Sunday, January 8, 2012
When it comes to owning pets, how many is too many?
In recent weeks there have been more and more headlines about people hoarding animals. There are even television shows dedicated to the worst of domestic hoarding. The benefit of television is that after the shock and awe of how terrible the conditions are, after a few commercials we see the happy ending where all the animals get saved and the house gets cleaned up. If only this was the norm. The reality that reality T.V. doesn’t show us is that in order for a person to gather that many animals and for the situation to get that bad, it takes years. Generally these cases start with local officials getting involved and having to spend a tremendous amount of time and energy collecting evidence, writing reports, going to hearings before any…
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The cardinal, known for its distinctive red color, peaked head, and beautiful voice, has long been a symbol of the Christmas season.
The cardinal has long been a symbol of Christmas cheer, and when one sees the brilliant red plumage against a snow-white background it is no wonder. The cardinal is a year-round resident here in the Northeast. It doesn’t migrate and it doesn’t shed its feathers. The cardinal’s distinctive red coloration and peaked head makes it a well-recognized bird. They were actually more commonly known as “redbirds,” but they derived their current name from the red robes worn by the Catholic Cardinals. The cardinal will generally nest low in dense shrubbery and is a frequent visitor to any bird feeder. The winter months are actually a great time to see the cardinal as it will use the bird feeders as a supplemental meal and the red plumage will stand …
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Breaking down the fungal infection Dermtophytosis, better known as ringworm.
I love the texts I get from my wife at work, and this week was no exception. The text said, “have a puppy with ringworm, can we bring it home?” Now, this may seem like an odd text, but when your wife is a veterinarian and you live on the island of misfit animals, it is a completely normal text. The good news is that the puppy will only be with us for a few weeks for treatment and then will be up for adoption at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. The truth is, though I said yes, I really had no clear understanding what ringworm was. So, I decided to do as much research as I could and I found out a lot of very interesting things. The first thing I learned is that ringworm, or Dermtophytosis, isn’t a worm at all—it is a fungal infection…
Sunday, November 27, 2011
There are some general rules regarding what to do when a cat is in a tree and when it is time to call for actual help.
Two weeks ago, my South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team (SSDART) and I were called for a cat in tree rescue. This is not a rare call by any means as I probably receive two calls per week for this type of rescue. But, this is not a low risk rescue as we generally are dealing with heights that exceed thirty feet, and it requires at least two qualified people and the proper equipment. Still, generally speaking, a cat in a tree is not an emergency and most of the calls we receive we do not go and rescue the cat. There are some general rules regarding what to do when a cat is in a tree and when to call for actual help. The first rule: If your cat is in a tree, unless the cat is less than ten feet up the tree, or within safe reach with a …
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Breaking down some of the common holiday hazards for your pets.
Thanksgiving is the start of the family gatherings, office parties, Christmas parties and all leading up to Christmas and New Year’s! With so much preparation and running around to be done, it is easy to accidentally put your dog in danger. Food is the most recognizable danger. Is giving a piece of turkey to a dog a bad thing? Well, not really. But, letting the dog eat the turkey leg or other bones could be potentially fatal. Turkey bones are easily broken and can splinter and lodge into all sorts of internal parts in a dog causing anything from blockages to tearing of the intestinal tract. Food left on the counter is nearly irresistible to dogs, and why not, it is the same for us humans! However, some of the ingredients we use in our…
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team (SSDART) helped to rescue a cat stuck in tree this past week in Halifax, MA. Stoughton’s Christopher L. D’Arpino is the SSDART team leader.
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Following is a release from the South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team: The South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team (SSDART), led by Stoughton resident Christopher L. D’Arpino, helped to rescue a cat stuck in tree this past week in Halifax, MA. At 11:30 a.m. on Monday the cat’s owner contacted D’Arpino, the SSDART team leader, reporting that his cat had been in a tree for approximately twenty hours. The one-year-old cat was fifty to sixty feet up and on a very weak branch. The wind conditions, though light, were causing the tree and branch to sway, and therefore making it an unsafe scenario for the cat. The South Shore Disaster Animal Rescue Team dispatched Jonathan Cuneo, an EMT, and D’Arpino and Bridget Hatch, both Veterinary …
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Heartworm is a costly and serious disease for dogs, but it is preventable.
Heartworm is a preventable and serious disease for dogs that is costly and difficult to cure. Unfortunately, many owners choose not to use a monthly preventive. The only way for a dog to become infected is by the bite of an infected mosquito. That being the case, this is why prevention is so important. All 50 states have reported Heartworm disease and the numbers seem to be increasing. It is not only spreading rapidly throughout the United States, but also in areas where veterinarians never reported positive cases. If there are animals and mosquitoes in a given area, it is inevitable that you will have cases of Heartworm. On average it takes about 6-7 months after an infected mosquitoes has bitten a dog for the larvae to grow and mature …
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Dissecting the harbor seal, 100 of which have been found dead along the New England shoreline since September.
On the heels of October’s pilot whale standings we are faced with another marine life mystery. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, has issued a statement that there have been nearly 100 harbor seals found dead along the New England shoreline since September. The seals have been found from Southern Maine and throughout Massachusetts. This number is a significant spike in deaths over recent years. Officials, at this point, have ruled out foul play, and are looking more toward pathogens in the water or some other ecological or environmental factor. This is not the first time in New England history that a spike in harbor seal deaths has happened. A similar event took place in 1979-1980. The event of 1979 was …
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Pilot Whales have been in the news recently, with two washing up on Massachusetts beaches this past week.
A somewhat rare occurrence happened this week on Duxbury Beach and in Truro. Two pilot whales and two of it’s companions were seen in very shallow water, and ultimately two juvenile pilot whales died, one on Duxbury and one in Truro. Prior to this week there have only been four pilot whale beaching incidents in 2011. Pilot whales are well known for beaching themselves, and usually in large numbers. This is generally seen on the outer Cape beaches. Pilot whales live in pods, which are like a family. Generally the pods can range from twenty to ninety whales. Pilot whales, like killer whales, are actually members of the dolphin family. Unlike dolphins who have 120 teeth, the pilot whale will only have 40 to 48 teeth. Pilot whales …
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Animal House columnist Christopher D'Arpino breaks down the bat and dispels some common myths about this flying mammal.
This time of year bats conjure up the thoughts of ghosts and goblins and witches. Bats are also synonymous with the thought of vampires. So, what type of bats do we have around our area? Ever been outside and feel something swoop right over your head? It was probably a bat. Bats love to reside in your attic, and we have nine types of bats in Massachusetts. The two most common are the big brown and little brown Bat. Big brown bats are the most prolific species in our area and are very active in late winter to late fall. Colonies, in your attic can be as large as 200. Big Brown bats, have very little natural habitat left in our area and will happily reside in your walls, insulation and eaves of the attic. The big brown bat is …
An oldtimer
4:59 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011
Has any one ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree? more ›