Pet Pawz ♥

Pet Care World

2010-08-02T12:20:00.000+08:00

Always wanted a puppy but don't want a pedigree? Or maybe you like cats. But regardless, visit Pet Care World to adopt a kitten or puppy: http://www.mudah.my/li?ca=13_s&id=4036

Ann Law

2010-08-02T12:15:00.000+08:00

She sure is making herself famous on this blog.

Remember Ann Law? She is selling more and more puppies on Mudah.my. Pls do NOT support her unethical ways! Some people may argue and say that why do I do this to an old lady who is just trying to make some money for a living and maybe she doesn't know any better. But if she doesn't know any better, than she shouldn't be a breeder in the first place, and breeding, if done properly, will rarely be profitable. Perhaps the one profitable return for ethical breeders is seeing their puppies find good homes, improving the breed or just happiness for producing good, healthy puppies.

All her ads on Mudah: http://www.mudah.my/li?ca=13_s&th=1&q=ann+law&cg=5080&w=1

Newspaper:

2010-03-15T17:25:00.003+08:00

Full article here: Malay Mail

Adoption Day @ Animal Kingdom!

2010-03-06T23:39:00.002+08:00

今天我一大早爬起来去Animal Kingdom帮助Sspca。它们每个月的第一个星期都会有个‘领养日’。很多很可爱的小狗狗，小猫和猫好领养哦！一个大概需要RM60。RM30是领养金，RM10是妨针费，RM20是阉费。普通你去兽医阉狗的话需要好几十块，甚至一百多。。所以别ngiao ci。。你的RM60可以帮到很大的忙。。因为如果你不让你的狗/猫繁殖，那就不会有那么多无家可归的小狗狗/猫猫了。Sspca也不会那么忙。。你知道吗？它们的地方和钱都有限，所以找不到家的狗/猫可能会被‘放下’。太小的狗/猫可能会被忽略而死。。。病倒的狗/猫也有可能会被‘放下’！而且，你的那RM60也可以让一只小狗/猫有个家啊~

有空的话就去帮帮Sspca吧。。因为它们也缺人手。
有钱的话就捐钱给Sspca，买饭，猫料，狗料都好啊。
有心的话就领养一只狗/猫让它们有个温暖的家吧！！

Shit.. The whole post above really killed me. I wanna improve my chinese.. But I keep having to go to translate.google.com to help me with what I wanna say! Haha! Anyway, I went to Animal Kingdom today to help SSPCA out with their adoption day. They have it every first Saturday of every month! So if you've got a loving heart, you'll either adopt a pet or volunteer at the shelter! Don't come up to me and tell me that you love animals when you are doing NOTHING for them. If you don't have the time, donate food, shampoo, etc (check out their list of things they need here)! If you do have too much free time, there is no excuse for not helping them!

There are lots of cute kittens, cats, dogs and puppies for you to adopt at the shelter, and if you adopt during the adoption drive, you can get the spaying/neutering form which is only RM20! The adoption fee during the drive is RM30 and the vaccination fee is only RM10.. So that's just a total of RM60. Don't be a stingy ass and think that if you just adopt any random puppy, you get to save RM60 cos spaying/neutering fees vary from size to age to gender of your pet. It may even be as expensive as RM100+! Spaying/neutering your dog is the best option because you never know when your dog may escape your house/yard and come home a father or pregnant! The shelter gets lots of female puppies because I don't know WHY people have the mentality that males are better. They pee all over the place to mark their territory and fight with other dogs and then they fuck bitches behind your backs UNLESS you neuter them.

Think about it this way, if you neuter/spay your pet, they will not be able to reproduce = less homeless puppies/kittens!

RM60 is really a very low price to pay to give an animal a HOME and to lend a helping hand to the extremely dangerously near critical stray problem in Kuching.

So go check SSPCA out and adopt a pet OKAY!?

The ones that got adopted:

被领养的几个：

And well, other pictures:

其他：

I really like the smallest puppy in the picture above; she's fucking cute and tiny!!

我真的很喜欢以上那最小只的小狗！！太可爱了而且也很迷你！哈哈。。

Hiding from the sun..

Sunbathing! xD

SSPCA Volunteers?

2010-03-01T17:59:00.002+08:00

Who wants to help SSPCA? They need volunteers & fosterers! Go to their website @ http://www.sspca.sarawak.com.my and volunteer today!

DOGS: How the doggy mind works

2010-02-23T02:49:00.000+08:00

Before you get a dog, you should first understand them especially if you are looking forward to training them.

First of all, you must understand that dog logic, is alot simpler than human logic. They may learn that your yelling means that they've done something to displease you, but they will not learn why and therefore continue committing the mistake. If you see a puddle of pee on the floor when you get home from work and grab your dogs head and shove him into the pee, he wouldn't understand WHY you did it and would be fearful of you when you get aggravated. If you learn that your favorite pair of shoes have been chewed up and you smack him for that, he will not understand why, but he will learn to be afraid of the shoe or some dogs may destroy more shoes in attempt to diminish his own fear.

Contrary to popular belief, I do not think that dogs have a short term memory. I just think that they do not comprehend things the way humans do. That is why you must catch your dog in a bad act to stop him (I do not believe in violence towards your dog, as they will learn to fear your hand - you do NOT want your dog to cower once you raise your hand, do you?) and catch him in a good act to praise him.

