Still remember that very moment when you first laid your eyes on your now, ever still most beloved pet? Feeling that very special bond between the both of you when you pick up that little fellow? It was sure such a sweet moment isn?t it? That little fellow just looks so adorable staring so innocently at you didn?t it? Little could we have ever imagine that, that little life would one day grow up to be old and eventually leave us.

Thinking back now, I know you would certainly miss it even dearly. Please feel ashamed do not, should it even bring you tears. It?s truly alright to be feeling so. Losing our most beloved pet can be just as hurting as losing our very loved ones. A part of the family, I believe you would have already long regarded it as. The same would be, for most of our pet owners, I deeply believe too.

At such a grieving time, it?s just natural for us, pet owners to feel the strong desire to communicate the loss of our most dearly loved and missed pet. But sometimes it is just so sad that few, even our close friends could understand our grief. ?C?mon just get yourself a new one?, that is always a very hurting remark to be hearing. Because of such hurting remarks, many pet owners are very reluctant to disclose their immense grief over the loss of their pets, keeping everything to themselves.

It would usually take quite a while before one could actually get over the loss, getting back to their normal self again. But nevertheless, please do not feel ashamed in anyway should you be feeling so. Remember, you are not the only one.

Well perhaps, creating an online memorial dedicating it specially to your ever most beloved pet would be a nice way to communicate your loss, helping to cope with your grief. Likewise, it would actually be also a meaningful way of a creating an ever-lasting tribute in memory of your dearly lost pet.

There are actually quite a couple of wonderful sites providing such thoughtful services. With an online memorial page dedicated specially for your pet, you can put down in your very words, all your truthful thoughts and sentiments on it. To share all those wonderful moments and stories of your beloved pet with friends and family all over the world, not forgetting the lots of other pet lovers out there whom would deeply understand your feelings. Many of these pet owners have also created that special memorial page in memory of their wonderful pets. Looking at these wonderful memorial pages sure bring back so much fond memories. Photographs of your pet can nevertheless be included in the memorial page too, creating an even lasting memory for all. Likewise, an online pet monument service is also available from some of these sites.

Well whatever the case may be, our special pet friends have without doubts, truly dedicate their life to entertaining us, unconditionally loving us, cheering us up when we were down, been such a great companion ever. To be always remembered, they certainly deserved to be. An online memorial or monument of an ever-lasting memory of them will definitely be a truthful and meaningful gift to be dedicated to our special pet friends.

Rick Valens
Freelance Writer for http://www.ecemetery.org,
Monument of Eternal Memory

Currently also staff writer for http://www.loveletterbox.com,
Love Relationship Discussion Forum

NOTE: You’re free to republish this article on your website, in your newsletter, in your e-book or in other publications provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety, including the author information and all live website link as above.

There are plenty of toys on the market to keep your favorite pet entertained for hours on end, but there are also a number of factors to consider when purchasing toys for your pet. As with children?s toys, safety should be first and foremost in your thoughts when considering a new toy purchase for your pet.

Be sure not to give your pet toys that can be broken up and potentially stuck in their throats! Dog toys, like dogs themselves, come in various shapes and sizes. Dog toys should be durable, fun, and safe. Hard rubber toys such as the ?Kong? line of products can provide your favorite dog with endless hours of chewing fun.

The ?Kong? can also be filled with a mixture of your dog?s favorite treat and peanut butter! Please check with your veterinarian to ensure that it is okay to feed your dog peanut butter. Rope dog toys and rubber rings are always a bit hit with dogs that love to play fetch or tug-of-war. Playing ?Frisbee? can also provide hours of entertainment for dogs and owners alike!

Dogs may also enjoy stuffed and furry toys, but be sure your pet cannot get at the stuffing inside as it can be a serious choking hazard. Toy birds and mice have traditionally proven to be very entertaining for cats. They especially seem to like the ones attached to string that you can pull and entice your furry feline to chase about!

