Precious Pets Vol 3, Issue 7 by PreciousPets

Precious Pets www.preciouspets.ca VOLUME 3

ISSUE 7 u MARCH 25, 2016

Story by Bram Eisenthal Art by Michael DiGiorgio

3 GALILEO ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE

BUY CHOCOLATE NOT RABBITS!

9 LIVES OF SALAMANDERS BROUGHT TO FASCINATING VIVIDNESS Story page 4 THROUGH NEW BOOK

TRAIN YOUR PUPPY AND KITTEN

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

Salamanders are also a beautiful part of the animal kingdom

Barking Bram with Bram Eisenthal

I love lizards. Always have. I even own the book The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, a copy signed by popular, award-winning author Christopher Moore when I met him. Yet I have never had one (a lizard) as a pet. The closest I have come were the many turtles I fed as a small child – and which always seemed to get out of their little plastic habitats and wind up dead behind a door somewhere in the house. Or there was Judah, my Mexican Orange tarantula, which I fed live crickets to at age 26 (me, not him). I was always fascinated by all sorts of wildlife, not just domesticated dogs or cats. I remember that, on a week-long vacation to Barbados, the room we were in had a third resident, a tiny and sweet Gecko that ran around a lot but was otherwise no bother and was quite harmless. I could have used a little less insurance chatter, mind you.... About a year ago, we at Precious Pets started looking at other animal life and we have exposed our readers to: Birds, fish and, yes, lizards and snakes, too. So when I received a press release about a new children’s book courtesy of publicist Paul Krupin, about a gorgeous tome called Salamander Dance, by two Americans: Environmental educator David FitzSimmons and wildlife artist Michael DiGiorgio, it was too wonderful an opportunity to pass up. Mr. FitzSimmons was kind enough to sign a copy of his book for me and endure a not--too-excruciating interview and we have presented

you with the some of the art and words from this beautiful work. Feel free to order a copy and share it with your family. What I learned about Salamanders and Vernal Pools is unforgettable. Salamander Dance can be brought to your rapt attention by going to www.fitzsimmonsphotography.com. Many of you responded to ancient dog’s plight So, I received a surprisingly plentiful number of positive comments to our last issue, featuring the image of the long-deceased dog from ancient Pompeii on the cover, and in summation all I can say is that you are all right: We have loved our pet companions far longer than we can admit. If that is indeed the case, let us all make sure that we LOVE our pets, meaning we treat them right, not abusively.... So we start anew. Here is a plea to all our readers everywhere: Help us take down the abusers, including the Berger Blancs of the world, which profit from the suffering of animals by putting them down with not ONE iota of respect for their welfare. I will bet you that the canine in ancient Pompeii suffered a lot less than many of the animals put down by Berger Blanc on their killing floor today. I’d LOVE to ask “animal rights MNA” Pierre Paradis why we have not made ANY progress in our treatment of animals, despite our impressive awareness of their plight... IF, that is, I could manage a few minutes to talk to him. But despite my spending

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their companions Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Media Group Inc. Volume 3, Issue 7, March 2016. Copyright 2016. Precious Pets does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not presumed to be the opinions and statements of Precious Pets Media Group Inc.

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016

a year and half trying to arrange an interview with our esteemed Minister of Agriculture (Liberal) here in Quebec, it has not happened yet. You will all know as soon as it does. Meanwhile, please keep the comments coming. We will soon start publishing the best letters... and please remember: We have a pair of admissions, courtesy of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, to see their exhibition on ancient Pompeii, an exhibition that is nothing short of fabulous. The pass for two is worth $40 in admission ($20 x two) and is good until the beginning of September 2016. All we need is ONE person to create a short video of their pet (s) doing something cute, which we will put up on our popular Facebook page. One short video of, say, 15 seconds approximately, in exchange for $40 in admission to a very professionally-mounted exhibit. I’d say that’s a fair trade. Wouldn’t you? Kiko Muffler the only place to bring your car if you need exhaust repairs done It’s that time of year. With potholes so bad, every drive providing a miraculous reason why you should thank God or anyone else you pray to that the underside of your car is still intact – and after hearing morning man Shaun Starr knock Loblaws on The Team 690 last week - it occurred to me that all businesses are fair game, even in this paper. I am therefore quite pleased to have an opportunity to condemn Mr. Muffler, which, as far as I am concerned, is virtually criminal in its pricing policy. After all, they tried stealing money from MY bank account a few years

