Autumn seems to finally be starting here in the desert southwest US and, much like us, our two dogs are wanting to be outside in the cooler air and sunshine a bit more!

With the cooler weather comes not a few holidays that will keep us on our toes as far as what our pets have access to, but there are outside factors as well that we need to be extra vigilant about:
~ Beware of foxtail inhalation from Speaking for Spot
~ 3 steps to heal chapped dog paw pads from The Lab Brats Dog Blog
~ Dog finds its family from Petville
~ …read more

A lot happened in the world of pets and animals this week, and a lot of my favorite pet blogs had a lot of great posts, too! Here’s this week’s weekly round-up of links!

~ Tired of Cesar? Meet Vladae! at Pet Connection Blog
~ What’s Pet Friendly? from Dolittler
~ Labor Day Pet Safety Tips at Dogster
~ An Interview with Parrot Behaviorist Liz Wilson from Best in Flock
~ Unlikely Animal Friends at Peternity Blog
~ Cat Bite Prevention and Care from Petside
~ Shelter and Rescue Wish Lists at Romeo the Cat and Pugsley Too
~ Why Must You Have a Puppy? from No Dog …read more

Budgies or Budgerigars are Australian parrots and very popular pets. They’re often called parakeets, but that’s not technically correct.

My local zoo has a new seasonal budgie exhibit featuring around 500 of the birds in an outdoor aviary. I was able to offer up seed on a stick, attached with a clothespin (pictured). I attracted at least one sweet blue beauty that munched on my offerings until the camera scared it away.
According to the Budgie Research Group, some budgies can speak in context, forming sentences and learning hundreds of words!
If you have a pet budgie, please tell us about it.
(Image by …read more

Growing up, if you weren’t wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day you got pinched. As I got older and explained this to acquaintances or coworkers, I was met with questioning looks. I’ve always assumed this is common knowledge but apparently I was wrong! Is it standard where you’re at to pinch someone if they’re not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day too?
Anyway, today I figured whether or not it’s something done everywhere that we can’t leave our four-legged friends out! Now, you know I’m not advocating pinching a pet if it doesn’t have green on! But even though they have …read more

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I cannot imagine how a situation like this got so out of hand. I simply can’t. Eight dogs is a lot. 80 is unbelievable. But 800? That’s just mindblowing:
800 small dogs seized from Ariz. home
About 800 small dogs, including Chihuahuas, terriers and Pomeranians, were seized from a triple-wide mobile home whose occupants were overwhelmed trying to care for the animals, authorities said Wednesday.
Pima County sheriff’s deputies and animal welfare officials who removed the dogs also found 82 caged parrots in the home in a rural area northwest of Tucson.
Some dogs …read more

To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, here are a few links for pirates and their pets:

An entire set of pirate pets at flickr!
Did pirates really have pet parrots?
Get your own pirate dog costumes
Happy Pirate Skull Pet Carrier
“My Cat is a Pirate” gear

The Home & Dining channel decided our theme this month should be ways to keep warm during the autumn months. Of course, we can’t forget our pets!

Give them their own radiator
Or let nature do the work
Keep their paws warm and dry
A soft glowing light for dogs…
…and don’t forget the cats…
…and birds and lizards
Try some interspecies snorgling
Learn about keeping follicly challenged rats warm…
…and the hedgies
Make warm cat treats…
…and dog treats
And don’t forget the rodents
Floor heating for snakes
A luxury bed
Make sure they can get into the bed
…read more