They also seem to love simple cardboard boxes, tin-foil balls, and scrunched up newspaper! A recent favorite of cats and cat owners is the laser pointer. Cats never seem to tire from chasing that little red dot around, just be sure not to direct it at their eyes. The feather-and-pole type of toy is also very popular. Scratching posts are excellent forms of entertainment for cats, and they provide your cat something other than your furniture to dig their claws into! Hint: try sprinkling catnip on the post!!

There is also a series of catnip-stuffed toys and pillows that your cat will love. There are literally hundreds of pet toys on the market, just be sure to put safety first!

Christine Arbor is a pet lover who works as a contributing writer for http://www.topsellingpetsupplies.com ? a site that offers information on pet supplies, dog beds, cat toys and more.

If you’re looking for free to good home dogs it is very important that you acknowledge the fact that these will be great additions to your family since they can give a lot of different feelings to the people close to you. They are extremely good with kids and they will prove to be excellent companions for them over time while teaching them the values of friendship, love and caring. You may be able to find a lot of free dog adoptions specially if you search in the Internet, you will soon discover the many different options that you have for acquiring wonderful dogs that will serve as companions for you and your family.

Free to good home dogs are incredibly efficient for helping a family to grow closer, consider a puppy adopt if you want your kids to spend more time with your family when they are looking after their newly acquired dog and they will be much more responsible for their actions since now it will affect other members of the family, meaning the newly acquired puppy. Free dog adoptions do not only help your family but you will also be helping dogs out of the streets and giving them food and shelter, this way we can keep the streets safe from diseases and you will also be helping a puppy to acquire a great way of life.

Free dog adoptions can be found practically everywhere you live, but if you’re having trouble finding one in your vicinity your best option is searching the Internet where you will find many different choices for you to select the poppy that that better suits your needs. Free to good home dogs will be extremely efficient in keeping you company; you will find not only a new pet but also a very loving friend which will be your companion every time you need.

Start living today the wonderful event that acquiring a puppy will bring, consider about a puppy adopt and become one of the persons who has already started to change their way of life by helping a puppy and at the same time help yourself acquiring a great friend. Every time that you heard about dogs being man’s best friends you were listening to the most accurate statement that has never been made about animals. Free dog adoptions will help you to acquire the company that you have expected and will also allow puppies to find home and care from someone as important as you. Do not allow these puppies to roam the streets without care or love and acquire free to good home dogs today, you will not regret this decision and your family will be very grateful.

Check out Dean’s teacup puppies website and my teacup puppies blog

There are lots of pets to choose from, but if you choose to get a cockatiel, there are some things to consider. For instance, can you provide lots of attention to it? Cockatiels are very social animals and demand constant attention. Cockatiels also have a tendency to bond with one person over others and will tend to stay with and be possessive of that person. However, if you still want a cockatiel, but do not have that much time to play with it, then you should get a second cockatiel and see if they bond. If two cockatiels are in nearby cages or the same cage they will grow close and receive most of the attention they need. As a side effect, however, the cockatiels will be less likely to play with you as much.

Another part about choosing cockatiels is their lifespan. They can live on average 12-15 years, and if they receive plenty of exercise, good diet, attention, etc. they can live up to 20 or in some cases 30 years. You need to carefully consider whether you will be able to take care of the cockatiel for such a long time. Will the length of time be too demanding?

If you are worried about animal poaching and cockatiels being taken from the wild, then you will be happy to know that the majority of cockatiels are not. All you really need to do is find a reputable breeder or find one that was hand raised when a baby. Hand raised cockatiels are cockatiels that came from two tamed cockatiels and trained by experienced breeders at a very young age. As a result, when you buy a hand raised cockatiel, they will be used to people and a better bird for companionship. If you choose a non-trained cockatiel, then check the person who you are buying it from to make sure they are reputable. Untrained cockatiels will not bond right away with anyone and can be very defensive, often biting and hissing at you until you train them.