Once you catch him doing something he's supposed to do, praise him, give him a treat, shower him with attention! But if he does something that you do not want him to do you must discourage him immediately. Eg. Dog jumps on you, turn away and ignore him. Eg. Dog lifts leg to mark a pillar, make a loud sound to startle him. Do NOT hit him.

Dogs are decent from wolves, pack animals, therefore they must have a leader. They are born with the instinct to respect and respond to their leader, so if you do not know how to show your new puppy who is boss and let him walk all over you, consider your relationship doomed (of course there are ways to cure this, but building a relationship is like building a house - you must have the right and steady foundation).

How to show your puppy who is boss:
Remember, you must always be calm and confident, do NOT lose your temper with your dog
- Eat before he does
- Praise your dog when he drops his eyes first if you two make eye contact
- Keep his toys, so that he knows that they belong to YOU - the leader - and he only gets to play with them when YOU - the leader - allow it
- Always be the one to initiate play, if he jumps on you, ignore him
- Always be the one to initiate any kind of interaction
- Praise him when he licks your face (I know it's annoying for some people, but it is a way for your dog to show that he knows you are the alpha)
- Give him a good tummy rub if he rolls over on his back because him rolling over on his back means that he is submitting to you, and you want to reinforce that behavior, so give him a tummy rub! :)

If you absolutely MUST, below are a few pointers on how to show your dog who is boss, the Alpha Roll is only used as an extreme measure. Do NOT use it lightly, otherwise it may damage your relationship with your doggy pal.

Timeouts: put the dog on a down stay or if not yet trained to do so, put it in its crate quietly and without fuss. Fifteen minutes is fine. No yelling is necessary, keep it all very quiet. This is often surprisingly effective, since dogs are such social creatures.
Eye contact : alphas "stare down" subordinates. If your dog does not back down in a stare contest, start a verbal correction. As soon as it backs down, praise it.
Taps under the chin: alpha dogs nip subordinates under the chin as corrections. You can use this by tapping (NEVER hitting) your dog under the chin with one or two fingers. Don't tap on top of the muzzle, not only can you risk injuring your dog's sense of smell, you may make him hand shy.
Grabbing under the ears: alpha dogs will chomp under subordinate dogs' ears and shake. You can mimic this by holding the skin under your dog's ears firmly and shaking. Again, do not use excessive force. Do this just enough to get the point across. DO NOT grab the top of the neck and shake. You may injure your dog this way.
Alpha roll: Pin the dog to ground on its side with feet away from you. Hold scruff/collar with one hand to pin head down (gently but firmly) with the other hand on hip/groin area (groin area contact will tend to cause the dog to submit to you.) Not recommended.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/whosboss#ixzz0gI8wMugR

How to prevent unwanted habits:
- If you let your puppy sit on the couch from a young age, he will always think that he is allowed to, even if you reprimand him in the future
- Dogs need mental as well as physical stimulation. Providing your dog with a small selection of unique toys to play with teaches it to chew and play with only certain items
- If you do not want your dog to cower/be aggressive towards strangers (as well as strange dogs) remember to socialize him! Bring him to parks or places that allow dogs from a very young age so he will learn not to be afraid of strangers (do not worry if you want a dog that guards your house, a dog will learn to recognize the perimeters of their human family's territory, wether it is the car, the home or the garden and they will often instinctively defend it)

Remember this: Your puppy is just like a human child, do you expect a baby to pee & poo at the right place from the start? So treat your puppy like a baby, but do NOT spoil the puppy by carrying him around all the time and letting him do "cute" things like jumping up on you, whining, begging for food etc because those will follow him till he's an adult. Your puppy is a human baby that will only grow up into a toddler. In terms of intellect. Good luck!

Next up we will cover DOGS: Different breeds & different personalities! Stay tuned!

2010! Woof woof!

2010-01-30T03:14:00.000+08:00

A very late Happy 2010 to all animal lovers!

I have been very busy with too many things. I will try my hardest to keep this blog updated, because the people of Kuching need to learn about animal neglect.

Just the other day, I was walking along RH Plaza area and saw a little boy KICKING a cat. Parents, I understand that you may see animals as annoying critters, but they too have a life and all lifeforms deserve respect.

You won't want to see someone kicking YOUR little boy now would you?

Sarawak Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

2009-12-30T19:00:00.000+08:00

In short: SSPCA.

I just realized today that Elizabeth is no longer in charge of SSPCA. Congratulations to Freeda who is now the admin. All the best to her!

They have also revamped their site, check it out at our sidebar.

For the love of Cats!

2009-11-10T17:01:00.001+08:00

C'mon Kuchingites, we're not called Kuching for nothing! ;) Head over to The Spring where SSPCA is holding a fundraiser.. All kitties deserve a good home, calling all kitty lovers, head over to Spring on the 13th. It starts at 10:30am and will end on the 15th of November, 2:00pm!

There will be a talk on animals and SSPCA cats up for adoption.

For those with Facebook, you can check out the event here: Click!

SSPCA Pet Adoption Day

2009-11-10T16:01:00.000+08:00

First of all, my deepest apologies for not updating sooner. My close friends will know that I have been busy with school & Honey Gliders. But I am slowly regaining my freedom. Finals are near and so are my holidays!

Credits to Tricia for sending me these photos as I was busy... So here are the pictures for those who wanted to but was unable to attend like me!

This was held at Animal Kingdom on October 3rd & 4th. (Yes I know I've really postponed this post... ><)Thx to all those that went and adopted a pet! We need more people like you. :)
The Adoption Counter.

