Posted under
Pet Events by oahupet on May 10th, 2008 12:21 am
When: 5/18/2008 – 5/24/2008
Original articled posted at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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| Man and woman’s best friend bites more than 4.7 million people a year, and key experts believe that public education can help prevent these bites. The third full week of May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are each working to educate Americans about dog bite prevention. |
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| Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls. |
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| CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is committed to reducing this public health problem by working with state health departments to establish dog bite prevention programs and by tracking and reporting trends on U.S. dog bite injuries. Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten. |
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Things to Consider Before You Get a Dog
- Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household.
- Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog and, if so, delay acquiring a dog.
- Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into the home of an infant or toddler.
- Spay/neuter virtually all dogs (this frequently reduces aggressive tendencies).
- Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.
- Do not play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
- Properly socialize and train any dog entering the household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose abdomen and relinquishing food without growling).
- Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
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Preventing Dog Bites
Teach children basic safety around dogs and review regularly:
- Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
- Do not run from a dog and scream.
- Remain motionless (e.g., “be still like a tree”) when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
- If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., “be still like a log”).
- Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
- Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
- Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
- Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
- Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
- If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.
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| Oahu’s very own Hawaiian Humane Society is also running a program available for National Dog Bite Prevention Week. For more information click here: “http://www.hawaiianhumane.org/news” |
Waikele Center (678-8808)
Located at Waikele Center, behind Steve & Barry’s. By the way Steve&Barry’s has everything in store on sale at $9.95 until whenever they decide to stop it – another reason to stop by the pet shop. Back to Pet’s Discount, nice size shop with a good supply of pet accessories.
On my visit they had German Shepherd puppies, a black Labrador, a Maremma Sheepdog?, and a Border Collie on display. Along with some mixed Shepherd/Chows/something else, (sorry memory lapse.) Behind the counter they had a Jackson Chameleon or two and a Sulcata tortoise. Halfway through the shop, a display gondola with a few bunnies and a Guinea Pig and at the back, some freshwater fish.
Liked the selection of puppies, hated that I’m still unable to have one.
GoogleMaps (Map Data ©2008 Tele Atlas) Click Image to view full map.
Posted under
Petpedia by oahupet on May 5th, 2008 1:35 am
Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum
Temperature: 57 – 68°F
pH: 6.5-8
Diet: Carnivore
Temperment: Young Axolotls can be cannibalistic toward each other and therefore best raised in separate enclosures. Adults may potentially be housed together in larger tanks.
The Axolotl is the best-known of the Mexican neotenic mole salamanders belonging to the Tiger Salamander complex. This species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled, although on rare occasions an Axolotl may metamorphosis into its terrestrial form- becoming a Salamander. They are fairly hardy and can be expected to live up to 10-15 years with attention to proper care.
Best kept as a species tank. Fish can nibble an axolotl’s gill stalks and appendages while it is asleep, leading to infection. Axolotls can grow quite large, so a 10 gallon or larger tank is recommended. The aquarium itself does not need to be full, about the length of the Axolotls is said to be enough. Filtration is not essential provided water changes and maintenance is kept regularly. If filtration is used maintenance can be kept to a 10 to 20% change per week.
Any gravel used should be pebble-sized, about 2 cm or greater in diameter. Alternatively, fine sand is also a good substrate, as it will not clog the digestive tract if ingested. Regular aquarium gravel can be swallowing and although rare, may be fatal as the gravel can cause blockages in the gut. The addition of plastic plants, caves, half pots, etc., is recommended and will add a sense of security for the Axolotls as well as being more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Lighting is not necessary. Although lighting is essential for a display aquarium and a must for an aquarium that contains live plants.
The axolotl can be fed a variety of readily available foods, including trout and salmon pellets, small strips of beef or liver, frozen or live earthworms, tubifex worms, and bloodworms. Small juveniles can be fed brine shrimp until old enough for the larger food. Axolotls locate food by smell and will snap at their meal, sucking the food into their stomach.
Very unique/exotic pet for those wanting something different.
A must note: The Axolotl is listed on the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (C.I.T.E.S.) endangered species list.
