Came accross this piece, which caused the utterance of "say what?!" Unbelievable but apparantly true according to a poll, the computer is replacing the family pooch in the best friend category.
It appears that researchers discovered a mere 6% of those polled believe that most people rely more on their dog than their PC's, while 67% are of the opinion the opposite is true. Thinking further about this poll in general, why would researchers conduct a poll of this nature, anyway? But I digress.
More distressing, 38% of dog owners revealed to depending more on their PC than their dog. Another 36% disagreed. I mean, how can one compare the family pooch to a mere mechanical...thingie? Furthermore, dog owners in the 18-24 age category said they depended more on their computer.
Duh! A dog is a living, breathing companion that responds to external stimuli i.e. petting, interacting, walks, etc. whereas a computer is...there. True a pet can't compute sophisticated mathematical equations but your furry family pooch can offer emotional feedback and solace if the occasion calls for it. Your computer is just...there. Isn't that right dog owners and people who know and love dogs, reading this? You could one assumes, take your computer for a walk but would it care?
The poll by the way, was conducted by Computeractive magazine with the RSPCA. Two-thousand British adults were polled for feedback regarding the change that modern technology has brought to their home lives. Gotta wonder bout this stat that male dog owners are almost twice as likely as female owners to rely on their computer than a canine companion. What does this indicate in the scheme of things?
The company, Computeractive is working with the RSPCA to fight for justice against animal cruelty by raising funds for five prosecution cases of animal cruelty.
So whad'ya think? Is your computer replacing your family dog...or cat...or whatever?
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Missing Wookie the cat, remains a popular story
Just goes to show the power of the written word.
At the beginning of the year, I shared a piece about a British cat named, Wookie. Normally, a story about a cat wouldn't rate high but what made this story interesting - at least to some people reading this blog - is that Wookie is a missing kitty. As any missing cat owner would do, owner Mike Harding posted posters of Wookie along with a photo in his neighborhood and little did he know it at the time, but afixing posters on trees is a no-no and punishable by a fine. We're talking here about 8 lousy posters. In any case, given the nature of the story and the fact that Mike had to remove his posters by Christmas Eve or pay up, people were upset. Eventually, the powers-that-be most like due to adverse publicity, dropped the charges. For the record, Wookie has been missing since November and still has not been seen or shown up.
As a regular blogger, I've posted a number of stories since then ranging from the deep issue of whether Barbie and Ken, the plastic couple, should re-unite, the horror of seeing Katie Perry without makeup and whether American Idol is a shadow of its former self (I think it is), however... The Wookie piece is by far and still retains more interest in as far as page views are concerned than my other pieces. I mean, we're talking 105 page views as of today and although that may not seem a lot to many bloggers, given that the story goes back to the beginning of the year, it says something about the level of interest people have in animal-related stories especially if people perceive the animal and/or its owner to be a victim of society. It also says something about the power and draw of Blogger and blogs in general.
I've been checking the various news-related sites to see if there are any new updates on Wookie - none to the best of my knowledge - and am hoping that he i.e. Wookie, will make himself seen to someone. Meanwhile, if anybody has any Wookie updates... Obviously, inquiring minds want to know!
At the beginning of the year, I shared a piece about a British cat named, Wookie. Normally, a story about a cat wouldn't rate high but what made this story interesting - at least to some people reading this blog - is that Wookie is a missing kitty. As any missing cat owner would do, owner Mike Harding posted posters of Wookie along with a photo in his neighborhood and little did he know it at the time, but afixing posters on trees is a no-no and punishable by a fine. We're talking here about 8 lousy posters. In any case, given the nature of the story and the fact that Mike had to remove his posters by Christmas Eve or pay up, people were upset. Eventually, the powers-that-be most like due to adverse publicity, dropped the charges. For the record, Wookie has been missing since November and still has not been seen or shown up.
As a regular blogger, I've posted a number of stories since then ranging from the deep issue of whether Barbie and Ken, the plastic couple, should re-unite, the horror of seeing Katie Perry without makeup and whether American Idol is a shadow of its former self (I think it is), however... The Wookie piece is by far and still retains more interest in as far as page views are concerned than my other pieces. I mean, we're talking 105 page views as of today and although that may not seem a lot to many bloggers, given that the story goes back to the beginning of the year, it says something about the level of interest people have in animal-related stories especially if people perceive the animal and/or its owner to be a victim of society. It also says something about the power and draw of Blogger and blogs in general.
I've been checking the various news-related sites to see if there are any new updates on Wookie - none to the best of my knowledge - and am hoping that he i.e. Wookie, will make himself seen to someone. Meanwhile, if anybody has any Wookie updates... Obviously, inquiring minds want to know!
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Posting missing cat notice a no-no in Bedford
Cat owners living in Bedford, England, better watch out where they post their "lost cat" notices if their kitty goes missing. Unfortunately, Mike Harding, owner of 7 year old Wookie, who has been missing for 6 weeks, found out the hard way having been threatened with a fine of £1,000 ($1,559 U.S. dollars) for putting up lost posters of his beloved feline on trees and street lampposts. Wookie - love that name - went missing since late November and in an attempt and hope that someone has spotted the cat, Harding posted A4-sizes posters. Upon spotting the posters, the local borough council told Harding that he was committing the dastardly offence of flyposting (this does not mean posting house flies everywhere - Wikipedia defines it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyposting) and to remove the posters in 48 hours or face a fine.