Cockatiels are a fun and loving bird but knowing some basic facts before you buy one can help keep cockatiels and other pets out of animal shelters. Birds, like most other pets, are a big responsibility that require time and energy.

Good luck in your search for a pet!

By Arthur Royal
Technicial Writer for Only Petcare.
http://www.onlypetcare.com

Most cats are not aggressive towards people, but if you have one that is, it can be a nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not normally as harmful as those from a dog, but it’s still not very nice being attacked by a cat as an adult, and even worse if you’re a child.

Although aggressive cats are nowhere near as common as aggressive dogs, there are still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch disease in the United States annually. If you are bitten or scratched by a cat, it’s important to clean the wounds with an antiseptic solution as soon as possible.

So, why exactly do cats turn aggressive and attack people? Well, there are several reasons:

A cat in pain can tend to lash out. If a normally good-natured cat suddenly strikes out at you for no reason, take it to a vet and have it checked out for illness or injury.

A fearful cat can be dangerous. A mature cat that was never properly socialized when younger, or a cat that has been mistreated at some time in its life, can lash out through fear.

Some cats may start to direct the kind of stalking behavior normally reserved for prey, at an owners hands or feet. This can be particularly disturbing if it gets directed at small children.

Sometimes an owner can be the victim of re-directed aggression, i.e. the cat attacks the owner when it cannot get at its intended target – another cat it can see or smell.

Cats play status games rather more rarely than dogs, but on occasions you will get an animal that thinks it’s Top Cat and indulges in behavior where it challenges the owner to prove it wrong. Professional help is needed from a cat behavior specialist to sort this out before it escalates out of control.

Some do’s and don’ts to help control cat aggression:

Have the cat looked over by a vet for signs of illness or injury.

Scale down the amount of physical contact with the cat.

When it goes into ‘attack mode,’ startle the cat with a loud noise etc. as a diversionary tactic.

Play with the cat ‘at arms length’ by using e.g. a toy on a string held away from the body.

It may be necessary to confine the cat to a cage, particularly if a young child is at risk.

Don’t make prolonged eye contact, always look away from the cat’s eyes after a few seconds.

Don’t use physical punishment. This will only make the cat more aggressive.

Chris Curtis developed Bakersfield Pets Photo Gallery as a place to showcase photos of his family’s beloved cats. http://www.bakersfield-pets.com/

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace. – Milan Kundera

The idea of wearing jewelry with dog motifs may seem strange to most people. The dog is normally not anywhere near as graceful as the cat or the dolphin, which both make for wonderful jewelry patterns, indeed. But the appeal of dog jewelry may surprise some, and the beauty that comes with the designs in dog jewelry would catch even gem-lovers off-guard.

Why wear dog jewelry? Well, it could be for a variety of reasons. Dogs have become the universal symbol of loyalty and unconditional affection. If you ever met a person who was so dedicated to anything — in love or at work — chances are that person is also a dog-lover. There are lessons you learn from keeping dogs, and among them are kindness and patience, fierce protectiveness, as well as strength in the face of adversity.

In ancient Egypt, Anubis, the dog-headed god of embalming, was held in high regard as the conductor of the underworld — the one who saw the dead off to their final resting places. Anubis comes associated with death, and the sight of a dog, jackal or wolf head have come to be associated with death as well. Men have in fact opted for dogs as masculine symbols, denoting territorialism and acute survival instinct. After all, dogs have been known to survive through the toughest circumstances, and this in itself cancels out the idea of dogs as death-bringers.

Toughness and loyalty are the main virtues associated with dogs. On the modern media front, Lassie has perpetuated the image of the companion that’s smarter than your everyday human, and is therefore loads more useful, if not also loads more affectionate. Old Yeller has also taught us about how sheer faithfulness is sometimes enough to get you through the most trying situations.