ago. I went into the Mr. Muffler on St. Jacques in NDG, because my dual-exhaust Grand Prix, one of my favourite cars of about 10 that I have owned in my lifetime, needed muffler repairs. I was virtually financially destitute at the time and the very LAST prognosis I needed to hear was that Mr. Muffler was ready to charge me $950 for a new muffler. Alas, despite my earnest pleas, they refused to try to repair the part. “If you agree to the work right now,” the service manager told me, “I’d be prepared to give you a deal... just $900!” Quite dejected, I took a drive and dragged my car up the Metropolitain to 8th Avenue, about a block away from Cantors’ Bakery’s flagship store, to a place called Kiko Muffler. It may be called Kino Muffler today, but I believe it goes by either name. The owner, a religious Spanish-and French-speaking Catholic DJ superstar with his own show on French-language radio, believed that he is on this Earth to HELP people, “as Jesus Christ would want me to do,” he told me and then quoted me just $50 to actually REPAIR the part via welding.... he hires about a dozen young men to do the work, you do not require an appointment and the process takes about 45 minutes at most. Really, I almost started to cry at the fabulous news and Kiko Muffler has a client for life.... I have been back twice more since and each time was a duplicate of the original. Kiko Muffler is located at 8657 8th Avenue, Montreal H1Z 2X4. Tel: 514-721-5191. Or visit their webpage at www.kinomuffler.com. Their e-mail addy is kinomufflers@ hotmail.com

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

EDUCATION

Galileo Adult Education Centre Of Mice (and other animal species) and Men with Stuart Nulman

(ED. NOTE: This feature begins a new collaboration between Precious Pets and educational institutions under the banner of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). We are proud that this collaboration is now an official faite accompli). Koula Lamprou is a student with the Social Integration Services (S.I.S) program at Galileo Adult Education Centre in Montreal North, someone who used to be non-communicative, introverted and had a terrifying fear of animals. That all changed when she became part of the school’s pet therapy program, which was established this past fall, when she got the chance to interact with the program’s menagerie of animals, including Zorro the rabbit and Gadget the dog. Things then began to change for Koula, for the better. “Since Koula began interacting with

the animals, she has become a different person. She is opening up a lot more, communicating and interacting eye-to-eye with other people, and she is now approaching the animals without any fear. In fact, she is even laughing with them,” marvelled Centre Principal Martina Schiavone. The pet therapy program at Galileo is a pilot project that is being done as part of a partnership the centre has with CRDI-TED (Le Centre De Readaptation en Deficience Intellectuelle et en Troubles Envahissants du Developpement) de Montreal, a social service network that works with people who have autism and intellectual disabilities. Its main objective is to use pets as a means to help the students deal with their individual anxiety issues, as well as to strengthen and promote such skills as personal expression, individual creativity, integration and personal skills, participation, visual and tactile contact, stimulate cognitive abilities and work on gross

Students Tania Petosa (left) and Koula Lamprou, who is holding Zorro the rabbit

Galileo S.I.S student Giuseepe Romeo with Gadget the dog.

