also needed. 360-652-5844, hmnsoc@aol.com.

Operation Lookout: A provider of services for abducted and runaway children seeks energetic and committed people to be volunteer project assistants. 425-771-7335.

Partners in Palliative Care: Seeks volunteer listeners for its support program. 425-261-4769.

Snohomish Community Food Bank: Needs volunteers to help with a variety of tasks, including food processing and lifting assistance on weekday mornings. must be 16 or older. 360-568-7993.

Project Linus: Learn how to make a Project Linus blanket for a child in crisis from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo. A class for those needing help with the basics of making a quilt. Bring your own sewing machine and notions. Fabrics and batting will be provided. Register: Diane, 425-252-4524.

Stanwood-Camano Community Resource Center: Volunteer opportunities for youths and adults, including working in the bookstore and doing grounds maintenance, 9620 271st St. NW, Stanwood, 360-629-5257.

Volunteers of America Western Washington Everett Food Bank: Accepts donations 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Volunteers of America, 1230 Broadway, Everett.

YWCA Working Women’s Wardrobe Program: Needs clothing-store shopping bags for clothing donated to the program. Free clothing is available to low-income women who are in need of interview or work-appropriate clothing. the program also needs personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, washcloths and feminine hygiene products. the program is at the YWCA, 3301 Broadway, Everett. 425-258-2766.

Community Extra: Calendar

Popularity: 1% [?]

Dogs on the Blog: Should pet owners be forced to buy insurance …

I have been rescuing animals for over 10 years and I was appalled to hear the Governments latest plan to make all Dog owners buy insurance.

I can see all the insurance companies rubbing there hand with glee at the news but it is the most ridiculous idea I have heard in years. Responsible animal owners already have insurance and those who are not responsible will ignore it anyway so how is this going to work exactly?

There is a very simple solution to the problem but as it won’t involve the same amount of money, Mr Brown has chosen another route… It makes me think that perhaps the Government think by bringing in this law would mean more business income not better controls on the situation but they disguised it as a strong step towards better animal control.

I am the owner of 8 dogs and I do not have Pet Insurance.
What! I hear you cry but here’s the deal. I have 5 Rottweiler’s, 1 Doberman, a Jack Russell and a Patterdale Terrier, we also have 3 cats and apart from things such as worming and flea treatment which are not covered on some insurance, we prefer to have a separate bank account into which we pay money every month. As visits to the Vets are rare (thankfully) we find we have enough in the account to cover all our Vet bills and we also noticed we save more as some years we spend less than others.

The dangerous dogs act requires that all the dogs on the list are chipped, tattooed and then muzzled when in public, and my question is this:

How do know what types of dogs are dangerous and which are not?

They list certain breeds as “naturally aggressive” and I disagree with this. there is no such thing as a dangerous dog, but there are plenty of dangerous owners. It makes me laugh when I read the stats online as they state most dangerous dog currently in Britain is none of the breeds on the dangerous list, in fact none of them even make the top ten!

I bet you want to know the breed of dog that has caused the most injuries? well, and your going to love this, it is a Border Collie closely followed by Staffordshire Terriers, both these dogs are one of the most popular breeds in the UK and the Collie has held to top spot for attacks for quite some times which again begs the question, who is responsible if your dog attacks?

If the onus was put on the owners rather than just putting the animal down, more responsibility would have to be taken by bad pet owners. All my animals are chipped and jabbed when they arrive at our home and receive a lot of training after all, imagine they are your child. one day your kid hits another breaking his nose, are you going to put him down, of course not. you will probably choose a suitable punishment so they learn not to do it again. why can’t the same principle be used with animals? If your dog causes harm you have to take responsibility and pay all costs incurred by the “victim” this should also cover compensation.

We walk our dog’s everyday in a local park and I get muttered comments from passers by such as “That should have a muzzle” or “That’s a dangerous dog”, I wish people would realise the only danger to them, is me! I am way more dangerous than any of my pets and the only one that has bitten me was the Jack Russell! If cannot control your animal, train it, read books about their psychology and learn everything you can about them, then and only then can you offer a proper home.