The kids seemed to have the most fun, picking out pets etc... But parents must always remember to educate their kids about getting a pet. A pet is not just an animal, a pet is also a living thing that needs to be taken care of and is a lot of responsibility. By adopting a pet, you will be responsible for it for its whole life.

The puppies seemed to be adopted the fastest... But let's not forget, a cute bundle of fur today wouldn't be so cute a few months down the road when it is older... Remember to train your dog starting from young!

Two sisters adopted a pair of puppies. Remember, there are enough unwanted dogs in this world... Neuter and spay them, please. It wouldn't change their temperament, and what's more, they'll make even better household pets. If you want another puppy, there always will be puppies up for adoption, there is no reason for you to let your dogs breed.

Pet Adoption Campaign

2009-10-02T20:13:00.000+08:00

On the weekend of October 3rd & 4th from 9.00 am till 5.00 pm, the SSPCA will host its first Pet Adoption Campaign weekend outside the premises of the Animal Kingdom Pet Shop at Nanas Road .

They are hoping to find loving homes for 60 cats and kittens and 20 puppies.

- Thx to Brandy for the tip.

Example of a BAD SG Owner!

2009-09-29T19:46:00.002+08:00

Disclaimer: First of all, the pictures are taken in a pet shop (which I will NOT name for various reasons), and maybe there are those that may argue that pet shops can't keep sugar gliders like how people keep their pets... But in my opinion, it is giving a very bad example to potential owners. People will buy these animals thinking that they are meant to be kept in these kind of harsh conditions!

首先，我要让大家知道，照片是在一间宠物店(请别问我宠物店的名字，因为某些应属，我是不会讲的）拍的(其实古晋有两间宠物店买蜜袋鼠可是另一间不给人拍照，而且笼子还放在艘钱那边所以无法投拍啊），或许有些人会觉得我不应该这样做，可是请你们了解我不是要损坏别人的名声，我只想要让大家知道照顾蜜袋鼠的对与错。

There are a few majorly wrong things happening here in a pet shop (actually, two pet shops, but one of them doesn't allow photo-taking and the sugar gliders are placed right in front of the cashier so I couldn't take pictures discreetly) right here in Kuching...

在我们古晋的两间宠物店看到的蜜袋鼠都被捆在不适合它们的环境。

1. Light
Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, which means that they sleep during the day and come out at night, which is why they have such big eyes.. Big and SENSITIVE eyes. I'm pretty sure that having a bright, white light just above their cage is not a very bright idea. First of all, too much exposure to bright lights may harm the glider's eyes, even using the flash on cameras will harm them if you take pictures of your glider like he is a supermodel. Using the flash OCCASIONALLY is fine though. Secondly, sugar gliders DO NOT like light, and they are more active in the dark or in dimly lit environments.

1。灯光
蜜袋鼠属于夜行动物，所以它们才会有一双那么大，那么明亮的眼睛。大，明亮和非常铭感的一双眼睛哦！我蛮确定在它们笼子放个那么亮的灯不是最聪明的做法。。。第一，太刺眼的灯光会伤到它们的眼睛。如果你把它们当模特儿那样用照相机的闪光不停的拍它，你也会伤害到它的眼。偶尔偶尔用闪光时无所谓的。重点就是，不要过份！而且，蜜袋鼠也不喜欢灯光。它们只会在比较暗的环境下活泼。

2. Food
Apples? You must be kidding me! Even us humans can't live on one food alone! They need vitamins and minerals just like us, which means that they need vegetable, fruits, meat, insects and you must also watch out because there are many foods that are poison to them. Garlic and chocolate may even cause them to die. They have a very complex diet which I am unable to cover in this short article... So if you are interested in owning a sugar glider, do your research!

2。食物
苹果？！你是不是在开玩笑？！连我们人都需要各种各样的食物来生存啊！它们跟我们一样需要营养素啊，就是说它们需要蔬菜，水果，肉，空虫。而且，你需要注意以下因为有些食物对它们而言是毒！大蒜和巧克力有可能使它们死亡。它们的食谱很复杂，我劝那些对蜜袋鼠的人找多点质料吧！

3. Space/Cage
Sugar gliders are extremely active. In the wild, they live on trees - gliding to other trees, making it unnecessary to touch the ground. They are made to live on trees, it is instilled in them to love to climb. The smallest cage that meets the requirement is 3ft x 2ft.... Which makes the cage shown in the picture frighteningly small. Sugar gliders are specially formed with a membrane which enables them to glide, surely you do not think that it is there just to give the glider that unique scalloped look when they are relaxed do you?

3。空间/笼子
蜜袋鼠是一种很活泼的动物。它们在野外是住在树上的，最多只是滑翔到另外一棵树，一生几乎都不会碰到陆地的。这说明了它们爱高高的地方，它们喜欢爬。它们天生就有一成薄薄的皮，连接着它们的手到脚，使它们能够滑翔。。你觉得那成皮是拿来摆美的吗？最小被接受的笼子应该是3尺高，2尺宽。照片里的笼子实在是太小了。

Feel free to start a discussion or add your thoughts!

欢迎你们留言！

Puppies for Adoption

2009-09-25T13:31:00.005+08:00

My friend has four puppies up for adoption.. Please call 0168848194 if interested.

Male - Adopted

Female - Adopted

Female - Adopted

Female - Adopted 27th Sept!

