My Pet Magazine

Volume: 1 No: 01

September 2020

The wild and fun side of the Gobins and their goats

By Neil Marks Read More on Page 10 or Tab on Website

An abandon dog's story -See Page 8 or Tab on website for full story

By Syeada Manbodh

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 2 >>>> Commentary

In The Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Marketing Executive, Photographer Marcia Girard Contributing Editor Michael Jordan

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elcome. In keeping with the ‘Go Green’ initiative, we have today launched our first digital publication of My Pet magazine. Thank you to all who have supported.

Learn to communicate more with your pets and animals. Many people in our country keep dogs as their watchdogs as well as a pet. However, most seldom have conversations with these animals on a daily basis – unless that dog is classified as their pet. This should not be so, because animals – be it of any kind, need to have frequent interaction with their owners to enjoy that human/animal bond.

Therefore, if one feels that by just making sure their pet is fed daily and has a clean place to dwell is enough to show that there is love… think again.

Having an effective communication goes beyond saying to your pet, 'sit', 'roll over', 'fetch' etc. and getting the appropriate response. Research has shown that a two-way intelligent conversation is possible with animals.

Try having daily conversations and leisure moments with your pet and you will be amazed at the response you will receive. Remember, animals have a very highly developed love nature and to be able to reach the energy vibration necessary to connect, you must be willing to understand them. You too will find that the bond between you and your pet will become stronger. They need love and attention just like humans and remember they understand what is happening around them and long for more than just a serving or two of food. mvgirard@yahoo.com

Published by: Kreeativexperts 106 Herstelling, E.B.D, Guyana S.A. Tel: 626-7040.

Email: mvgirard@yahoo.com copyright © September 2020

SPOTLIGHT Leana & Dingo Her playful Rottweiller

Find Us on Facebook @ My Pet Website: www.mypetonline.com All material submitted becomes the property of My Pet and all copyrights are assigned to us. This is to protect us and prevent others from reusing your work. You do however, retain the rights to your material for your own use.

Disclaimer: The information contained in My Pet is not a replacement for veterinary advice, care or medical treatment. If you have any problems with your pet, your first resource should always be your veterinarian.

Do you remember any incident where an animal would have saved the day?

Write us and see it appear in ‘A trip Down Memory Lane’

Leana enjoys playing with her pet, Dingo who she has bonded with just over a year. Leana pretends Dingo is her pony and he willingly gives her rides around the yard.

Have your pet appear ‘In the Spotlight’.

Only a rare capture will be published in this section.

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prucy was the name given to a onemonth old, light brown nugget of a puppy. He arrived shivering in the cold but still wagging his little tail profusely. He enjoyed the comforting touch of caring hands as he was laid in the palms of his new owner. His saucer brown eyes looked up at her face taking in every smile and endearing look ensuring that he could trust this new human. He did. He soon relaxed in her arms and drifted off to sleep.

It is now one year later and Sprucy has developed an intriguing personality of his own. His most outstanding

endearment. He then places his head on her feet like it's his pillow.

Sprucy wishes she can stay in that position for the rest of the day, or maybe even his entire life.

Coupled with his Sprucy affectionate being nature is a high petted by level of alertness. his owner He is very alert to sounds and unfamiliar scents even when they are yards away and notifies his owner with deep growls and ear-piercing barks despite the time of the day or night.

Sprucy's uniqueness even extends to his preferred diet. When given food that was manufactured for dogs, he sniffs at it with disgust, looks at his master and walks away. On the other hand, when given fried chicken strips tossed in freshly cooked rice, he gobbles that down without an upward glance until his bowl is sparkling clean. His acute sensitivity to his palate as well as his likes and dislikes is so human-like its intriguing. Sprucy also has an internal body clock that he works with that informs him of when he

Sprucy

By Elizabeth Headley

quality without a doubt, is his tender affection. When his owner walks toward him, he immediately lays down, puts his head out flat on whatever surface he is on, nestles his head between her feet and looks up into her eyes indicating what he desires.

When she stoops down and gently rubs his head he turns over on his back and â&#x20AC;&#x153;smiles.â&#x20AC;? I am sincerely convinced that the showing of those pearly white, canine teeth is a smile of

Story continued on Page 15

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Practical Bee Keeping Contributed by The Ministry Of Agriculture - Animal Division

NET VEIL

Equipment To operate and examine your hive you must have the following beekeeping equipment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; smoker, hive tool, bee veil and bee brush.

Care and Management The beginner should examine his apiary at least once a week to see if the hive has sufficient food supply (honey and pollen).

Food is an important factor in the hive. The queen must have plenty to eat before she can do her job of laying.