Should a dog be put down after attacking another dog or worse a child? you can probably guess my answer to this and no it should not however it should be removed from the owner as they obviously cannot look after pets properly.

All of my Rottweiler’s were passed onto us as “Dangerous Dogs” and in all our years we have had no problem with any of them. we never leave them alone with anyone but that is just good common sense and my Grandsons learned to walk holding onto Mr Vincent (one of my Rottweiler’s) ears! we are currently training the Doberman as it will be going to our Grandsons to live and I would recommend the breed highly if you have kids, but, like any animal, if you cannot walk them / care for them or train them, you should not get one. we are specialists in our rescues and only take so called “Dangerous Dogs” as we know they will not get a home elsewhere. we can only take Rottweiler’s and Dobermans and we never re-home as we have never met anyone who knows these breeds like we do.

All in all good pet ownership is down to old fashioned common sense and if the Government had some, there would be no stupid laws that don’t work, just solutions that do.

Take great care people.

Angie

Share on FacebookDid you like this? If so, please bookmark it, about it, and subscribe to the blog RSS feed.

Dogs on the Blog: should pet owners be forced to buy insurance …

Popularity: 1% [?]

My "new" addiction

I no longer can go to Meijers Grocery/Department store to buy groceries. like an alcoholic in a liquor store or a gambler in a casino I am drawn to my weakness like a high powered magnet and can’t seem to resist. What’s my weakness you ask? Buying Schleich animals for my grandsons! they were rated as the #1 toy for 2009 by the Today show, (if that source means anything to you-ha!). Yet, after watching my eldest grandson play with them constantly I would agree with their assessment. I truly believe we could take away all of Christian’s other toys and he wouldn’t mind as long as he still had his animals. The variety of animals they manufacture is amazing and the detail and quality of each animal exceeds most of today’s toys. Fortunately or unfortunately for an addict like me they usually cost less than $5.00 each making them an “easy buy”. Since I am staying with Rebecca now I have taken a number of photos of Christian and Logan and generally the animals are in the pictures somewhere. Oh, by the way, these animals are easy to mail, hence Aiden has a good collection already in progress!
All you grandparents out there-be warned!! If you pass by a bin of Schleich animals check them out and you too may become hooked!!

My "new" addiction

Popularity: 1% [?]

Blast From the Past: 2 Live Crew – Banned in the USA

]]> Blast from the past is a weekly column on Crossfade re-examining classic releases from Florida music of yesteryear. to read previous installments, click here.

2 Live CrewBanned in the USA(Luke Records)

Well, it was bound to happen within these pages: 2 Live Crew. it would be downright irresponsible to revisit South Florida’s musical past without touching upon this controversial and polarizing group. and while this would be their fourth full-length album and an unlikely first entry for them in this series, I tend to go with my personal recollections and experiences and this one, in full raunchy glory goes down January of 1991 and involves my fourteen year old ass vacationing in Miami, getting dropped off at a movie theatre in West Kendall and sucking on some titties. which I’m sure would’ve been approved of by Luke “Skyywalker” Campbell, Fresh Kid Ice, mr. Mixx and Brother Marquis.

Everybody knows that this album was technically a response to the arduous litigation they suffered for their third album, 1989’s <>As Nasty As they Wanna Be and that the most “responsive” responses were the title track and the humorous send-up of former Governor of Florida Bob Martinez and former Broward County sheriff Nick Navarro, “Fuck Martinez.” You can’t even begin to believe how delighted I was to see this! Up to that point in time, the only musical raunch I knew came from Los Hombres G and La Polla Records. But this begins meeting a friend from who was also vacationing in Miami at the West Kendall movie theatre (currently a DSW Shoe Warehouse) to watch Edward Scissorhands which had come out that winter.