Sugar Glider Day by Day Growth Pictorial

2009-09-03T19:14:00.001+08:00

Firstly I would like to say that all joeys develop at their own pace. What you see here may not be identical with your joey. Secondly, I would like to thank Jit Shiong - who I met on LYN - for the wonderful pictures. The text is adapted from here, here and here. All credits go to them.

There are no pictures of the sugar glider in pouch because it is virtually impossible - and dangerous - to take pictures of the babies when they are that vulnerable.

16 days after mating, sugar gliders may birth up to 4 joeys at a time. 1-2 being most common, 3-4 being rare. Joeys are born pink, naked (furless), blind and deaf (the ears are fused to the head) and are about the size of a grain of rice. They crawl up a slippery path to the pouch that the mother has licked for them. If they leave this path, they can get stuck in the mother's fur and will starve or freeze to death. The mother will, of course, try to lick it out if it gets stuck. The whole process takes about 5 minutes for them to be completely in pouch and attached to a nipple. There, they remain for another 2 months before they are developed enough to come out. Also, the mother is gonna need more protein so now is a good time to start feeding more.

It's very rare to see a joey born live and make the journey into the pouch. Few are lucky enough to catch it, some by just being around at the right time, others count the days after mating and perhaps some are just downright lucky. Most joeys are born in the morning-noon, and I heard somewhere that gliders do not birth joeys at night. Nobody knows how true that is but with all of mine, it's held true. If you do happen to see a joey born or know there is one in pouch and you have little or no experience with gliders, resist all temptation and DO NOT attempt to open that pouch and peek inside. It is possible to do this, but very dangerous if done the wrong way. The joey MUST stay attached to that nipple until it comes off on its own. Their jaws aren't developed enough to reattach itself. The nipple swells in the joeys mouth causing it to stay latched on, if knocked off, it WILL die.

Day 1-2

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7: Eyes usually open 7-15 days OOP and they should be able to hear by now. The fur is thicker on the shoulders and neck, but still very thin underneath. The teeth aren't very developed yet but there are tiny ones starting on the top jaw. The bottom 2 teeth aren't very long and it looks like a small lump on the gum. The joey should be pretty vocal by now and riding on either of its parents backs when they go somewhere. The joey will not leave the nest alone and go exploring just yet. Joeys may 'jump' in your hands when held, I am not sure why but mine did that just when they were starting to sleep. This will go away around 30-45 days OOP. At this age the joeys like to be kept warm since they don't have much fur on them yet, they like sleeping in hands. Also, now is a good time to move the nest/pouch to the bottom of the cage in case a joey happens to wander out by accident.

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14: Holding the joey about 10-15 minutes at a time is recommended at this stage. The baby will most likely cry for mom while you are holding it. You can calm the baby by keeping it warm, as it still doesn't have much fur. Try placing the joey in your bra or cupping in your hands. The mother glider may be nervous about you holding the joey the first few times out of her sight, especially if she is a first time mother. Do not stress the mother out. If she is very concerned with you holding her joey, start by walking away only for a minute, and put the joey back. Slowly work up her trust. Speak softly to the baby so that it becomes accustom to your voice. Shortly after the joey comes out of pouch, the parents may decide to mate again. It is possible for her to give birth to a new joey and while nursing one that is out of pouch.

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28

Day 29

Day 30: Joeys can be held up to about a half hour at a time now. The eyes should be completely open and the joey more adventurous. The ears are up and listening to everything. Fur should completely cover the underside. Some joeys may even start practicing small jumps or hops, most will not though. Teeth are big enough where biting will hurt and the joeys will start to chew fingers/nails now.

Day 32

Day 33

Day 34

Day 35

Day 36

Day 37

Day 38

Day 39

Day 40: Most joeys, by now, are looking to explore and are showing their personalities. They should be running around the cage with the parents and riding on backs less, now is a good time to try playing games with them that you might play with the parents. Not too rough, be gentle. Joeys should be starting to pick up food, mostly fruit, off the dishes and taste it. They most likely won't try tasting the meat or eggs till later. Just the juices and fruit, maybe some veggies At this age they do like baby cereal, don't overfeed, just a little for a nice treat to help get them started on solids. It helps to mix the cereal with some juice.

Even though the joey is starting to eat on its own, please understand that the joey is not ready to be separated from its parents. The joey is still nursing off of its mother regularly to get the required vitamins and nutrients needed to be healthy. The joey is also still learning "how to be a glider" from both parents by learning behaviors, sounds, and how to react to people. The mother glider at this point is also still helping and teaching the joey to use the bathroom.

Day 41

Day 42

Day 43

Day 46

Day 47

Day 48

Day 49

Day 50

Day 51

Day 52

Day 53

Day 54

Day 55

Day 56

Day 57

Day 58: At around this time the joey will be completely weaned and able to live on it's own. It should have a fully fluffed out tail by now and eating most solid foods that are fed to the parents. It will want to come out and run and play with the parents at night and the parents (most of them anyway) will wrestle and play rough with the joeys. I don't mean rough like biting them, but rolling around and hollering at each other. Before separating from the parents be SURE the joey is eating on its own and make sure it 'pees' and 'poos' by itself. If it doesn't, then it isn't ready to be on its own yet. It may be another week before the joey is ready to live on its own.

Sugar Glider?

2009-09-03T17:29:00.005+08:00

If you are unable to finish reading this article, SUGAR GLIDERS ARE NOT THE PETS FOR YOU! I know it sounds harsh, but if you are unwilling to learn as much about them as possible, you are an unfit glider parent.