If there is not enough honey in the hive it is necessary to feed the bees. This is called artificial feeding.

This could be done by making a syrup of 2 parts of sugar and 1 part of water mixed well.

This should be poured on to the frames or given at the entrance of the hive by a boardsman feeder.

Feeding should be done weekly until the field bees have been able to collect enough nectar from nearby honey plants. In examining a hive, care should be taken first to spot the queen.

HIVE TOOL

UNCAPPING KNIFE

DIAGRAM SHOWING A FEW OF THE BEE KEEPING EQUIPMENT NEEDED

After she has been found, place her aside in the brood chamber and then proceed to examine the other frames for brood (young bees) and food.

Wax Moth Larvae This is a pest which attacks only weak hives. If your hive is being attacked, the best method to get rid of danger is to unite two hives together.

This can be done by the newspaper method.

First get rid of one of the queens. Spread a sheet of newspaper on the brood or bottom chamber. Then place the hive with the remaining queen on top of this chamber.

In a few days the two hives will unite and become a strong colony.

Bee Pastures When starting an apiary the beginner should first see that

there are sufficient honey producing plants in his area.

The Courida which grows along the foreshores of the coastlands is considered to be our most dependable source of nectar in Guyana.

flowering trees and plants.

Honey Season Two crops of honey are reaped yearly from each supered hive that is in a strong and healthy condition. If the hive is weak, the bees use the honey. The crop is therefore lost.

There are many other honey plants such as Citrus, Long John, Mangoes, Genip, Bat Seeds, Log Wood, Button Wood, Coconuts and all other fruit plants.

The flow of honey commences just after the two wet seasons.

The diagram Beekeeping Cycle' will serve as a guide to the beginner.

The coconut plant is mainly a source of pollen, but together with other honey plants will produce a crop of honey. Vines such as Bitter Tally and Daisies all produce some honey. It must be remembered that an abundant quantity of the above plants in an area is necessary before a crop of honey can be collected. Each hive needs at least one acre of

A hive may produce an average of 150 lbs. honey per year though as much as 300 lbs. have been accomplished in Guyana.

Stings Beekeeping is fun in spite of the occasional sting. However, most stings are avoided when the beekeeper learns to manage his bee properly and dress properly for the job.

First Impression counts... Even as you walk your pets

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The Exceptional Exception...

Henk will do just about anything for his 'Goldy'

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hey are definitely inseparable and this intense bond of love was created from the fact that Henk Wilkinson has 'mothered and fathered' his adorable 'Goldy' since she was three months old with just a few feathers on her back fifteen months after he purchased an almost featherless Macaw from an individual in the North West District - moved by its almost helpless and feeble appearance.

He recalled loving stroking the small quivering bundle in his hands,

Nestum products which the young bird seemed to enjoy at the very first feeding.

Henk must have been a sight to watch at as he stool patiently beside the stove ensuring the Nestum formulas are boiled into a smooth porridge which he allowed to cool before feeding the young bird, placing loving kisses every now and then on its little head. As he noted, at times he almost wept with unfathomable joy at the way the young bird stared at him, rolling her eyes, both exchanging a deep understanding.

Time flew by and Goldy was soon hopping about sprouting soon to be beautiful feathers. She soon began taking interest in her surrounding and the habit of following Henk around trying desperately to keep up with his strides.

She tried her best to climb onto his legs or arms enduring a few tumbles in the process.

The next meal she quickly developed a deep relish, was fresh sunflower seeds of which Henk will be faced with relentless squawking if he failed to provide it.

vowing that he will care for her until she grew into the rather sassy little bird she is today.

Of course he cuddled her all the way to the city protecting her from loud noise and the elements of weather. Arriving home he brilliantly initiated the idea of feeding her with

Her feathers grew rapidly, and soon after, Goldy was transformed into a beautiful bird with multicoloured feathers, all smooth, glistening, and soft to the touch.

One day he tickled her and was surprised when she rolled over in glee, squawking her delight.

That soon became an every day treat she looked forward to and

would squawk her dismay if he forgot to tickle her. He is also trying to get her to talk and she is already making unintelligible sounds which are getting smoother and smoother as time elapses.

Goldy is very friendly and is just about ready in hop in the arms of practically anyone. She loves to nibble on bright coloured clothing and has been referred to as the 'acne remover' by her master. Goldy loves to peck and nibble at the acne and pimples on her master's face.

She also loves to sit attentively for lengthy periods as Henk teaches her the human dialect.

During these sessions she bobs her head from side to side, staring intently at her teacher, as if she intends to absorb every word.

Henk takes the preening Goldy around on his shoulder where she arches her neck proudly.