Dog jewelry is not exclusively for humans to wear — there are dog collar charms, too! In fact, pet and owner can have matching charms: one charm in the master/mistress’ bracelet, and a similar one on the pet’s collar.

If you are a dog lover, try out dog jewelry! Show the world your appreciation of the noble heritage of man’s best friend!

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of ?How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.? This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

This small, spunky dog breed is famous for coining the phrase Yo quiero Taco Bell. Who doesn’t remember the commercials in which the Chihuahua expressed his love for Taco Bell food? Tiny and energetic, the Chihuahua typically weighs between 2-6 lbs and is 6 inches to 9 inches in height. They are one of the longest living dog breeds, sometimes living up to 20 years.

The Chihuahua is recognized by the AKC. Any color including solid, splashed and marked are acceptable coat colors. The Chihuahua has two coat types. One is smooth, short, close and glassy. The other is long, soft, flat and slightly curly with an undercoat. Contrary to what you would expect, the short coated dogs shed more than those with long hair. The short and long haired dogs are actually the same breed so you will often find both short and long haired puppies in the same litter. Short haired Chihuahuas need an occasional brushing while long haired Chihuahuas need brushed daily.

Born to be a family companion, the Chihuahua needs lots of attention and family time. They are very energetic and need plenty of play time. Since they are active indoors, they make good apartment dogs, but they do enjoy an occasional walk outside. They love to be spoiled and will encourage you to spoil them. Many owners find themselves buying puppy clothes for their spoiled Chihuahuas. Chihuahuas work best when they are the only pet in the household. They can be aggressive with other dogs and pets, even those that outweigh them by 100 pounds. If you have other pets in the household, they should be socialized with them from puppyhood. Homes with small children or children that are not well behaved are not ideal homes for Chihuahuas as they can be quick to snap if they are being picked on. They make great watchdogs as they will let you know if they hear an unfamiliar noise or see a stranger. They have a tendency to be wary of strangers. You need to be aware that sometimes the Molera or soft spot on their head does not close until they are older and sometimes they never close at all. Be careful to avoid injury.

Mexico is considered to be the Chihuahua’s country of origin. Many sources believe that they have Asian ancestry as well. Their name is pronounced chi-WAH-wah. They have always been known as companion dogs.

Small, energetic and affectionate, the Chihuahua is a loyal family pet. They will be like your shadow when you are at home and are happiest when they have someone home with them most of the time. They also like to travel with their families. Light on the wallet as they eat little and are a fairly healthy breed, the Chihuahua is an excellent choice for families willing to let them have the spotlight and attention that they need.

Learn more about the Chihuahua, or visit us online to talk about Dogs or to see Dog Pictures

Best dogs for children ? So many myths, legends, and fear surround many things when knowledge is lacking. This is very evident as I hear parents cry: My child wants a dog. What should I do? What are the best dogs for children? What do I teach the children? Help! Parents want information on the fear of dogs. How does a child overcome the fear of dogs? How do you prevent a child from developing a fear of dogs in the first place? It all begins with the selection process.

I was asked this question by a couple who had a little fear of dogs in general, because neither of them had any dogs when growing up. Their children had requested to have a dog, so the parents wisely stepped forward for help: What should I do? Both wanted their children, then ages four and seven, to grow up comfortable with dogs and without the fear that plagued them. First, though, they needed to understand certain guidelines for children and dogs.

So I sat down privately with the parents and explained some key points that could make or break this effort. Understand! You children must be made to understand what they can and cannot do with a dog. If the child is too rough and you don’t correct him, the dog WILL.

Secondly, if your dog shows disrespect to your children, FORGET IT! You are not experienced dog people, and the animal will take advantage of this. The specific dog must have the right personality to start with.

Third, let me show you how to discipline the dog properly. Your children will imitate you, and you want this done right.

The couple had agreed that they wanted a Rescue Dog. They also wanted a medium size and moderate energy dog. I was told there was no preference of sex.