Needless to say, my hormones and her braces were no match and we started in on the regular type of stupid making-out and coy kissing kids do at that age and though to my credit I did try to put my hands down her Guess jeans, to her credit she blocked off my advances with what was undoubtedly some type of femme martial art. not severely interested in the works of Tim Burton at the time, we kept with the kissing, plus the movie wasn’t subtitled and my English wasn’t very good at the time, and there, when Edward falls from grace, she unbuttons her blouse and puts my hand on her tits. I’ve often wondered why she didn’t fend my mouth off and since then, nipples have been little poems for my lips.

After the movie we went over to the record store that used to be in that mall (currently either a pet store or a Bed, Bath and Beyond) to check out some records. I had not been exposed to the rap thing but I had heard about the 2 Live Crew obscenity trials and their feud with Floridian elected officials so when I saw this tape [yes, cassette tape] on the rack I pulled it out and read the tracks. and as bad as my English was at the time, many things came through, loud and clear. “Fuck Martinez,” “Strip Club,” “Face Down, Ass Up” and “Mamolapenga.” I wasn’t sure what the “parental advisory” sticker on the cover meant, but on to the counter I went, paid and walked right out. she got Franco de Vita’s Extranjero and I remember that, not so much because of the sexual experience, but because he looks like Al Pacino on the cover.

I must’ve played that tape a thousand times and I don’t mean the whole tape because I did develop some reservations towards some of the tracks and I never (still haven’t) fully understood the necessity for “skits” and “intros” interspersed throughout an album, but then again, what the Hell do I know, right? I spent entire afternoons rewinding and fast-forwarding amongst the aforementioned tracks and the super clean but still somewhat suggestive and totally capitalizing on the Bart Simpson fad, “Do the Bart” which I’ve been told since was some type of dance that may or may not be a precursor to the ass-clap. always loved the Santana sample on “Mamolapenga” and the saucy Latina trying to fight off the black cock and the Bruce Springsteen approved “Banned in the USA,” which detailed their suffering in Florida courts over Freedom of Speech.

I don’t know what happened to that girl, but I remember her breasts fondly. and while I was never sure about certain aspects of the album, I’ll try to clarify them now with an open invitation for Luke to rectify, since he is now a new Times columnist. first, this was originally credited as Luke’s first solo album, featuring the 2 Live Crew. second: I’ve seen a number of covers for the album, one with a girl posed like Springsteen, another with the whole group, but the cover above corresponds to the cassette edition that I purchased, would’ve scanned mine if I hadn’t lost the tape many moons ago. Thirdly, while I’ve seen various track listings here and there, I distinctly recall my tape having twenty-five tracks listed and being released by Luke Records but I’ve also seen presses by Little Joe Records and Atlantic/WEA.

Was I emboldened to step into the 2 Live Crew fray because of the first time I sucked a woman’s breasts? the smells of buttery popcorn and her perfume? Or did my hard-on prevent me from acting with a little more decorum and class? bottom line is, had we not met that afternoon, I probably would’ve never bought this album, and for that I thank her, wherever she may be. Check out the video below, my friend and ex-coworker Alfredo P. is actually in the courtroom scenes with the crew, he’s the skinny white-boy behind the lawyers.

Blast from the past: 2 Live Crew – Banned in the USA

Popularity: 1% [?]

Pet of the Week

]]>

Name: Maserati/Porsche Breed: longhair Tabby/domestic longhair

Maserati and Porsche are two beautiful 10-year-old cats; Maserati a male brown longhair Tabby and Porsche a female black domestic longhair. Staff members say that when a citizen reported a pair of stray cats hanging around his garage it was arranged for the Animal Care League to enter through the local animal control. Upon arrival, the beep of the microchip scanner indicated the cats were chipped, but left staff members completely stunned when it was discovered that the owner turned out to be the very same person who reported them as strays.

The pair were named Porsche and Maserati in hopes of finding them speedy placement. Maserati is easy to handle, gratefully responds to pets with gentle nudges of his head, but will require a caregiver who will take pleasure in grooming his long fur to restore it to the beautiful coat it must have been. Porsche, who has a similar disposition and a nice loud purr, will also need brushing

It is recommended that they both be placed in a quiet household or with children at least 10-years-old. to help keep these two together, a special adoption price of $50 has been arranged for the pair.