motor skills. The program is run by certified pet therapist Alain Tourigny and is done five days a week for the centre’s 80 S.I.S students: Each session lasts for 45 minutes. The room where Mr. Tourigny conducts the program was converted from a classroom into a theatre/ relaxation room, which is filled with toys, games, costumes, posters, plus calm lighting and music, so that the students can enjoy the animals and explore their emotions in a safe, relaxing and welcoming atmosphere. The program’s pet menagerie include dogs, rabbits, birds, fish and even a porcupine and a hedgehog, which are all certified as “registered pet therapy” animals. Whenever one of the animals in the program is introduced to one of the students, they are always accompanied by Mr. Tourigny for safety and security reasons. Mr. Tourigny notes that in the short time the pet therapy program has been in operation at Galileo, the effects on the S.I.S. students have been nothing short of remarkable. “The animals bring a Zen-type of feeling to the students and they respond very well when the students touch them and show affection for them. The pets don’t ask for anything back and are

always accepting of what the students have to offer,” he said. “And as a result, the students are becoming more self-confident, speaking much clearer and are even developing a sense of responsibility when they take care of the pets, from walking them to cleaning their cages. Even their body language has improved.” Also, Mr. Tourigny, who possesses a specialization in the Arts, conducts a “Drama for Learning” program and uses puppetry as an instrument, acting out stories and sensory exercises to teach the students how to cope with the stress of everyday life in a creative manner. “I love being part of the pet therapy program. It has taught me to be more independent. When I take care of the pets here, it teaches me how to be responsible,” said Tania Petosa, who not only has her own pet at home – a dog she calls “Caesar” – but also helps out with her fellow students, so that they become more comfortable and familiar with the animals.

GALILEO Continues Page 7

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

COVER STORY

Lives of salamanders brought to fascinating vividness through new book Story by Bram Eisenthal, Art by Michael DiGiorgio It was a chance act that I even noticed the press release-emailed to me by publicist Paul Krupin a few weeks ago, touting a new book by award-winning American children’s’ writer David FitzSimmons and illustrated by Michael DiGiorgio. I get so much spam sent to me daily that I often miss things that may make it into this paper. But as soon as I checked out the latest FitzSimmons gem, Salamander Dance, I was smitten. It is really gorgeous, as I learned more so after the writer sent me a colourful and enchanting copy. Salamander Dance is about these relatives to lizards and their cycle of life, which begins in the waters of “vernal pools,” often-small bodies of water that may accumulate in the forest behind your house and which

Exclusive to Precious Pets

may also generate life to other species like insects and wood frogs. The book was so beautifully-scribed and colourfully-illustrated that I simply had to ask some questions of its author. Here, then, are his responses: The first question I had, as I am hardly a “lizardologist,” pertained to this sort of reptile in general: “The most general distinctions between salamanders and lizards have to do with their classification, skins and habitats,” FitzSimmons wrote. “Salamanders are amphibians and Lizards are reptiles. Of the two, amphibians evolved first. Salamanders generally have smooth and moist skin, while Lizards have dry and scale-covered skin. Salamanders tend to live in cool, moist habitats and lizards tend to live in drier, warmer habitats.” In other words, the

One of the beautiful images from Salamander Dance. Art by Michael DiGiorgio.

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famouslizards you see in the Galapagos Islands, the Komodo Dragons, and the ones that pop up behind rocks in Mexico, not to mention the Gecko from Geico, are Lizards. You can even tell by the cool manner in which he regards “Crabby” the beach crab in a recent TV commercial: No respect whatsoever....

As is often the case, Fitzsimmons’s interest dates waaaaay back: “I have always liked animals,” he told

SALAMANDERS Continues Page 13

Grieving a

precious pet?

Has your pet taken that voyage over the Rainbow Bridge? Are you suffering? Our Little Bear Care and Support Group is here to help those who are hurting. Started by Precious Pets over two years ago, the monthly group warmly welcomes anyone who has lost a pet within the past 12 months. A $10-per-person cash donation is suggested and the money will be given to a local pet charity. Potential attendees must RSVP at least two days in advance, at info@preciouspetscanada.com. Or you may leave a message for Bram at 514-975-7745 or Tina at 438-821-6769. Call or e-mail to find out when we will hold the next group, led by professional Zimbabwe-born-and-raised grief therapist Yvonne Clark (McGill U., M.S.W., early 1970s). Pictured (above): The support group held earlier this month. Seated at left is grief councillor Yvonne Clark. Standing far left and right: Tina DiSalvia, Sales Manager: Bram Eisenthal, Publisher and Editor.