Henk vowed that he does not only love the young bird, but will do 'practically anything to ensure she is always happy and comfortable'.

By : A. Wayne

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 6 >>>>

Pets & Vets My question is about my horse, he is a gelding and his Q: sheath swells up periodically, I have cleaned it but that is not the problem. It does not seem to cause him any pain but I would like to know what to do about it? - Tumbleweed Swollen sheath in horses is a common problem. The usual A: cause is a lack of exercise causing poor lymphatic drainage, resulting in the build up of fluid in the soft tissue of the sheath and sometimes in the legs too. I would suggest more exercise, plus possibly massage. Other possible causes are insect bites and stings, a tumor is unlikely if it seems to disappear. Infection is unlikely if you are cleaning it out regularly. Good luck.

- Matthew Homfray (Veterinary Surgeon)

Q: My dog has what looks like blood in her mucus, like diarrhea.

- Sue A: The symptoms you describe fall under the category of

colitis. This may be caused by several things, including stress, parasites, dietary indiscretion, viral diseases, etc. In a puppy, you definitely have her see a vet to assess her hydration status, temperature, demeanor, etc. You need to make sure she doesn't have a viral disease called Parvovirus which can be extremely debilitating, even fatal. Also, dehydration can really hit puppies quite hard. So, make sure you get her to a vet as soon as possible.

- Brian Spar (Experienced Advisor)

Do you have questions that you would like answered by a Vet?

Email: mvgirard@yahoo.com - Subject: Vet Questions.

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 7 >>>>

PET OF THE WILD by: Kien Luong

The Scarlet Macaw

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hen I was a child, I would ride my bike down to the local pet shop in Massachusetts, USA to play with the dogs every now and again.

What make dogs so intriguing to me is their intelligence and their loyalty towards man. Upon entering the pet store I would have to pass the section where birds were for sale. Birds were not my favorite animal. I found them to be loud, annoying, and boring; however there was a large scarlet macaw that caught my attention. It was the only bird that wasn't in a cage. It roamed around the pet store and greeted every customer with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;helloâ&#x20AC;?. Much like a dog this macaw was loyal to the storeowner and very affectionate.

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao) is recognized worldwide. Their native lands stretch from Mexico to as far south as Argentina. Their bright colors make them easily visible to predators so in order to adapt, they make their nests inside hollowed trees high up in thick foliage.

Scarlet macaws are red with bands of yellow and blue on their wings. The areas around their little yellow eyes are white and are fronted by a large white upper beak and a black bottom beak. From beak to tail, their average length is about 90cm. These brightly colored birds typically feed on seeds, fruit, nuts, nectar, and flowers.

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The Scarlet Macaw can live know up to 75 years, although, a more typical lifespan is 30 to 50 years

Although their average life span is anywhere from 40-50 years, large macaws may live up to 75 years. When finding a mate, macaws are unique. They maintain a monogamous partnership and are rarely found alone except when feeding or incubating eggs. Some claim that these birds will commit suicide by darting themselves to the ground in the case of separation or bereavement of their partner.

Scarlet macaws continue to face

adversities such as deforestation, poaching, a n d t r a d i n g .

Deforestation shrinks their habitat and makes it increasingly difficult to forage for food and live in a suitable safe haven.

Poachers will seek these birds out for food and for their feathers. These beautiful birds are also subject to trapping and illegal bird trading. One of these birds can sell for $1,000usd. However, the scarlet macaw is more useful to man when they are left within their biological niche.

They play a significant role in the allure of ecotourism. Birdwatchers will come from all over the world to observe scarlet macaws in their natural habitat. This in turn brings in revenue at a local and national level.

Feeding on the fruits of trees gives them, and other similar birds, a very important role to play in the forest ecosystem. By consuming seeds they help regulate the germination of future trees and k e e p t h e ecosystem in b a l a n c e .

Macaws help with the dispersal of seeds for the regeneration of the forest which would also help in the fight against climate change.

The role of the scarlet macaw is very important to the forest, people, and the world.

Here in the Rupununi, it is

common for people to keep these noble birds as pets. Down in the village of Masakeneri the Wai Wai people are no

stranger to scarlet macaws. In Dadanawa ranch you would be able to find a pair flying freely and mango trees and on, or near houses. The scarlet Macaw requires a lot of attention and stimulation as a pet. But most importantly the bird should have free range of flight in order to avoid atrophy in the wings.

The scarlet macaw is one of the most intelligent and most beautiful birds in the world. I didn't pay much attention to the macaw in that pet store, but it is absolutely breath taking to see a pair of scarlet macaws, or any bird for that matter, fly over the canopy of Guyana's pristine jungles.

