The Cat's sense of smell, not vision, is its primary resource for identifying the individuals and objects in its environment. We don't know for sure what kind of colors cats can see, but scientific tests indicate that cats can recognize at least some of the colors that we do. The cat's outer ear (pinna) is connected by 27 muscles and can rotate 180 degrees to scan the environment or to direct its attention to a particular source of sound. From birth the mother cat grooms her kittens--touch being the primal source of affection. Cats will often regress and behave like kittens when stroked--nursing, drooling, teething. Cats drink by converting their long tongues into spoons. The tip of the tongue is curled backward to create a hollow shape that acts like the bowl of a spoon. Spanking or striking your cat will get you nowhere. All you'll accomplish is angering your the cat, not to mention possibly hurting it. Punishment is nowhere near as effective with cats as is rewarding positive behavior. But sometimes bad behavior must be discouraged. Try a spray bottle. Remember that, like people, cats can also become stressed and tense. In order to reduce your cat's stress, let it play and exercise regularly.

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	A pig is a hog -- hog is a generic name for all swine -- but a hog is not a pig. In the terminology of hog raising, a pig is a baby hog less than ten weeks old. Get all that? neithor did I!

					Learning Compassion towards Animals In its most general sense, humane education refers to all those activities designed to encourage people to "be kind." Its goal is to help adults and children develop empathy and compassion for other pets and animals, respect for their welfare and the ability to make decisions based on their health and happiness. Learn what is expectable, and what is not.
			What is Animal Cruelty and How it Starts Humane education is more than just pet care information. Teaching responsible pet ownership is part of humane education, but it is not the whole aim. If every Canadian looked after his or her pets properly, certainly many animals would be better off. But if the motivation for looking after pets properly does not include a genuine appreciation and concern for pets and animals, then humane attitudes have been ignored. One of the causes of aggression toward animals is the inability on the part of the aggressor to read the signals being given off by the other party. He or she reacts violently because he misinterprets the intentions of the animal.
			An obvious topic for humane education is understanding animal behavior and nonverbal communication. Which brings up empathy. Empathy is the ability to mentally put oneself in another's shoes and understand their perspective. Lack of empathy allows abuse to happen because to the unempathetic abuser, the victim is just an object, not a feeling being. Thus the development of empathy for others, is important. To really read your pets body language takes time. Watch your own pets. Go to the dog park and watch other dogs interacting. Or watch your neighbors cats. Watch different body parts (ears, tails, eyes, lips, hair, overall posture) separately for a while. See if you can predict which body stances lead to which activities. Signs of fear or concern: lowered stance, tail down or tucked under, tail wagging in a quick, frantic buzz; looking away or turning head away to look so that whites of eyes show ("whale eye"); dilated pupils. Dogs often bark out of fear, in an attempt to keep a distance between each other, especially if the pet is cornered, fenced in, or on a leash. Learning What is Right and What is Wrong Ask a group of animal protectionists if hunting, trapping, calf roping, steer wrestling and a long list of other animal-use activities are cruel and you will probably get a resounding yes. Ask the same questions of those who participate in these activities and you will likely get a resounding no. Everyone sees things from a different perspective however there are points where thing come more clear, and we all realize what it okay, and what is not. The definition of Cruelty to Animals is the infliction of physical pain, suffering, or death upon an animal, when not necessary. Animals cannot speak for themselves. They cannot adequately defend themselves against abusers, and they cannot identify their attacker. We encourage people who see abuse to contact some immediately. In fact, without the assistance of the public, the mission to prevent cruelty to animals, and prosecute offenders would be nearly impossible. How to Get Involved and Stop the Endless Cycle If an animal cruelty case comes to your attention, write letters to the prosecutors, the judge and others involved in the legislative process. Ask that those responsible for the cruel act be given strict penalties so that a clear message of abhorrence to cruelty will be sent. Too often, these cases are merely brushed aside by the legal system and the perpetrators are let off on very lenient charges. This gives the impression that the animal(s) was worth little, if anything. “Cruelty to animals will be punished to the fullest extent” must be the message that is sent loud and clear. We as a society must take these acts of cruelty, however small, very seriously. We need to demand stronger sanctions for crimes against animals. We need to take a stand and proclaim that animal cruelty will not be disregarded. To ignore this violence only invites more. As you write letters to the legislators, don’t forget to also send letters to the editors of newspapers. Encourage friends and family to join in the letter writing campaign. Even one letter can sometimes make the difference! Write polite, brief and specific letters to your elected officials regarding animal welfare issues. What Puppy Mills Are and Why they Are Wrong Puppy mills are breeding farms that are characterized by substandard care and conditions. Here dogs are bred repeatedly for profit – not for the pride of the breed. These innocent creatures become part of a sick trade that supplies pet stores and research laboratories with a steady supply of animals. The awful truth is that thousands of dogs across the U.S. suffer horrible forms of abuse including starvation, cannibalism and lives spent in extreme physical and psychological distress. Under cramped, filthy conditions, dogs are forced to breed – resulting in unhealthy and genetically defective pups. Through the boiling heat of summer and the bone-chilling winds of winter, they are denied veterinary care, socialization with humans and comfortable shelter. Help stop this cycle of greed and cruelty. For more information: www.nopuppymills.com/ Want to learn more about making a differnce towards pets and other animals you can get in touch with us. If you would like to learn more about this subject, there are plenty of resources available.
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