acedogtrainingmontreal.com

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

EASTER

Think twice before buying your child a rabbit this Easter Animal Writes with Gregory Caltabanis

pixabay.com photo

As happens every Easter, parents rush to the nearest pet shops and purchase rabbits for their children, in search of the perfect present. While they make nice gifts “in the moment,” the harsh reality is that a majority of rabbits that are bought around this time of year are quickly abandoned after their owners realize the commitment of owning one is way too much. Before making the mistake this Easter, think twice when you’re at the pet shop or you will harm an innocent animal. There are a few common misconceptions related to rabbit ownership. For one, contrary to popular belief, owning a rabbit is usually a 10-year commitment. A rabbit’s life span is

anywhere between seven to fifteen years. If a family isn’t prepared to care for the animal – ANY animal - for the foreseeable future, they are better off not buying one. Many people are unaware of this and impulsively buy a rabbit “in the moment.” In the end, it is the rabbit that unfortunately suffers the consequences and not the family. Another reason rabbit ownership isn’t something to sniffle about is due to the fact that rabbits are not low-maintenance animals, as prospective buyers think. Despite the fact that their small frames give this impression, owning a rabbit is much like owning a dog. Both pets need to be

actively engaged with regular activity and require constant care. Like most other pets, rabbits need attention in order to thrive and often need their nails clipped and their coats brushed, as well. According to Danielle Beaulieu, a veterinary surgeon at Montreal’s Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital, a rabbit “needs two to four hours per day to hop free and play” and will not be content with remaining in a cage all day. This requires an owner to not only to put in the time to properly care for the rabbit, but also to provide the effort to ensure it’s well-being. It’s also worth mentioning that a rabbit’s cage must be cleaned at least once a day to avoid having your rabbit get sores on its feet. In many cases of “Easter rabbits”, this doesn’t occur, as families forget about them and cast them aside like yesterday’s trash once the holiday is over. Then of course, the question of finance comes into play. Current estimates for the cost of owning a rabbit reportedly are at $800 per year excluding veterinarian bills. People often believe that rabbits don’t cost as much as other pets but this couldn’t be further from the truth for a number of reasons. Owning a rabbit may dent a families finances because of their varied diet. A healthy rabbit regularly consumes hay in addition to fresh vegetables daily. Consistent purchases of these ingredients will inevitably add up. Moreover, the adoption fees tack on another $300 or so, further highlighting the financial reality of owning a rabbit. Before you buy, put yourself in the rabbit’s place: Would YOU want to be well-treated by your human compan-

ion or suffer an awful, painful fate? ED. NOTE: Once again, I had a pet rabbit about 30 years ago. Thumpy was sweet, lovely to look at and also a major responsibility. He jumped around my spare room chewing every wire he could find, left his “calling cards” everywhere and in the end I found that, because he was far from hypo-allergenic, I had to give him away after just two years due to a serious allergy. Think twice… please?

Coming Up: NEXT ISSUE

FRIDAY. April 29, 2016

DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, April 20, 2016 pixabay.com photo

info@preciouspetscanada.com

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

EDUCATION

GALILEO Continued from Page 3 i

Giuseppe Romeo, another student in the program, remarked how his interactions with the pets, especially Gadget – who was also a guard dog – has helped him with his speech. “I used to talk very loudly. But thanks to working with Gadget, especially when I have to tell her to come to me, I now speak more softly and more clearly,” he said. He added that he has loved being in the pet therapy program so much, that he now has a goal of following in Mr. Tourigny’s footsteps and becoming a pet therapist. Also, Ms. Schiavone noticed how the pet therapy program has had an overall positive effect on the other students who are part of the Galileo community. She noted that students who have recently immigrated to Canada enjoy visiting the pets because it introduces them to the concept of having an animal as a house pet, something that was never familiar with them in their native countries. “The pet therapy program has done so much to open the doors between all of the students here at Galileo. As