Disclaimer: This is merely an introduction to sugar gliders, if you are thinking about getting one as a pet, be sure to do extensive research. Sugar gliders are exotic animals and are to be treated as so.

Sugar Glider

Let me start by telling you what sugar gliders are NOT. They are NOT rodents. They are NOT flying squirrels. They are NOT bats. They ARE marsupials.

What are marsupials?
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by a distinctive pouch (called the marsupium), in which females carry their young through early infancy. - Wikipedia

Where does sugar gliders come from?
They originate from Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and New Guinea.

What does a sugar glider look like?
An adult sugar glider head to body measure about 5 to 6 inches in length with a tail equal (or slightly longer) in length to aid in balance and gliding. A healthy adult male should weigh about 100g to 130g, where as an adult female will be around 90g.

A "wild type" or "standard" color sugar glider is gray or brownish in color with a long black stripe that runs from its’ nose to the end of the back. The underside of a sugar glider is a cream or white color. The last inch or so of the tail is black or brown.

White faced blonde

Aside from the standard colored glider, there are also black beauty, albino, cinnamon and a great array of other colors and markings such as white faced or white tipped. However, in Malaysia, the standard coloring is the most common.

Albino

In the wild, their coats often turn brown from the vegetation and tree sap in their nests. Some owners give their gliders a coconut shell to act as a nest, and that may also stain their coats.

They have large protruding eyes, like most nocturnal animals, to allow for a wider field of vision.

The tail is fluffy, often curls on the end and usually is longer than the body length.

Sugar gliders have hairless ears that can be moved independently in order to pick up the smallest sounds.

A sugar glider has five digits on each forefoot, with sharp claws to help grip branches. The hind feet also have 5 digits, and include a partially fused together 2nd and 3rd digit used for a grooming comb. There is also an enlarged, clawless, opposable big toe.

The sugar glider has a patagium, a furred membrane of skin that connects to the wrists and ankles on each side of the glider, used for gliding. This gives a unique scalloped effect when they are relaxed.

Sugar gliders as pets.
Sugar Gliders are one of the sweetest pets. They are affectionate, loyal, playful and not to mention, incredibly adorable. A sugar glider that is bonded to you will glide back to you - its one true and safe haven - if placed on a stranger's shoulder or on top of your bookcase.

Properly fed and exercised, sugar gliders can live between 10 and 15 years in captivity. They only live up to HALF that lifespan in the wild. If you're looking for a charming, interesting pet, look no further than the sugar glider.

However, before getting one, please consider what is best for the animal and yourself, as there are many PROs and CONs of owning a sugar glider. Too many people rush into buying these animals on impulse, leaving many sugar gliders abandoned, homeless, sick and even dead.

Before getting a sugar glider, please consider the following:
i ) Laws :
It is NOT illegal to keep a sugar glider as a pet in Malaysia, but it is illegal in some countries. However, should you be living in an apartment, dormitory (etc) make sure that the place you stay in allows pets. Keep in mind that sugar gliders are very vocal, and since they are nocturnal, they may annoy your neighbors.

ii ) Cost :
Sugar gliders are expensive animals. Prices start at about RM400-500 for a normal gray sugar glider. Sugar gliders are very social animal, therefore, it is recommended that you get 2 sugar gliders instead of just one, same sex pairs are preferred. Sugar gliders need large cages (think aviary - bird cage), toys, and have a complex diet.

iii ) Life Span :
A sugar glider in captivity can live up to 15 years, provided it has good care. That means 5,478 nights of chopping up fresh fruit and veggies, touching bugs, balancing meals, cleaning cages, and spending quality time with your glider - it is recommended you spend 2-4 hours daily with each glider.

iv ) Allergic Reactions :
A sugar glider is a furred animal, therefore if anyone is allergic to animal fur in your household, a sugar glider may not be the best pet for you. Sugar gliders do not have much if any dander, so usually that isn't a problem. People with sensitive skin may break out in a rash when handling sugar gliders. As part of their grooming practices, sugar glider will "sneeze" on their hands and groom their fur. The saliva in combination with their sharp nails can puncture the skin and cause a condition known as Dermatitis.

v ) Vets :
A sugar glider is considered an exotic animal, therefore not all vets treat them. It is important that you find a good vet that has knowledge of your exotic pet before you get your sugar glider.

vi ) Can not be potty trained :
Sugar gliders can not be potty trained as they have little to no bowel control. They go whenever and where ever, which includes on you and your clothes.

vii ) Children :
A sugar glider can be a great pet for older children. If you do decide to buy a glider for a child, keep in mind that you will have to supervise care, as well as handling. Sugar gliders don’t make good pets for young children as they can easily injure the sugar glider's fragile body.

viii ) Smell :
There is a smell that comes with male sugar gliders as they have scent glands. There are things you can do, such as having the male neutered or getting a male pair as their smell is stronger in the presence of a female. Also regular cage cleaning will be needed. Males may mark you with his scent to claim you as his. Some owners add a few drops of apple cider vinegar to neutralize the urine and musky smell with some success.

ix ) Other Animals :
In the wild, sugar gliders' predators are mostly predatory birds, such as owls. Sugar gliders should not be kept in the same room as screechy birds, because they find their calls threatening. As a general rule, sugar gliders and other pets don't get along. Some dogs and cats can care less about the presence of your new glider, but others will just wait for the right opportunity. Use your judgment in these matters. Gliders should always have their own housing. Housing them with other animals can be very stressful for your glider.