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 8 >>>>

An abandon dog's story Syeada Manbodh Animal Rights Activist

n October 30, 2005 at 5:30 pm, my friend and I were walking on the seawall we rescued a very sick and injured dog with the saddest pair of eyes. This is his story.

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I was given to you when your neighbours dog produced too many of us puppies; you picked me from a litter of 10.

Your kids chased me lovingly around the yard and I had so much fun. As I grew older the same neighbours dog gave birth to another set of puppies (they must not have known about spaying and neutering) and you decided to take another new puppy from the litter. I gradually became sick with mange and those mean little red ant-like creatures attacked my skin and gave me no peace a tall.

You no longer had time for me and were only interested in the new puppy and your family. My mange got worse and when I lost most of my hair and my skin got ugly you lost interest in me (I guess you didn't know about vets!) and started locking me up day and night for fear I might contaminate your family and new puppy.

Some days you even forgot to give me food or water. On a Sunday morning very early, I'll never forget the day; you said in an angry tone we are going for a walk.

You tied a piece of green twine around my neck and pulled me from the small pen. My legs were so stiff I could hardly walk. You dragged me to the seawall, where you used to walk with your children, and then you lifted me up and threw me onto a pile of trash.

My leg hit a sharp rock and I heard a snapping sound. After that I couldn't

walk. I stayed alert and kept looking for your face but you never returned. Many people walked by and those who noticed me quickly turned their heads away. It was getting dark, my whole body hurt, and I was getting weak from lack of food and water. Suddenly 2 ladies appeared.

One stopped suddenly and said, “Oh my God, oh my God.” The other looked over and saw me; I could tell she was sad when she called to me in her soft voice.

My tail wagged in the excitement of someone finally noticing me and I was so hungry and hoped they had food. They were both shocked by my condition. The white lady said to the other, “Let us go get him some food.” The Indian lady said, “No we can't leave him there,” and she jumped over the wall and tried to get me to walk but I could not. She told the first lady only a coward would do such a thing and wished that person a life of misery as

pictures of

by Syeada Manbodh me and I w a n te d to tell her what a good looker I was in my day. I could see the mange coming off in her vehicle and I knew she had a lot of cleaning to do but I sensed she didn't mind one little bit.

We got back into her vehicle and drove to a place that protects animals, I heard them call it the GSPCA. There I met another lady with a big smile, she told the ladies to take me to kennel # 29, it was a clean kennel, with a bowl of food and clean water; I couldn't believe my good fortune. Even though there were a lot of other dogs making loud noises, I had a great sleep that night and was taken care of for the next 3 days. The lady who rescued me came to visit but she couldn't look me in the eyes. On the 4th day, two men came to my kennel, one put a snare around my neck; I would have If we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and we do nothing, we make followed them anywhere. They took me ourselves sharers in the guilt". to the side of my kennel and then I saw a gun. The fear in me was immense but I Anna Sewel author of Black Beauty: Autobiography of a Horse. understood, after all I am injured and sick and a burden to everyone. As he pulled she gently removed the green twine from the trigger I let out a little cry. My pain is my neck. I was so happy when they finally over, I am home at last. decided to take me with them. The Indian Sad Eyes was euthanized on lady said she would go get her vehicle and the white lady said she would wait on November 3, 2005. Help us remember him by speaking out against abuse and the wall.

I heard the vehicle coming and dumping of animals. suddenly the Indian lady came back over the wall to get me. She wrapped my body in a large towel, tied a sling around Before you give puppies away, my neck and put a muzzle over my make sure they have a good mouth. The muzzle wasn't necessary; I would never have tried to bite her. I was home. If you can't find them just so very happy she came back to good homes, take them to the rescue me.

She lifted my weak and shaking body GSPCA. Mange is easily over the wall, all the time speaking to me in a gentle and kind voice. She opened a treatable: Call 2264237 for a door and placed me inside her vehicle.

Vet's number. Spay and neuter They stopped by a house where one of the ladies went in, called someone to say to prevent overpopulation. she was bringing in a sick dog and came - Syeada Manbodh back with some food. I was so hungry I nearly ate the Styrofoam plate. She took

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<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 10 >>>>

THE WILD AND FUN SIDE OF THE GOBINS AND THEIR GOATS

By Neil Marks

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n Guyana, we know of dogs, cats and parrots as common pets, but then there are those who cherish a bond with some animals we wouldn't necessary see as pets, such as the common domestic goat.