At the shelter, I looked at many of the dogs who were leaping eagerly at the doors of the kennels. Their over-excitement was NOT going to work around children ? or inexperienced adults.

I was drawn at last to Belle Lady, a very small Lab cross. She was almost all black, and greeted me with a sweet wiggle when I neared her kennel. I allowed her to smell me. Then I put her leash on. I walked her a good distance. I tested her on pulling, and tested her behavior around cats, cars, distractions, people, and her tolerance level. After all, the best dog for a child is not a particular breed, but an individual dog’s sweet, gentle personality which is responsive to and respectful of your authority and that of the children, and whose exercise and attention needs are conducive with the family’s lifestyle.

With Belle, I was sure that I had found the perfect match for this family. Homework is important, though. So I had a long conversation with one of the people who had worked with Belle at the shelter. Her conclusion was identical to mine.

The next day when the children were out of school, we all went to the shelter to get Belle. The children obeyed their parents and listened intently to my every word. Belle was allowed to smell them first, then they walked Belle behind them.

The family had to work hard, but they gave Belle the boundaries that she needed. She spent the rest of her days happy, healthy, and loved!

This family did not know the breed or breed mix that would be best. They did not know much of anything to do with dogs starting out. But they did know to get help, and had the wisdom to listen and to do as they were instructed. They learned that children and dogs DO mix if done right, with any breed! The best dogs for children? Just about any breed. Just do your homework on the individual dog, introduce him properly, take your leadership position, and DO IT RIGHT!

GET HELP from Rena Murray at the Dog Obedience Training website. An accomplished Dog Behavior Modification expert, Dog Obedience Trainer, and Platinum Expert Author, Rena provides self-help Articles and free Best Ezines-recognized newsletter: PAW PERSUASION POINTERS to help you better understand communication and control of your dogs, debunk dog training myths, explore right and wrong dog training techniques for specific situations, address destructive dog behavior, excessive and obsessive dog behavior, and other canine issues, from new puppy to old dog. Subscribe for free at PawPersuasion.com, visit Rena’s BLOG – www.pawpersuasion.com/blog , find the dog products, crates, and gifts you need at PawPersuasion.com, and Contact Rena for Coaching .

More than 50 million people in the United States have pets, and pet supply stores are competing to get their fair share of this lucrative market. If you are a pet owner, this is great news. Pet supply stores are continually improving their products and services, and you can choose from among many of them the right one for you.

Free delivery. You love your pet, but sometimes, you just don’t have time to drop by a pet store to buy food and supplies. No problem – you can have everything delivered right to your doorstep. Most pet supply stores now offer free delivery of the freshest pet food and newest supplies. Steer clear of the inconvenience of pet supply shopping, or running out of pet food. Just order either online or from a catalog.

All-natural pet food products. People are becoming more health-conscious, even with their pets. That is why some pet supply stores now claim to only carry naturally-preserved pet food that do not contain artificial coloring, ingredients or byproducts. Some pet supply stores limit their selection only to pet foods that have passed complete feeding tests ongoing quality assurance checks.

Carefully-chosen pet supplies. There are now many pet supply stores that only sell 100 percent safe and non-toxic pet supplies, especially for dogs. These stores have only clinically-proven safe pet shampoos, creams and medicine in stock. You can also buy harmless pet toys and accessories from such stores.

Veterinarians on call. Most pet supply stores now have in-house veterinarians who can help you choose the right products for your pets. These vets are also on-call to help you if your pet suddenly reacts differently to a product. Best of all, these vets are just great sources of free advice. Just pop in the pet supply store and chat with them – you just might get free opinion on common pet problems.

Pet Stores provides detailed information on Pet Stores, Pet Supply Stores, Online Pet Stores, Pet Fish Stores and more. Pet Stores is affiliated with Free Pet Tags .