Now that you have read the above and have decided that a sugar glider is still a rewarding pet, it is time to move on to how to choose a healthy glider and where.

Never buy from pet stores, markets or irresponsible breeders/suppliers. Why?

Pet Stores
There may be a FEW exceptions to this rule, however when possible avoid purchasing sugar gliders from pet stores. Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals requiring daily human interaction. Most pet stores are closed during the times the sugar glider would be most active and wanting attention. Pet stores are loud, and can be quite busy with many different sounds and smells causing stress to the sugar gliders in their care. Most pet store employees know little about these wonderful creatures, their care, and their diet. A lot of pet stores will look to "simplify" a gliders diet, in turn, compromising a gliders health, as well as passing on inaccurate information to new sugar gliders owners. Should you find a pet store you believe is safe, be sure to ask questions. Test them on their knowledge, and then decide.

Glider Mills
These are sad places where sugar gliders are kept in the poorest conditions. Little is thought of their care, health, or well being. Animals coming from these places can be sick, and carry several different illnesses.

i ) Possibly inbred
Gliders from mills are usually housed in colonies and kept together. Little to no effort is made to remove matured offspring from their parents. Unlike dogs, gliders have no registries and therefore you can't trace it's ancestry. Never buy a sugar glider to breed or with the possibility of breeding without knowing at least the parents names and breeder. Often they will sell "unrelated" pairs, when in fact they themselves have no clue whether they are related or not. There is no way to know if inbreeding has negative effects on the sugar gliders health and well being later in life.

ii ) Pulled too young to be sold / Underage joeys
There have been MANY reports of joeys as young as 4-5 weeks being sold, either by irresponsible breeders or pet stores. Joeys sold this young are in danger, both physically and emotionally. Joeys should not be pulled from their parents any earlier than 8 weeks.

iii ) Infected with parasites, bacterial infections, or other illnesses have been reported
Gliders from unknown sources are often kept in poor conditions where bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections can spread quickly. Sugar gliders are very much "wild" and will often hide symptoms of illness until they are close to death. When purchasing any sugar gliders, please be sure there is a health guarantee. Make sure they are specific and any agreement is in writing, if possible.

iv ) Drugged to give the appearance of tameness
The use of "calm pet" and similar products are used to affect the calmness of the sugar glider. Some vendors have even used starvation as a way to keep the sugar gliders calm!

v ) Little or NO after sales support
These vendors are only looking to make money off impulse buyers, they will not be there for you with issues you may have after you take your new baby home.

vi ) The treatment of the animals before they are sold
These animals are often kept in small cages in colonies. They travel across the country until they are sold, going from market to market. These animals are nocturnal, and kept outside in the hot sun paraded for a potential sale. They are often under fed, under watered, and have little to no forms of stimulation and comfort from toys and pouches. Never buy with the intention of rescuing an animal, because you will be supporting them instead.

vii ) False or "sugar coated" information
Everything from "sugar gliders are easy to care for, and are low maintenance" to "they eat cat food, raisins, and the occasional fresh fruit – apple will be enough" have reportedly been told to new owners. Things like "they make great pets for kids", and "they have no smell and are easily bonded and handled" have led to many sugar gliders being abandoned and re-homed when the sugar gliders didn't live up to the expectations.

Remember: A good and responsible breeder will be more than happy and wiling to show potential buyers the glider's living quarters and share information with you and they will also most likely interview you. Do not feel offended by this as they only want the best for their joeys. They should not make any attempt to hide anything from buyers.

Choosing your sugar glider :
Once you decide on where or from whom to get your glider, the time has come to pick your new glider. I would recommend getting a baby glider approximately 8-10 weeks out of pouch. Never purchase a sugar glider younger than 8 weeks of age. Always choose a glider that is bright eyed and bushy tailed, as this would mean that the glider is fully weaned, and ready to live on it's own. Make sure the young glider is eating properly, and isn't suckling on the mother any longer. You want a glider that is active, alert, and curious in nature. Be sure that the stools (poop) of the sugar glider is formed properly, and looks similar to moist mouse droppings. Ask to handle the glider - it shouldn't act afraid to be handled or run at the first chance it gets. However, every sugar glider is different. Some gliders may be shy around strangers. In cases such as these, watch the breeder/owner handle the glider. If the glider appears afraid or tries to escape from the breeder/owner, ask questions. Try to keep in mind that even gliders can have a bad day, but be aware of the sugar gliders temperament.

i) One or two?
Sugar gliders are very social animals. It is usually recommended that sugar gliders are kept in pairs. Gliders that are lonely can over groom, or even self mutilate. Please understand that loneliness is NOT the only possible cause for a sugar glider to self mutilate. If you ever experience a sugar glider self mutilating, get to a knowledgeable vet ASAP. Extremely lonely and depressed sugar gliders have also been known to stop eating and basically "loose the will to live". Although these are extreme cases, it is something a responsible sugar glider owner must take into consideration and be prepared for.

Some sugar gliders tend to be okay when they are alone, they are prone to obesity and boredom. While you are a great "friend" and "playmate" for your sugar glider, you can't play, wrestle, and communicate like another sugar glider would. People are not usually nocturnal like sugar gliders. They will need someone to play and interact with in the wee hours of the morning, and a warm body to cuddle up to while they are asleep in their cage. From the lack of playing and stimulation that another sugar glider can provide, some sugar gliders may over eat and become obese. Of course there have been a select few cases where a sugar glider really was just fine being the only glider, but that is truly rare. Any sugar glider that is housed alone needs to be watched carefully to ensure the animals health and happiness remain intact. We do not recommend sugar gliders to be housed alone in the long run.