A group photo of some of the pet therapy program participants, along with pet therapist Alain Tourigny ((back row, left) and Galileo Adult Education Centre Principal Martina Schiavone (front row, far right).

a result, the S.I.S. students are now communicating more with the general student population: It has become a model of what true integration is all about and proves that pets really do bring out the good in others,” she said. “Even the teachers use pet therapy when they are having a bad day and need a break. They’ll come to Mr. Tourigny’s room and tell him ‘I need to

hug an animal’ and they’ll take one of the dogs with them during lunch time, or walk them outside during their break, or even take them to class.” For more information about the pet therapy program at the Galileo Adult Education Centre, go to www.gaec.ca, or call 514-7210120.

Editorial Board The Editorial Board of Precious Pets is comprised of individuals connected to the pet field in some manner,

who are ready to ad-

vise the partners and/ or staff when asked for their opinions. They are:

Michael J. Cohen, Councilor, City of Cote Saint-Luc (Quebec) and founder of its Cats Committee Averil Robinson, owner of Pet Friends (Vaudreuil, Quebec) Gerdy Gouron, owner of Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions (Quebec) Dr. Wojciech Wybranowski – Veterinarian (Montreal’s West Island) Pet therapist Alain Tourigny conducting a pet therapy session.

Suzanne Villeneuve – President: Suzanne Villeneuve Associates Inc. & SVbiz Inc.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

ANIMAL ART

Selected Pages from the book

Salamander Dance Art by Michael DiGiorgio Michael DiGiorgio

Written by David FitzSimmons

David FitzSimmons

Photo from the Editor

A lizard/chameleon is not a salamander (no matter how colourful) credit Bram Eisenthal

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

ASK THE DOCTOR

They Call Me Dr. W

Training your puppy and kitten (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)

Puppies and kittens are not born with the knowledge of how to become a good pet: It is up to you, the owner, to teach them. They learn very quickly if you use positive reinforcement - you reward the behaviour you want immediately and ignore other behaviours. Rewarding your pet can take various forms, from simply praising him, petting him and giving him attention to giving him treats. When you praise your pet you must do it immediately, so that he associates the praise with his actions. You should grade the rewards according to the merit. If your kitten used the scratching post for the first time instead of the couch, you want to praise him a lot, but if he just came out of his litter box you may want to praise him somewhat less. The opposite of praise is punishment. Punishment can teach your pet fear and should be avoided and never involve physical violence. Animal behaviourists tell us a pet’s memory is only two seconds long. You have to catch your pet in the act to be able to even think of using punishment and raising your voice is more than enough. So if you come into the room and find poop on the floor, just clean it up, it’s too late sticking your dogs nose into it and that is simply a bad idea. He won’t associate his poop with his actions. I know that that is hard to accept sometimes, because when you come back home and your pet did something he was not supposed to, he “looks guilty.” What he is really demonstrating is not guilt but fear, as he knows that you will be upset, but he will not associate that with his actions. Discipline, on the other hand, is not punishment. Discipline can be delivered in several ways. If you are playing with your kitten and he bites you, scream “ARGH” and immediately walk away. This “time out” only has to be 10 seconds long, but you must do it consistently every time, until he figures out that the only way he can play with you longer is not to bite. Another form of discipline is the “Act of God.” If your puppy is screaming in the crate, you can’t let him out now, as you will be rewarding bad behaviour. Before you can let him out you must get him to be quiet for at least a few seconds. Someone unseen to the puppy should make a large noise, such as pounding on

the wall, or throw something… not at the pet but just to grab his attention. He will stop barking just long enough for you to let him out of the cage. A good trick is an empty soda can with a few pennies inside and the opening taped shut. Unseen to the puppy you can throw or roll

the can on the floor, it will make a lot of noise and definitely grab his attention. The cardinal rules in training your pet are: u Be patient and consistent u Reward good behaviour

immediately (the two-second rule) u Ignoring your pet for bad behaviour is a very effective form of punishment u Punishment as a last resort, but only if you catch him in the act (voice reprimand only) More to come next issue….