It is true that goats have developed some popularity as pets, but, not so much here. For as long as we can remember, goats have been bred for their milk, meat, hair, and skin. But down in Parika backdam, the Gobin family is developing quite a reputation for their rendezvous with eight goats – Butchy, Sebastian, B l a c k b e r r y, P o p s i n , Matilda, Justin, Big Mama and Isabella. Justin has been proclaimed the King Pin, and he lives up to the reputation with ease. As for Big Mama, that should be self explanatory, no? Goats are extremely curious and

intelligent and these are perhaps a bit too curious. They find comfort in the embrace of their human family and friends – Roy, Jenny, Keisha and Tinnifer. Because goats need a daily dose of play, they can become pesky – but a good nap eases the stress. And how they fall asleep quickly once they are in the warm embrace of their owners, and more so, in the hammocks!

Because goats are adventurous, this group of eight tests fences, either intentionally or simply because they are handy to climb on.

If any of the fencing can be spread, pushed over or down, or otherwise be overcome, the goats will escape.

Interestingly, the goat is one of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

Those born in a year of the goat are predicted to be shy, introverted, creative, and perfectionist.

Although they are hardy and adventurous, goats are not selfs u ff i c i e n t . T h e y r e q u i r e d a i l y attention including food, play, and water.

For food, this herd rummages on the greenery wherever they can find

it. But then again, the Gobins make sure they put them to graze in locations of healthy grass.

But as they are never satisfied, they must have a snack in the evenings and they take anything from channa to biscuits. And if they can eat out of Roy's hands, all the better! But what if you are thinking of having a goat as a pet? There are some points to keep in mind.

Firstly, because goats typically thrive in herds, you must at least have two.

Second, if you are keeping goats as milk producing animals in addition to pets, they will need to be milked one to two times a day to prevent mastitis, a painful infection of the udders.

Third, goats can also get aggressive if they are bored or sense that you are afraid, which can result in a painful butting.

On the other hand, goats are loving, affectionate, loyal animals, and the Gobin's deeply enjoy keeping them as pets.

These intelligent and intensely curious animals are fun to have around, if you are willing to put in the work.

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animal health news Lyme Disease

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hat Is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease is an infectious disease syndrome spread primarily by a tick no larger than the head of a pin. It is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called a spirochete that is transmitted to animals and humans by the bite of the tick. In people, Lyme disease can appear similar to other diseases such as flu or Alzheimer's disease. If untreated, it can lead to joint damage and heart and neurologic complications. In animals, the disease can mimic flu-like symptoms and can lead to joint damage, heart complications and kidney problems.

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hat Are The Symptoms?

Lyme disease is not easy to detect for there are a variety of symptoms. Clinical signs may not appear for a long period after initial infection.

Animals seldom develop the rash that commonly occurs in people with Lyme disease. The common clinical signs in animals are fever, inappetence, acute onset of lameness with no history of trauma, and arthralgia. These can develop within weeks of initial infection. Recurring lameness, lymphadenopathy, glomerulonephritis, or myocarditis can develop weeks to months later. In addition to these signs, cows and horses may have chronic weight loss,

abortions, and laminitis-like signs.

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ow Is It Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based primarily on recognition of the typical symptoms of Lyme disease and by blood testing. It should be noted that early in the disease, the blood test can be negative even though the disease is present. Only with later disease does the test become reliably positive.

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hat Is The Treatment?

Antibiotics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; tetracycline, penicillin and erythromycin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have been shown to be effective in treating the disease in both animals and humans in the early stages. If detected early enough, there is almost complete relief of pain and lameness within 24 hours of initial treatment in animals. Chronic cases of the disease respond much slower and require longer periods of treatment.

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ow Can It Be Prevented?

Knowledge of where these ticks are found, avoidance of such areas, and, if bitten, prompt removal of the tick are the primary preventive measures.

Vaccines are available to protect dogs.

Consult with your veterinarian for advice regarding vaccination of your animal.

Send us your pet story!!

Email: mvgirard@yahoo.com

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 12 >>>>

PET TALKS ...Tell us your story about your pet or veterinarian Jenna writes...

My Best Friend Loki

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ets are truly a blessing to t h e w o r l d a n d humankind. Often times, people would look at them and not

Loki even stop to think how much of an impact they truly have on our daily life. It might sound like something trivial but picture this. Us as humans, if we do not experience recognition and affirmation that we are doing a good job, our first instinct is to be sad, angry or moody.

H o w e v e r, a n i m a l s d o n o t express this. No matter how many times we forget to acknowledge their importance as well as impact. They simply go about their days existing and unknowingly giving us an endless amount of good days and dopamine.

My best friend is quite possibly my dog back home. His name is Loki and he is gigantic. His pedigree is German shepherd, Doberman and Saint Bernard mixed. This equated to him continuously growing in the past

5 years. So much that he now weighs 120 pounds. His coat is beautifully white with black spots and his face was a combination of colors that highlighted his pedigree like no other. He has a habit of nibbling my hands when he gets excited and I absolutely adore it.