However, for first-timers to handle two unbonded sugar gliders is a bit tough. We encourage newbies to get one FIRST, cope with the first sugar glider's behavior, sounds and bond with it before proceeding to the second one.

ii) Male or female?

Overall there are no relation to gender and temperament in sugar gliders. Males and females can be equally calm, loving and bonded. Just like people, each sugar glider has a different personality. It is recommended when looking for a pet, to meet them in 'person' before adoption. This will ensure that the sugar glider’s personality fits yours.

Tell me a little about the males :
Males have scent glands located on their neck, chest, anus, and forehead used to mark their territory. The smell is faint and hardly noticeable when the glider is in a clean habitat, on a good diet and in good health. Intact adult males can be identified by the presence of a bald spot on it's forehead and the chest gland can also be seen. Males neutered before puberty do not develop the scent glands responsible for the bald spots. Adult males will loose their bald spots upon neutering, as their scent glands will become inactive. The male sugar glider has a bifurcated penis which means it is divided in two. The penis is thin, long, and pink. Often times new owners will mistake their penis for a worm, or intestine. Males can be identified by the presence of a scrotum that has the appearance of a wart where you would expect a belly button to be. Males will reach sexual maturity between 4 to 12 months of age depending on genetics, diet, and care. The development of the bald spots caused by active scent glands is a sign the male has reached sexual maturity.

Tell me a little about the females :
Females can be identified by the pouch opening on her abdomen. The pouch opening is viewed as a vertical slit where you would expect to see a belly button. Females will sexually mature between 6 to 18 months of age, depending on environmental conditions, genetics, and diet. The younger the female, the higher risk of neglected babies. Female sugar gliders have 2 separate vaginae and cervixes and a divided uterus Female sugar gliders cycle about once every 29 days. Pregnancy for a female lasts between 15-17 days. Upon giving birth, the babies move up into the pouch where they will remain the next 60-70 days. Females will usually breed until they are between 5-8 years of age. Some may breed until they are older. Females normally have 1 to 2 babies at a time but it is possible for a female to have up to 4 joeys (either quadruplets or differently aged joeys) in the pouch at a time. A female has 4 nipples and each milk gland works individually and is able to change and support each baby at their stage of development.

So you have decided that a sugar glider may be the right pet for you. Breeders love to meet potential owners and their families. Be prepared to stay a while, as a normal visit can last 2 hours or more. Make a list of any questions that you have. While you are there, you can meet and handle some of the gliders, as well as learn what it takes to be a good glider parent.

Never rush into buying a new pet, however cute or irresistible it is, because without the proper knowledge, you may be torturing the little animal by bringing it home with you instead.

Next up: Sugar Glider's Day by Day Growth Pictorial

Original Email from MDDB

2009-08-25T18:02:00.001+08:00

Two weeks ago we were invited by some students from KDU to participate in their Rave2Save event. They were organizing fund raising and pledged to hand it over that established animal shelter in Ampang. We never asked them for any money - as all we wanted was a venue for an impromptu adoption drive. We were happy when the students asked us to bring the 50 over pups that we have rescued from the streets to be put up for adoption. However, the student in charge called today saying that the big organization does not want us there because 'we give our dogs and puppies up for adoption for free while they charge for adoptions.' They also pressured the students to keep us out and so so we have been told not to come. So, pray give us your feedback - is this a case of personal egos getting in the way of helping the strays? The same thing happened when Furry Friends Farm started rescuing dogs from Pulau Ketam - nasty things were published about the sanctuary in the media by those affiliated to the organization. Is this fair? All we want is a venue where these unfortunate puppies can be put-up for adoption. Why deny us that? Why deny the poor strays a chance to secure homes??

Source: http://malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-this-fair.html

Which organization do you think they were talking about? I have a strong feeling that you know.

Where do we draw the line of Compassion?

2009-08-25T00:33:00.006+08:00

People are often outraged by killings of whales or the torture of animals, seeking justice for the helpless animals who are unable to speak for themselves... But where do we draw the line? We can't possibly save every single animal on the planet. Humans slaughter ducks, chicken, cows and pigs, so what is the difference between killing domesticated livestock and killing wild animals for food? Why such a big fuss if people enjoy eating dog meat? Is it just because dogs are also kept as pets? Chickens and all other livestock can be kept as pets aswell, but you don't see any animal activists going after chicken farms etc. So what if pigs and the rest are genetically engineered for the convenience of men? They are all going to die in the end, anyway. So where do we draw the line of compassion?

人们常常对鲸鱼杀害或动物的酷刑感到愤慨，想寻求正义...但是我们在哪里划清界线呢？我们不可能拯救地球上的每一只动物。人类屠宰鸭，鸡，牛和猪，究竟什么是杀害家畜之间和杀害野生动物食品的区别？如果人们喜欢吃狗肉，为什么如此大做文章？难道只是因为狗也作为宠物饲养？活鸡和所有其他牲畜也可以作为宠物啊。那么，我们如何区分同情的界线？

Just because you don't like what you see doesn't mean that it's wrong. I for one have witnessed the slaughter of a chicken, and I tell you, it isn't pretty. So where do we draw the line of compassion?