?Sacrifice is a part of life. It is supposed to be. It?s not something to regret – it?s something to aspire to.?

This quote comes from a conversation between an old soldier and his former captain in Mitch Album?s book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Now deceased, they meet in ?heaven? which, strangely enough, looks identical to the foreign soil on which they fought together. As the two souls talk, the soldier, who died some 60 years after the war, learns that his captain sacrificed his own life to save those of his men during a battle. The former soldier learns from the captain, as well as the four other individuals he meets in heaven, just how much his existence affected those around him.

Very few of us will ever experience the ultimate sacrifice of giving our lives for another person. Yet, this part of the book stuck out so much due to some recent events.

We all make sacrifices every day. Some are big, some aren?t, but each decision means turning away from another possibility. Maybe it is something as small as giving up a fun activity with friends in order to fulfill an obligation to a job, or maybe its something much, much larger. Perhaps you or someone you know has given up a portion of their life to help care for an aged relative in the twilight of life. Privacy and freedom are moved to the back burner in order to assist a loved one nearing the end. The trade-off comes in the knowledge that someone is benefiting from that sacrifice.

From its inception, The Marcus Engel Newsletter has been a forum where each month I share a positive experience from which everyone can learn. If there?s a little humor thrown in or you have an ?ah-ha!? moment, all the better! This month, for the first time, I?m not sure that?s going to happen.

If we?ve been acquainted for less than two years, you probably never had the pleasure of meeting my first Seeing Eye dog, Dasher, other than as a character in my autobiography.

I want to share a little history on the black lab that helped change my life?Dasher and I were paired together when I was 19, less than a year and a half after losing my sight. Still fumbling through darkness and insecurity, Dasher helped reclaim more of the life I had prior to blindness than any other single element of my recovery. Through our seven years together, Dasher was the introduction to nearly every friend I met and every social interaction I had. As I began speaking professionally, Dasher shared the platform and broke down the barriers between the audience and me – something that is easier for a dog than any human!

In August of 2002 Dasher retired his leather harness and was lovingly adopted into ?the good life? by my friends, Tempe and David. Knowing full well their new family member was in his golden years, Tempe and David still took on Dasher with all the enthusiasm and affection one would shower onto a new puppy. Handing over Dasher?s leash was one of the hardest things I?ve ever had to do, but my heart and mind were put at ease with the knowledge that Dasher was going to a family he loved and who loved him.

Six weeks ago, Tempe and David lost a member of their family when Dasher breathed his last breath. Those of you who?ve experienced the death of a pet know how traumatic that loss can be. The inevitable passing of a pet is always unique and tragic in its own way.

Dasher?s adoptive family made a HUGE sacrifice when they welcomed him into their home. After all, how many people really want to take on an animal in its later years knowing their time with that pet is governed by the laws of life expectancy? Practically no one. This is why I am so humbled and grateful for the sacrifice made by Tempe and David. Friends, I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to have Dasher?s final years spent under loving care and watchful eyes. That, faithful reader, is one of the truest definitions of sacrifice.

As I read the story of the captain?s voluntary loss of life for his men, and especially the lessons he taught his former soldier, I couldn?t help but think of what my friends gave up by adopting an old dog, and what they lost when Dasher died. Yet, what the captain said next helped ease that pain:

?Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you?re not losing it, you?re just passing it on to someone else.?

I?m not sure truer words have ever been spoken.

If you are one of the thousands whose life was touched by Dasher, thank you. Your acceptance and love gave him one of the best lives a dog could ever ask for. I?m sorry if this newsletter is a bit of an emotional downer, but I wanted to acknowledge the sacrifices of Tempe and David. Plus, after giving the majority of his life to my needs, Dasher deserves a fitting epitaph. In my humble notions of heaven, all things are perfect and all things are possible – including the presence of animals. So, to Dasher? Thanks buddy, for seven great years. You helped me more than you?ll ever know.