I make my job to remind him every time I get of his importance in my life because just like humans, he deserves to know. He has done more for me than people has and I wish that were an understatement but I do not regret saying it. He listens and cuddles me when I am having a rough time. He does not need to speak for me to understand he is there and very much empathic. That is the best part I think. His silence is not on purpose but it speaks volumes. I would take it over mindless chitchat any day and I think he knows that. I love the

understanding we have because we get each other much better than humans do. It might sound absurd but Loki has contributed more to my production of dopamine than any external commodity.

It is a blessing to have such an amazing aspect of my life knitted into an animal because they never judge.

Not once. Moreover, I love them to death. He is always going to be my best friend no matter how many cool people I meet down the road. I've shared things I've never shared with anyone with Loki and I'm grateful that he would never judge me for it or think I'll of me. Maybe it is a hopeless case of attachment but he is my confider and always will be.

Humans are can be controversial at times but a dog will just sit there and make your day better by simply existing. The sad part is that they might not even know how big of an impact they have in your good moods, best memories or even accomplishments. That is why you should start to remind yours.

Maybe they will react in ways you never thought they would.

contact

US Have you ever invented something for a pet that worked?

Send us mail and we will publish it.

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 13 >>>>

Seon and his Dog 'Fluffie'

Fluffie is a o n e y e a r, two monthsold dog of both Poodle a n d Daschund breeds who probably thinks he owns the entire block in which he resides.

Apart from Seon and Fluffie a c t i n g superior to the other dogs, his The minute he is released from his 'haughty, nose in the air' demeanour has often evoked peals of merry leash Fluffie chases around the yard laughter from kids living around the in a burst of energy before jumping onto his master to give him a wet neighbourhood. face cleaning with his ever lapping Seon saw and fell in love with his pink tongue. If not darts into the now much grown Fluffie when the home to play with the toddler son and dog was only eight weeks old and the two will collapse in a whelping already a very alert puppy, licked his bundle to the hall floor. hands lovingly as he stroked his little He is kept mostly in his kennel head in wonderment. He soon brought the young dog home much to since he has grown really large and the delight of his toddler son Seon annoys the wife Abiloa since he Bourne (Jnr.) As Fluffie grew he smashes her decorative pieces and became strongly attached to both chew on her table cloth with pure son and father and they playful yelps doggy pleasure.

Well, Seon (Jnr.) tries to ride him like a donkey but Fluffie would have no such doing. When this occurs Fluffie would throw the poor lad to the ground and run away yelping his disapproval.

However, on hearing the lad's screams, Fluffie would return to stare at him with head cocked to right before stepping forward to lick away his tears. Of course the toddler stops crying and the two are off to happy tumbling all over again.

Fluffie is very popular in the city since his proud master takes him all over introducing him as his 'buddy friend' to his colleagues and peers.

Riddle Q: How does a pig go to hospital?

A: Q: What bird can lift the most?

A: Q: What do you call a calf after it's six months old?

A:

Seven months old

S e o n treats his pet dog as if h e i s 'precious than gold' and create a thunderous scene if a n y o n e dares to harm him.

Afternoon strolls and trips to the Botanical Gardens a r e weekend treats Fluffie l o o k s forward to and trips to t h e supermark et for his favourite PuppyCho w f o o d supplement s.

For Seon (Snr.) Fluffie does no wrong, and as such hurries to comfort the dog with kisses and cuddles when he (Fluffie) is scolded

by Abiola for disarranging her carefully decorated sitting room.

A crane

I n t h e c a s e o f S e o n Bourne his foremost concern is 'Fluffie' whom he describes as a frisky bundle of joy.

and laughter of the rollicking trio could be heard every day as they romped or chased each other around the home.

In a hambulance

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t is mostly unusual in the city for a young man to devote his attention entire to a dog since others will be more interested in fashion, girls and of course popularity.

<<<< Dec. 08 - Feb. 09 | My Pet | 14 >>>>

Pet in

FASHION

contact

US Send us a photo of your pet in fashion with a detailed description of the photograph.

Email: mvgirard@yahoo.com

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 15 >>>>

Sprucy From Page 3 Send us yours and we will publish it!

will eat and not eat.

I AM THE MIRROR OF OUR LOVE

At 5:30 each morning he expects his first meal of the day. If he does not receive it then, his barking can be heard a mile away. He also expects his last meal of the day at 5:30 pm. He is so time sensitive when it comes to his meals because German Shepard dogs eat meals based on a specific schedule. They would bark around the time they expect to receive their food until they receive it.

by: Nicholas Gordon I am the mirror of our love, And you its brazen fire.