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

PAMPERED

Pampering is a MUST…

but avoid matted fur at all cost

Beauty Show with Anna Maria

pixabay.com photo

of Pampered Pets of Westmount

Now that spring has sprung (a tad early, but who’s complaining?), we are seeing a rush of dogs coming in to get pampered and have their spring haircuts. And with the warmer weather and rain, we see more and more dogs coming in with mats! What are dog mats? Mats in your dogs’ hair first start to form from a small knot that gets worse over time, worse if left unattended. If you don’t keep up with your dogs brushing, mats will be sure to form! Most common causes for mats include: u u u u u

Lack of brushing Excessive washing Overgrown coat Humidity Rain water

And I cannot stress enough how important is it to brush your dog! Certain breeds such as Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Poodles, the Doodles, Bichons and Cockapoos ( to name just a few) are more likely to get matted. These breeds can tolerate the shaving and their coats will grow back nicely once it has been reset. Double-coated breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Shelties, Shepherds, Huskies, Samoyeds ( again, just to name a few) are another matter altogether, when it comes to matting. Shaving these breeds too close will alter the coat and, in most cases, will permanently ruin it! When this type of coat is clipped too short the primary hairs (outer guard hairs that protect the skin) grow back at a much slower rate than the secondary hairs (the undercoat). What you end up getting is an uneven coat that has just lost its gorgeous luxurious look and is actually left dry and brittle.

If these breeds do get matted, I suggest taking the time to de-mat the dog and, in a worst case scenario, to simply shave out the mats (and the mats only…. the skin is not far away!) When I am faced with mats, as much as I try to de-mat the dog I must use my best judgment in deciding whether it is worth put the dog through the grooming process or shaving the dog and allowing the coat to grow in and start over. While some people may not approve of having their dog shaved, it is sometimes the most humane option. The mats we see this time of year are typically so tight and close to the skin

Pampered Pets is located at 4937 B Sherbrooke Street W. in Westmount, corner Claremont.

TIDBITS Art from

Marta Barnes

Our Pets

Nine-month old Duke is a Brindle-coloured Mini Boxer...a fun-loving, amazing little boy. He’s the boss! Deb

that trying to demat a dog (unfortunate enough to have them) would simply be cruel. In these cases we have no choice but to shave. With spring comes change and even the animals feel it. Many can benefit from a spring cleaning and getting ready for the warmer, fun-filled days ahead. You can even do some basic grooming at home with your pooch: It makes for a fun time and a terrific bonding experience.

“And with his mission complete for bringing high cholesterol and Diabetes to all, the Easter Bunny sauntered off to his burrow for another year.”

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

of Westmount Our location has changed to better serve you. Our spacious new venue offers you more services, but using our guaranteed quality, provided by our caring, committed staff. At Pampered Pets, we have developed a reputation for quality and excellence regarding how we treat your pets. Whatever aspect of the grooming process you request, we never allow a client to leave dissatisfied. That includes your pets, which always come to us excited, not disheartened.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

GET JIGGY

Laval: Time to get jiggy with it! A Pawws for Some R&R with Zoe Bennett pixabay.com photo Sometimes I sit and look at my dog and wish to myself that I could take her out with me on a cute little coffee date. Luckily for us here in Montreal - and slowly all over Canada - we can do such things. Thanks to doggie cafés and cat cafés popping up all over, we can now hang out with our best buds, like the proper adults that we all are. Something has struck my attention, however: It seems as though not everyone shares the same notion that we pet lovers tend to have. In the City of Laval, for instance, it is in fact illegal to open a cat or dog café due to specific hygiene laws. This begs the

question, what’s up with that? Something isn’t right here. What does the city of Laval have against animals? First Le Berger Blanc and now this. I’m sure this is starting to raise some eyebrows. I decided to call the City of Laval to investigate further. I posed as someone interested in opening a cat café in the area and was left with more questions than answers. I began by asking how I would go about opening the café and what steps I should take, however, I was immediately shut down and given a phone number to call that was actually not in service. During my second call, I was