Oh the abomination of posting a missing cat poster!
The issue in as far as the council see it, is that the posters were nailed to trees, causing them harm. Why - did the trees complain? Furthermore, (the council) environmental team spotted more than twenty of Harding's lost cat posters, some of which were nailed to eight trees.
Ohmygawd - eight whole trees!
Understandably, an alternative to attaching posters to trees is desirable but perhaps he should be forgiven since he is obviously missing Wookie in a big way. According to a borough council member, nailing a tree pierces the bark, which in turn could allow fungal spores to break down the trees defences, leading to secondary infections. Thing is - this is a cat lover who is desperate to find his cat!
The council communicated in writing to Harding on December 22, warning him to remove said posters by 0900 on December 24. Talk about not having Christmas spirit! The desperate cat owner took them down but it was when he nailed some on telegraph poles and a couple of trees that he received a written warning. In response, Harding ran around on Christmas eve removing posters, finishing the job at 3 a.m.
"I received a call from Bedford Borough Council, which initially I thought was a prank call, asking for my address because they wanted to send me some information. I was expecting information leaflets, but instead they sent a letter warning me that I would be prosecuted if the posters weren't removed."
The council said flyposting was illegal and added it was satisfied the matter had been resolved. Maybe for the council but not for Harding, who still hasn't seen a whisker of Wookie.
Click on this link to see a photo of Wookie in case anyone sees him and his sad owner:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343679/Pet-owner-blasts-council-lack-compassion-threatens-1-000-fine-lost-cat-poster.html
Oh the abomination of posting a missing cat poster!
The issue in as far as the council see it, is that the posters were nailed to trees, causing them harm. Why - did the trees complain? Furthermore, (the council) environmental team spotted more than twenty of Harding's lost cat posters, some of which were nailed to eight trees.
Ohmygawd - eight whole trees!
Understandably, an alternative to attaching posters to trees is desirable but perhaps he should be forgiven since he is obviously missing Wookie in a big way. According to a borough council member, nailing a tree pierces the bark, which in turn could allow fungal spores to break down the trees defences, leading to secondary infections. Thing is - this is a cat lover who is desperate to find his cat!
The council communicated in writing to Harding on December 22, warning him to remove said posters by 0900 on December 24. Talk about not having Christmas spirit! The desperate cat owner took them down but it was when he nailed some on telegraph poles and a couple of trees that he received a written warning. In response, Harding ran around on Christmas eve removing posters, finishing the job at 3 a.m.
"I received a call from Bedford Borough Council, which initially I thought was a prank call, asking for my address because they wanted to send me some information. I was expecting information leaflets, but instead they sent a letter warning me that I would be prosecuted if the posters weren't removed."
The council said flyposting was illegal and added it was satisfied the matter had been resolved. Maybe for the council but not for Harding, who still hasn't seen a whisker of Wookie.
Click on this link to see a photo of Wookie in case anyone sees him and his sad owner:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343679/Pet-owner-blasts-council-lack-compassion-threatens-1-000-fine-lost-cat-poster.html
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ach - der pooches not part of separation package
Couples who are extended family to pets don't always if rarely think about setting out legal agreements and visitation rights when it comes to the non-human family member(s), especially when in cases of separation leading to divorce.
This became a legal issue in Germany when a woman filed suit to get visition rights to see the former couple's dog. You read it right: their dog.
In the suit the former wife attempted to force her estranged husband to give her visiting rights to their pooch, which they had acquired during their marriage, on a regular basis. They had agreed as part of the separation that the husband would have custody of the dog but the woman wanted to increase visiting to twice per week.
In response, the former husband objected and the court found that while separated spouses have a right to a fair division of property, this did not include joint custody of pets.
In their edict, the court decided that "rules applying to visitation rights for a child do not apply here. Under such arrangements, the primary concern is the welfare of the child and not the emotional needs of the other spouse."
Given all the problems in the world i.e. poverty, starvation, homelessness, etc. couples fight over pet visition rights? Seems to me that the husband was using the dog as means in which to get back at his former wife. Could they both not have agreed that she could see the dog in a neutral place i.e. veterinarian's office or pet shop... If only our pets could speak, what stories they would tell.
This became a legal issue in Germany when a woman filed suit to get visition rights to see the former couple's dog. You read it right: their dog.
In the suit the former wife attempted to force her estranged husband to give her visiting rights to their pooch, which they had acquired during their marriage, on a regular basis. They had agreed as part of the separation that the husband would have custody of the dog but the woman wanted to increase visiting to twice per week.
In response, the former husband objected and the court found that while separated spouses have a right to a fair division of property, this did not include joint custody of pets.
In their edict, the court decided that "rules applying to visitation rights for a child do not apply here. Under such arrangements, the primary concern is the welfare of the child and not the emotional needs of the other spouse."