To adopt a featured pet or to learn more call the Animal Care League at (708) 848-8155, visit 1013 Garfield St., Oak Park or e-mail animalcare@ameritech.net. Available online at www.animalcareleague.org.

People who love their pets get ID tags for them. It’s the right thing to do and it’s a village law. if you lose a pet, or find someone else’s, call Pioneer Press at (847) 998-3400 to put a free lost or found ad in the classifieds.

Pet of the Week

Popularity: 1% [?]

Eating their own dog food: Palm Developer Relations team builds …

Yes, folks, it’s a Facebook kind of morning here at PreCentral. What can we say, we’re celebrating the new app in style.

Having recently taken charge of Palm’s Developer Relations team, web developers extraordinaire Ben Galbraith and Dion Almaer decided it was time to try out their tools for themselves and use them to revamp the webOS Facebook app. The two came into the project with years of web programming experience but none with webOS. they used the experience as away to both become familiar with the tools they push, and to explore the SDK from a developer’s point of view.

Chuq Von Rospach posted about the experience on the Developer Center Blog, noting that, “Working on this application has given us a really detailed look at the current state of our tools and documents. here in Developer Relations, we’ve been sitting down and evaluating the results and putting plans in place to remove as many of the speedbumps and potholes as we can, as quickly as we can.”

Almaer went more in-depth on his personal blog, diving into the process that went into the revamp. It’s no secret that the version 1.0 Facebook app was a disappointment to many, but the folks at Palm listened and prioritized the updates for this latest version (those being access to Facebook messages and profiles). they also worked to bridge the gap between webOS-style and Facebook-style, designing the app such that it works much like the website.

This is what Almaer and the team hope will be the first of “a regular cadence” of releases. Where they go from here is a question that they want your help answering. The options are many, including birthday integration into calendar or webOS notifications. both the Palm Developer Center Blog post and Almaer’s own are interesting reads and give us more hope for the future of webOS apps.

Eating their own dog food: Palm Developer Relations team builds …

Popularity: 1% [?]

My dog could kill a man in minutes

THE five-stone bull terrier hangs by its teeth from a thick tree branch, its vice-like jaws foaming with blood and spit.

The powerful beast lets out stomach-churning growls as it thrashes wildly from side to side, tearing chunks out of the tough wood.

It has been whipped into a frenzy by its hoodie-wearing owner, who goads the dog with shouts and taunts.

It is terrifying to watch.

When the aggressive mutt is back on the ground, straining to break free from its choke chain, the branch is stained red with its blood.

The thought of a dog with this power and aggression turning on someone, especially a child, is sickening.

The canine acrobatics are not for show – it is a technique used by street gangs to strengthen the jaws of their vicious dogs, making them as strong as possible for an attack.

These “status” dogs are now widely used on Britain’s estates, preferred by drug dealers to guns and knives as a form of protection.

Our gang contact, who refused to be identified and calls himself Chris, chillingly explains: “These dogs are as lethal as a loaded gun.

“This is my gun, except it doesn’t come with a seven years minimum jail sentence.”

While this is true, Home Secretary Alan Johnson this week announced plans to crack down on so-called “devil” dogs.

The proposals include compulsory insurance for all dogs, which would cover victim compensation if they attack, and the issuing of “Dogbo” orders – a canine Asbo – which would force owners to muzzle or neuter their beasts.

But the gang members we spoke to, who live on a tough estate in Plumstead south-east London, laughed at the measures which could force law-abiding dog owners to fork out 500 for insurance.

Chris, 26, says: “It won’t make a blind bit of difference. Can you really see the gangs paying for insurance? what a waste of time.”

The convicted drug dealer continues: “You can’t walk the streets around here without protection. my dog could kill a man in minutes.

“I’ve set my dog on people in the past, but nobody who didn’t deserve it. Dogs become more legendary than their owners. one dealer on this estate had a pit bull which was so tough a gang set out to assassinate it.