transferred to the Urban Planning Department, where I left a message detailing my “plans,” a message which went unanswered, with no call back. I am not at all surprised. On the City of Laval’s website there is a bylaw that was created in 1976 that indicates “Dogs are prohibited on any premises where food and refreshments are served to the public.” This bylaw was created 40 years ago, so do they not think it might be time for an update? It shows even further the lack of care and love they show towards animals in the City of Laval. How can they not

recognize that this should be a priority in order to effect change? It is so obvious that they offer no care at all towards the rights of animals or the rights of the citizens of Laval, for that matter: In other words, for those who have so much love for their pets. These laws should be changing with the times and something must be done for the animals of the City of Laval. We in the public cannot continue to stand idly by while they diminish the importance of our fur babies in our lives!

Think twice before buying someone a wascally wabbit

Boyhood Buddy with Jovan Rohac

It’s Easter time! A bunny would be a really cool pet to have because they are so cute . I’ve never actually known someone who has a bunny but apparently they’re pretty good animals. I would like to have a bunny some day. I think the thing I would like to do the most with a bunny would be probably feeding it carrots. But I think it would be cool to watch the rabbit to see what it does all day. I would name my bunny something cool like

Speedy, Titan or Thor . Like other animals, you would need to pay a lot of attention to a bunny or else it would quickly become bored. I wonder how a bunny would react living with a dog and/or another animal like a cat? I also wonder what rabbits eat aside from carrots and how different it is from taking care of a small, cute rabbit than it is than taking care of a small 9-pound dog or cat. I’ve always thought about why they chose the

rabbit to represent the figure bringing Easter chocolate on Easter’s to children. Did you know that the only rabbit that’s domesticated is the European rabbit and was widely kept in Ancient Rome and then spread into a wide variety of breeds and range from “dwarf “ to “ giant “ in size? I always thought that there were several types of rabbits that were domesticated and that there was only one size of rabbits, until I did a little bit of research. I find it quite ironic that the Easter bunny delivers eggs in the form of and size of a chicken egg! Some parents get their kids bunnies for Easter . If you receive a rabbit as a pet, like for other animals , you have to keep them company because like all living beings, they need attention. Sometimes when the child loses interest in the bunny , the child starts ignoring it and then the parents have to put

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

the bunny up for adoption which is why sometimes rabbits or bunnies , whatever you want to call them, are not always the best pets to have for a child. You have to make sure that you really want a rabbit before you get one because than it’s kind of unkind to the animal. When you hear stories of animals being put up for adoption because of these reasons, it kind of touches you. Happy egg hunting! ED. NOTE: You can read a LOT more about bunnies on-line, Jovan. The research is the most fun thing of all. I had a bunny when I was in my mid-twenties and Thumpy was a fascinating pet companion. His penchant for nibbling on all my wires was not quite as charming, though. But, yes, before buying a rabbit for your child, please make sure he or she will take good care of it....

CONTINUED

SALAMANDERS Continued from Page 4 i

me. “My Dad ran an outdoor education program (he is retired now), and he always had animals around --salamanders, turtles, snakes and other cool critters. These were used as education animals in his outdoor school.” The resident of Ohio, a retired school teacher and university professor, added that Michael DiGiorgio, the illustrator, lives in Connecticut and that “we met through a mutual artist friend.” People do not seem to gravitate towards reptiles like salamanders and lizards as much as they do towards cute-cuddly dogs and cats and I assume this is also because of a lack of understanding, as much as our fears of anything so NOT cute and cuddly: “I would not say that Salamanders are as much ‘misunderstood’ as ‘little understood,’ Fitzsimmons said. “Secretive, seldom seen, and hard to catch in most cases, is also what they are. I think that few people have had much interaction with salamanders. They are, however, really amazing animals -- from their natural acts of complete metamorphosis to their