Given all the problems in the world i.e. poverty, starvation, homelessness, etc. couples fight over pet visition rights? Seems to me that the husband was using the dog as means in which to get back at his former wife. Could they both not have agreed that she could see the dog in a neutral place i.e. veterinarian's office or pet shop... If only our pets could speak, what stories they would tell.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
California dog owner builds mansion for pooches
Given the state of our planet these days what with stories focusing on war, natural disasters, death and starvation, here is a story based in California that makes a person wonder what they're putting in their water these days.
A woman, one Tammy Kassis, decided to build her pet pooches a Victorian mansion no less, at a cost of $20,000USD along with a picket fence - I mean, what's a doggie villa without a picket fence. It also has Spanish style turrets in the towers.
The doggie homestead, modelled after her own (that says something in itself), boasts the usual necessities of life including a television set, vaulted ceilings, air conditioning, wall paper and for that extra personal touch, handmade curtains. How sweet! As if all this isn't enough her three dogs, Darla, Chelsea and Cocoa Puff can sleep - if they so choose - in their own designer beds. Floors, which can be drafty, are too common place for this trio. Interestingly enough there is no mention by the way, of toilets...
Other accessories include blinds for the window, heating and ceiling fans. Perhaps the pooches didn't want other local dogs to peer in - nothing worse than voyeur dogs or cats - go know!
Amazing - there are people in many parts of the world going hungry and exposed to the elements due to lack of shelter - and this definitely over-zealous pet owner spends a chunk of cash on her dogs. Talk about this planet going to the dogs...
A woman, one Tammy Kassis, decided to build her pet pooches a Victorian mansion no less, at a cost of $20,000USD along with a picket fence - I mean, what's a doggie villa without a picket fence. It also has Spanish style turrets in the towers.
The doggie homestead, modelled after her own (that says something in itself), boasts the usual necessities of life including a television set, vaulted ceilings, air conditioning, wall paper and for that extra personal touch, handmade curtains. How sweet! As if all this isn't enough her three dogs, Darla, Chelsea and Cocoa Puff can sleep - if they so choose - in their own designer beds. Floors, which can be drafty, are too common place for this trio. Interestingly enough there is no mention by the way, of toilets...
Other accessories include blinds for the window, heating and ceiling fans. Perhaps the pooches didn't want other local dogs to peer in - nothing worse than voyeur dogs or cats - go know!
Amazing - there are people in many parts of the world going hungry and exposed to the elements due to lack of shelter - and this definitely over-zealous pet owner spends a chunk of cash on her dogs. Talk about this planet going to the dogs...
Friday, April 17, 2009
Pet Airways - paws-itively a great idea
Many pet owners when planning a trip, worry about what to do with their four-pawed friends. Pet sitting and pet boarding facilities are available but a new type of service is entering the market place. Would you believe - an airline that flies pets exclusively?
The new airline company, Pet Airways working out of Delray Beach, Florida, is aimed exclusively at pet travel. Like their human counterparts, pets get to travel in the main cabin and their owners aren't permitted to join them. What's more, the airline claims to be the first of its kind designed specifically for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets.
Seats normally for human pasengers will be removed to make room for pet carriers. The first departure for cats and dogs is scheduled for July 14 and the carrier will serve 5 U.S. cities including New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.
There is no mention of expansion plans to include other species/pets like gerbils, mice, birds, snakes, etc. etc.
The pawsengers, as the new airline calls them, can be booked in online and are checked in to a Pet Lounge at the airport. Does this mean that there will be catering services that offer bones or a steak before departure? Do you see another $$ lucrative$$ market here?
The pawsengers will get a "potty break" before departure and will be monitored during the flight. Presumably, this will be in the hands of the pet attendant who is on standby to cater to the travellers.
Owners or Pet Parents can follow their travel progress using an online "pet tracker".
The flights will be made in 19-seat turbo-prop planes operated by Suburban Air Freight, which have their seats removed to make space for the pet carriers.
The new airline company, Pet Airways working out of Delray Beach, Florida, is aimed exclusively at pet travel. Like their human counterparts, pets get to travel in the main cabin and their owners aren't permitted to join them. What's more, the airline claims to be the first of its kind designed specifically for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets.
Seats normally for human pasengers will be removed to make room for pet carriers. The first departure for cats and dogs is scheduled for July 14 and the carrier will serve 5 U.S. cities including New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.
There is no mention of expansion plans to include other species/pets like gerbils, mice, birds, snakes, etc. etc.
The pawsengers, as the new airline calls them, can be booked in online and are checked in to a Pet Lounge at the airport. Does this mean that there will be catering services that offer bones or a steak before departure? Do you see another $$ lucrative$$ market here?
The pawsengers will get a "potty break" before departure and will be monitored during the flight. Presumably, this will be in the hands of the pet attendant who is on standby to cater to the travellers.
Owners or Pet Parents can follow their travel progress using an online "pet tracker".
The flights will be made in 19-seat turbo-prop planes operated by Suburban Air Freight, which have their seats removed to make space for the pet carriers.
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