JinglePets Studio Blog

He leaps 6 ft in the air, executes a mid-air twist, lands…does this several more times and then slings slobber in a 10 ft. arc! Such was our experience during the first session introducing our Dane to a Gentle Leader halter-style collar!

Rodeo Dog is born! Thank goodness there were witnesses or no one would have believed it! It was very much like putting a halter on a foal for the first time…they DON’T LIKE IT MUCH! This post is all about the nicknames we give our pets. Some of them are justly earned, some are assigned regardless of insult to dignity, some are silly, and some are just plain cute.

 Portrait by Amy Dean

Our Dane’s list of nicknames:

Rodeo Dog – honestly earned and really wish we had it on video!
Muddy Man – earned in spades…no pun intended!
Buddy Man - always accompanied by a sigh of relief…we built a deck over the mud factory!
Big Stripey Butt – well……he’s big and a Brindle.
Stinky Butt – Origin not literal…we mostly use this one when he’s being heartbreakingly cute!
Sh-T Bird - and this is said with extreme love!

Our Kitty’s list:

Little Stripey Butt – he’s considerably smaller than our Dane…and orange striped
Too Kitty – One of our friends kids couldn’t pronounce his name
TuBug – Who knows where this one came from…maybe a take-off on Tuvok of Star Trek fame?
His Royal Highness – “And don’t you forget it.” We live to serve!

Our nickname list is considerably shorter:

Food-Pets-Treat Dispenser One - Mom
Food-Pets-Treat Dispenser Two – Dad

Hope you have a groovy week!
JP Food-Pets-Treat Dispenser One and Two

Note: The halter-style collar quickly gained popularity with our Dane boy because the Gentle Leader = walking with his Dad which he would rather do than eat!

No, it’s not the latest hottest Xbox game…and it’s not the name of the newest outrageous garage band discovered on YouTube.  Bumble foot is a serious, sometimes fatal, condition that affects millions of animals each year.    

After helping Carolina Waterfowl Rescue with a goose rescue on a golf course, Stuart’s Mom Samantha asked Jennifer (the director of the rescue group) and her daughter to look at some blisters on Stuart’s feet that had their vet stumped. The little girl immediately said, “it’s bumble foot!” 

Jennifer explained that bumble foot is a condition where sores appear on the feet and if not treated properly can result in a serious infection that can cause a bird to go lame, or worse, the infection can enter the bloodstream and be fatal.

The local resident who contacted Carolina Waterfowl Rescue for help rescuing the geese suggested they take Stuart to her home to treat his feet. She provided some first aid supplies and Jennifer went to work on Stuart’s feet. After draining the blisters, applying medication and bandaging Stuart’s feet, Jennifer suggested that Sam find an avian vet as soon as possible.

An online search led Samantha to Dr. Greg Burkett. 

Dr. Burkett is board certified and has an avian specialty practice in Durham, North Carolina. He is also a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). During their first visit with Dr. Burkett he told Stuart’s Mom that Jennifer’s timely treatment of Stuart’s feet probably saved his life.

Oh yeah……so there IS a band called Bumblefoot…go figure!

The JP Crew!

So…we always tell folks we’re new to the world of cats although our cat adopted us 8 years ago. He is our first cat and has diligently taught us how to be the best kitty roomies a cat ever had!

We’ve found the number one cat rule is to live in the moment, each and every moment!

If you crave excitement and adventure on a daily basis…adopt a cat!

Fascinating Facts about Cats!

author unknown

 Did you know……

 A cat’s heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 100 to 140 beats per minute.

 Calico cats are almost always female.

If your cat is near you, and her tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you. If her tail starts thrashing, her mood has changed…Time to distance yourself from her!

Cats knead with their paws when they’re happy.

Cats spend 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.

A cat will almost never “meow” at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak to you.

Cats get their sense of security from your voice. Talk to your cats! Cats know when you’re yelling at them (though they may not care).

Domestic cats are essentially loners. When placed in a group they develop their own hierarchy. As long as there is plenty of food on hand, a cat can learn to share its domain with other cats.

Pet-proof your house by looking for items that may be dangerous to cats. These include cleaners, antifreeze, and rat poison. Also, paints, wall paper pastes, and paint thinners can be toxic. The fumes from moth balls can destroy a cat’s liver cells. Use cedar in your closet instead…play it safe!

During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.

Here’s wishing you a Happy Kitty Day!
The JP Studio Crew