being incredible escape artists, these amphibians are really cool. “The spotted salamander, for example, can accelerate its development from larva to juvenile if the water in its vernal pool is dropping quickly. So, one year the larvae may develop several weeks faster than the previous year as they sense how much water remains in their habitat.” (Ed. NOTE- Seriously.... how COOL is that? They are the X-Men of the animal kingdom!) “That mole salamanders are able to hide so well is one of the things that fascinates me<” FitzSimmons continued. “Mole salamanders, like the spotted salamander featured in Salamander Dance, live most of their lives in the burrows of moles and other mammals... other than during migration, when they emerge and trek at night to vernal pools and back, these little critters are hard to find. “Teaching children and their families about salamanders and vernal pools will help in spreading greater understanding, not only about these life forms and their specialized pools

but also as a way of helping people become more aware of amphibians and wetlands in general. “Vernal pools have been destroyed in the past due to a lack of knowledge. Simply put, few people even knew such a thing existed. As more of the public becomes educated about these habitats, more and more are being protected and even built anew.” ED. NOTE: Thanks to David FitzSimmons for spreading such knowledge about reptilian life

that is vastly misunderstood. I wonder how many people pass by a small natural pool, teaming with wildlife, and simply step into the pool with a massive boot, eradicating such life forever. You can reach the author by e-mail if you wish at davefitzsimmons@ yahoo.com For a further look at his work, go to: www.fitzsimmonsphotography.com and www.curious-critters.com

PLEASE make your bunny gifts chocolate this Easter!

pixabay.com photo

Bunnies. Along with chocolate, probably the most popular Easter gift. But you know what happens, don’t you? Kids love cute rabbits as gifts, well-meaning parents buy them, Easter comes and goes and tons of rabbits are then left stranded, to be dealt with by the SPCA and other shelters. Rabbits are a HUGE responsibility, as anyone who has had a rabbit companion knows all too well: They are also no less deserving of a good home than dogs or cats! So, if you are not prepared to look after them, or ANY pet, please buy your child a chocolate bunny as a present.

One of the beautiful images from Salamander Dance. Art by Michael DiGiorgio.

A sweet, tasty, chocolate bunny will not survive in your home nearly as long as a live one and we promise your wires will be totally safe.... HAPPY EASTER, everyone, from Precious Pets! And a Happy Early Passover to our Jewish readers, as well.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

PUZZLES

Puzzles

Sudokus from: http://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku.html Crosswords from: http://alberichcrosswords.com/pages/id156.html

Solution

Across 1 Came across a record concerning journalist (10) 6 Language of old city belonging to the French (4) 9 They’ll get wrongly blamed for heading off escape by animals (10)

26 E.g. dogs returning from walk (4) 27 Not quite one’s best friend on the ship (6,4)

10 There’s potato in Mum’s pudding (4)

Down 1 Pretty girl gets some food (4)

12 Style of cooking providing contrasts (5-3-4)

2 Animal found in sea location (4)

15 Country-loving Irishman in charge of containing disturbance (9)

3 Fat little Edward is biased (12)

17 Giving note to terrorists makes one angry (5) 18 One who latches on to another is a sucker (5) 19 Sailor’s intent perhaps is to be self-restrained (9) 20 A comment sure upset in due proportion (12) 24 Man told to get on his knees? (4)

25 Boundary rope may produce such a decision (10)

ter demolition of aspic plant (10) 14 Steam railway takes on head of Railtrack to improve efficiency (10) 16 To perform in a different key, one’s parts must be arranged (9)

4 The First Lady touring Oklahoma will awaken memories (5) 5 The thresholds of delights (9) 7 Heartless robbers go off with a pet. The villains! (10) 8 Below, below, below (10) 11 Managed to get clergyman in dead awkward situation (12) 13 They are seeking work af-

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca

21 Went on horseback round cowboy show (5) 22 Junk mail from the capital (4) 23 Nothing but a lake (4)

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 • www.preciouspets.ca