“About ten of them tracked it down and stabbed it seven times with a kebab knife. It was still going for them, even full of holes.”

To make the dogs as fearsome as possible, gangs torture their animals.

Chris says: “We make the dogs anti-human. first thing is to lock the dog away, isolate them for weeks. I only let it see me so it doesn’t trust anyone else.

“Then, when I start letting him out, I have a word or noise which I’ll use to gee him up – get him all excited.

“If he plays up or doesn’t obey my commands he’ll get a wallop.

“I know of people who use cattle prods or stun guns to send their dogs crazy. They’re natural-born killers anyway, but if you torment them they become even worse.”

In an attempt to keep some level of peace on the estates, dog-owning gangs follow an imaginary traffic light system. Chris says: “The top man on the block, me, will act as a controller, signalling when someone can walk their dog down the road.

“A lad will wait at the top of the street until I give him the green light. I don’t let him go until the block is clear. When the dogs get close to one another they can kick off, so I wait until there are no kiddies about.

“I had a dog which got locked in a fight with another – it’s not pretty. my dog needed 30 stitches in its face.

“Dogs aren’t kept for fighting, they’re for protection. for a lot of gang members the dog is the most valuable thing they own – the last thing they want is for it to be done in by another dog.” Chris and his gang all own what they say are pit bull and English bull terrier-type crosses, which cost between 300 and 600 from an illegal breeder.

Under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, it is illegal to own a pit bull-type dog in the UK.

More than 1,000 “status” dogs were seized in London last year, up from just 43 in 2003. In 2009 there were 5,221 dog attacks on people in the UK, nearly double the figure of a decade ago.

The Home Secretary’s measures come in the wake of cases such as four-year-old John-Paul Massey, savaged to death by a pit bull at his gran’s house in Liverpool last year. he was the fifth child to die at the jaws of a “devil” dog in just three years. but Chris echoes concerns that forcing people to insure their dogs will merely tax responsible owners – leaving the public no safer.

He says: “People with dangerous dogs won’t get insurance. It’s just a way of the Government making money out of law abiders.

“Dogs are a vital tool for gangs, they won’t give them up.”

Investigative reporter and author Graham Johnson, whose book Soljas is about gang warfare in the UK, says: “If a gang member has a weapon dog with him he instantly becomes the most feared person in that group. Vicious dogs give people power and status on estates that have been sucked dry of aspiration and esteem by deprivation.

“I’ve come across drug dealers who use dogs to guard their crack houses and robbers who have set them on innocent families while they steal a flat-screen telly.

“Today hard dogs have the same currency as guns in the underworld.”

It is not just estates in London which are being ruled by “devil” dogs. we spoke to 26-year-old gang member Fleck, from the notorious Moss Side area of Manchester.

He controls his five-year-old crossbreed using a chain he had specially made by a welder. he thinks his dog is a cross between a Presa Canario, a pit bull and possibly a mastiff – but like most gang members he can’t be sure because it was bought from an unlicensed dog breeder on an industrial estate in Fazakerley, Merseyside.

Fleck, 21, says: “I got him because I wanted a man-stopper.

“Street dogs are worse than fighting dogs because they’re not bred with thought. their genes are all f***** up – that’s why they kill children.

“Owners won’t admit it but even they can’t fully trust their own dogs. but I need it for protection.

“I’ve used him twice in anger – once when my car got robbed, to fight the lad the who did it and another time when a kid from another area got mouthy.”

The drug dealer continues: “If I’m working I have my dog there so I won’t get robbed.”

Back in London, Chris tells us: “The local Iceland shop has to employ a guard at the meat counter full-time because so many people steal steak for their dogs.

“Look out on this estate and you’ll see young single mums with ferocious dogs. the dads of the kids are long gone, so without the dog they’d be made a target.

“That’s how dangerous the streets are in this city.”

n.francis@the-sun.co.uk

My dog could kill a man in minutes

Popularity: 1% [?]