To me our love is merely joy; To you it is your breath.

I am the marker that must move; You, the fixed desire.

You are what I most enjoy; I am life or death.

These qualities and traits of Sprucy makes him unique and certainly a special part of the family. His name Sprucy matches well with who he is and the effect he has on others.

And now you must be put to sleep, And I remain awake With years of love ahead of me, And many pets to go.

To â&#x20AC;&#x153;spruce things upâ&#x20AC;? means to make things better, neater or more appealing to the eyes and that is the effect Sprucy has on people.

But I'm the one who can't help weep While you, just for my sake, Come rest your chin upon my knee And beg to share my woe.

He not only is a physically good-looking dog but his affection, playfulness and desire to protect surely makes the lives of those in his presence better. Hence the reason the name Sprucy is so fitting. It perfectly describes who he is and what he does to the lives of others.

The sting of a bee releases alarm pheromones. If relaeased near a hive or swarm may attract other bees where they will likewise exhibit defensive behaviors until there is no longer a threat, typically because the victim has either fled or been killed. These pheromones do not dissipate or wash off quickly, and if their target enters water, bees will resume their attack as soon as it leaves the water.

by: Nicholas Gordon Paula is a fine white cat, A fluffy ball of down; Arching back and stretched-out tongue, A long, slow settling down.

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YOU

Elegant and stylish, An ornament with claws; A creature sole, quite of herself, Outside our common laws.

know

MY Pet Word Search Submit eight words describing your pet along with a photo and we will publish it.

PAULA IS A FINE WHITE CAT

rch

Pet Word Sea

contact

USTell us about your pet and see it published!!

Email: mvgirard@yahoo.com 106 Herstelling, E.B.D, Guyana S.A. Tel: 626-7040.

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 16 >>>>

S

at least two inches of soil on the bottom, more if you want to breed snails. You can also place flower pots filled with 3 or 4 inches of soil on the bottom.

This will give the snails a HOUSING place to lay their You can keep your snails in many eggs. different housings but there are some During basic things to remember. Snails like DIAGRAM SHOWING THE LIFE CYCLE OF A SNAIL the moist environments but too wet isn't daytime snails like to hide under or in good. So old aquariums are ideal as something. A broken flowerpot will do long as you replace the hood with nicely, but some rocks or cork-bark something that will let the air in. For work too. It's nice to have some plants ideal purposes I would use plastic or in your snailarium, plants with broad glass for your snailarium. This makes it leafs will give your snails shelter. Give easier to clean and you can see your your snail-house a place away from snails better. Although snails don't need a lot of space I recommend giving direct sunlight. This will prevent the soil two or three snails about 30 cm (a foot) from drying out and your snails from being roasted. It's sometimes by 30 cm floor space. Especially if you keep adult Helix aspersa. Of course, the suggested to put a few earthworms in the soil. They will keep it loose and eat smaller species need less some of the snaildroppings. But you space. The soil can be from will need to replace part of the soil your garden, but be after a few weeks, especially in small housings. Here are some ideas to use as a snailarium: aquariums, big glass jars, propagators you can buy at your local garden center, anything you can make your self. nails are very easy to keep so they make good pets. They don't take up a lot of room, are not messy and their food can be a number of different things. If you can't find anybody who takes care of them in the holidays, you easily can release them in the wild.

caseful not to bring in snail enemies.

You can bake the soil to kill all bacteria.

Sandy soil or clay is not good, an alternative is peat. Make sure you have

FEEDING AND CARING Snailfood can be a broad variety of things. Naturally they like greens.

Lettuce, cabbage, leafs from garden

EVERYONE

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SNAILSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;as pets

FACTS

plants(Host a's !)and weeds. But Should Know also cucumber, boiled potato, carrot, oats and bran. It's important that the snails have plenty of calcium for their shells.

You can provide it by giving them eggshells(small pieces),old snail shells or a cuttle bone. Make sure whatever you give them is washed. This counts for all food. If you spray your snailarium daily, it isn't really necessary to give them water. But if you feed your snails a lot of dry food you can place a bowl of water (not too deep though) on the soil.

Please note that this is aimed at garden snails only and not at Giant African Land snails.

SNAIL FACTS The largest land snail ever found was 15 inches long and weighed 2 pounds!

Snails' bodies produce a thick slime.

Because of this slime, they can crawl across the edge of a razor and not get hurt.

Some snails have been known to live up to 15 years.

Snails are hermaphrodites which means that they have both male and female reproductive organs.

Snails usually travel in irregular paths, often traveling in a circle.

Snails reply mainly on their sense of touch and smell when finding food because they have very poor eyesight.

SNAILS CANNOT HEAR Snails can retract one or both of their tentacles at a time. Because of the suction created by their slime, a snail can crawl upside down. Snails are nocturnal animals which means they are more active at night. Garden Snails mainly eat garden plants and vegetables, but they will also eat decaying plants and soil. The fastest snails are the speckled garden snails which can move up to 55 yards per hour compared 23 inches per hour of most other land snails. Garden snails hibernate during the winter and live on their stored fat. Garden snails breathe with lungs. Garden snails evolved from sea snails about 600 million years ago. The garden snail is cooked and eaten as a delicacy called escargot. May 24th is National Escargot Day

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 17 >>>>

Scenes: Displaying Human and Animal Bond

The Day Lora Flew Away Contribution by P. Mahase

T

he name of this awesome parrot was Lora (The Noise Maker). She became part of our family September 2017 and was not tame.

No one could not go near or next to her - hence she would peck at you.

Gradually, we started speaking to her. Lora was green in color and her wings and tail were multi coloured. Her blue eyes were stunning and attractive.

She was my favorite.

Remembering

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 18 >>>>

Every morning I would wake up calling out: “Lora, Good morning…

Morning Lora.”

She would began to make loud noise in response to my salutation.

Lora place of abode was a cage made out of an old fan cover and she had the habit of making spaces with her beak - trying to escape. Her favorite meals were macaroni and cheese and fruits; everything else was not of any interest to her. She bluntly refuses any food she does not like. However, Lora could not be without a meal for long – whenever that happens she

would make loud squawking noise.

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A Dear Pet

O n e morning, in October 2019, we heard no noise from t h e generally loud Lora who was Mrs. Mahase kept in an old bathroom. Instantly, my family and I knew something was wrong. I kept calling her name but to no avail.

Gradually, I realised she was gone.

Lora escaped from the cage she was kept in through the holes she made at the bottom. It sadden me because I was not expecting this to happen.

Hence, my daughters and I commenced our normal daily routine; but while doing so we heard the sound of Lora - we listened carefully then excitedly followed that sound. Lora was hiding in the guava tree.

Blue-and-gold Macaw, is a member of the group of large Neotropical parrots. It breeds in know forest (especially varzea, but also in open sections of Terra Firme) and woodland of tropical South America from Trinidad and Venezuela south to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Blue-and-yellow Macaws are popular as pets partly because of their striking appearance and ability as a talking bird. They are intelligent and social, so for someone who can provide for their needs, they make good and loving companion parrot.

YOU

Carefully, my daughters and I approached her but she flew to another tree and escaped.

It was sad because she would normally be our company during the day.

We truly miss Lora and hopes she is happy wherever her home is.

Reflecting on the happy moments with Lora, the noisy parrot is a privilege my family and I cherished today.

<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 19 >>>>

Christine forever bonded to her Dolly and Speck demeanour when a stranger Occasionally someone either hristine is so very arrives, barking incessantly to bites to hard or maybe squeeze proud of her Dolly and alert her master. a little too much and the Speck that she According to Christine, Speck disagreement begins. In most beams in delight and absolute was brought from Brazil when cases it is started by Speck who pleasure every time someone she visited the country while will growl and bare her teeth but mentions their names.

Dolly was given to her as a gift by Well Dolly and Speck a friend. She said are actually two adorable overtime she has and cuddly miniature grown so fond of pinchers who over time the dogs that a have bonded themselves d e e p a n d securely to the heart and extremely strong affections of their owner connection has Christine. d e v e l o p e d Dolly is female and she between the three. is an exciting two yearsIt's quite old dog that frisk about customary for Dolly the home yelping to sit quietly and excitedly whenever she is wait when the around her master, while family is out, but Speck seizes every Christine and her daughter not Speck who will with Dolly and Speck opportunity to hop onto howl her loneliness her lap, anticipating the to the wind until the is soon silenced by Dolly who will kissing and cuddling she will family returns. If she is not petted cock her head in confusion receive. well when they return, a new These dogs are quite a before nuzzling noses to settle spell of howling will begin all over showoff in the yard where they the score in a friendly manner. again.

Speck is more of the worldly play all day if they are not in their Christine also extends love doggy, preening in somewhat kennel. Their little 'doggy romps' and security to her family but 'animal sophistication' as she will bring laughter bubbling to the sometime its as if Dolly and struts about the yard as though lips of any viewer as they tumble Speck are bent on grabbing it all. it's her royal, queenly court. Ever about with excited yelps and so often she switches out of this Submitted by A. Wayne merry 'doggy banter'.

C

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<<<< September 2020 | My Pet | Page 20 >>>>