你不喜欢你所看到的并不证明它是错的。起码我看过鸡被杀的样子。。。让我来告诉你，并不好看。那么，我们如何区分同情的界线？

The reason for this post was because I was on a forum and there was a thread selling baby mice as food for snakes, and multiple members commented on how cruel it was. Most snakes are, by nature, carnivorous. Maybe there are a few vegetarians but still the fact remains that most are carnivorous. Who are you to decide what is cruel and what is not? So where do we draw the line of compassion?

此文章的原因是因为我是一个论坛，并有一个人卖幼鼠作为蛇的食物，以及很多成员就骂买方残酷。大多数蛇属于肉食动物。也许有一些素食者，但仍事实是，大多数是肉食动物。是谁能来决定什么是残酷的，什么不是？那么，我们如何区分同情界线？

Killing unnecessarily such as for fur, for other bodily parts and for fun is definitely in the wrong. Hunting endangered animals are also considered wrong by law... Perhaps there is a limit to right and wrong. To humane and inhumane. Slicing off a shark's fin and releasing it back into the ocean is morally wrong because the shark will die of starvation or get eaten by other sharks. But why is cutting open a chicken's throat and letting it bleed to death not considered wrong? Is it because we have accepted these to be a part of life? Is it because we are so used to these killings that we no longer feel anything?

毛皮杀戮，或是为了其他身体部分或因乐趣而宰杀动物肯定是错误的。狩猎濒危动物也被视为法律错误...也许是有限制是非，人道和不人道的。割下鲨鱼的鳍让后再把它释放回海洋是不道德的，因为鲨鱼将死于饥饿或受到其它鲨鱼吃。但是，为什么切开一只鸡的喉咙，让它慢慢的失血而死亡没有错？这是因为我们已经接受了这些是生活的一部分吗？是因为我们都习惯这些事件所以我们不再有任何感觉？

If someone can give me a justification, please do. Because I am also an animal lover, but I too also have questions.

如果有人能够给我一个理由，请。因为我也是一个动物爱好者，但我同样也有疑问。

Pardon my chinese, I'm a really bad translator, so I used a software to help me translate everything to chinese.

请原谅我的中文，我是一个非常糟糕的翻译员，所以我用软件来帮助我翻译。

Beware!

2009-08-20T13:06:00.009+08:00

Follow up from the backyard breeder.

I have since then noticed the old lady has posted several advertisements on mudah.my under the name Ann. I am certain it is her because the phone number listed in the ad is similar to the one on her name card. Please do not buy from her and please spread the word.

The other day, my friends and I dropped by for a surprise visit. We took some pictures and discovered quite a lot about how the old lady manages to 'care' for so many dogs. The exchange below was in Chinese, but I've translated it for convenience sake and since I am not a qualified translator, I can only do my best but I do not guarantee everything to be 100% accurate.

Q: How are you able to care for so many dogs?
A: Just like that la. They are very easy to care for!

Q: So what do you feed them?
A: Chicken head and rice.

Q: How many times per day do you feed them?
A: Twice.

Q: How many times do you bathe them and how?
A: Aiya, that's easy.. Just hose them down with water, enough already.

After noticing the nails on the Golden Retrievers are pretty long, I asked her the following -
Q: Wow. The nails are very long, don't you cut them?
A: NO! Since they live in cages, I don't need to cut their nails. But if they live outside of their cage, their nails wouldn't be so long because they will run around.

The previous (and also first) visit I made, there was a sick Chihuahua I remember to be black and white... She herself told me that he was sick and that she did not have the time to bring him to the vet. However, this visit, she told me that the Chihuahua already recovered and pointed at a cage with two Chihuahuas, one creamy white and the other one, reddish brown. So what REALLY happened to that sick Chihuahua? We will never know...

She then told us about a Chihuahua that got bitten on the backbone. She claimed that he recovered without going to the vet but can only stand for short periods of time.

By the end of the visit, I realized that she doesn't think that she is doing anything wrong at all. She is IGNORANT of the cruelty and neglect inflicted on her animals. To her, they are a source of income and to her, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

We have approached the SSPCA and after we showed Elizabeth the pictures we took, she told us that she will hold a meeting with the council members and try to do something about it.

But that isn't enough. All animals need YOUR help to be their voice. If people continue to be ignorant, animal cruelty and neglect will never stop.

I have made a few posters and flyers which I hope to put up around Kuching to raise awareness. I do not ask for donations, but I hope that you will be kind enough to help us distrubute the posters and flyers. Not for us, but for the sake of pets all around.

Click to enlarge and right click to save.

Flyers (A4 Size)

Posters
Not available at the moment.

I know that you may not see what I see. To you, they may look like happily healthy dogs. But not to me, to me, they look like prisoners, condemned to an eternal hell. To see what I see, I suggest you look at their surroundings, the cages, the rust and cobwebs on the cages, the dog's nails, the depression in their eyes... Better yet, why don't you pay the old lady a visit yourself and judge for yourself.

There is no justification for the environment they live in. If she can afford to buy so many dogs and feed them, surely she can afford to give them a comfortable home? If not, then there you have all the more reason to convict her for her doings. It is inhumane, it is cruel and it is above all, wrong.

Would YOU want to live in a small, cramped space that reeks of your own waste every single day?

Think about it.

DOGS: Potty Training Guide

2009-08-19T13:22:00.001+08:00

*You will have to put some effort into house training your puppy or dog.
*You have to be consistent.
*You have to be diligent.
*Expect accidents.

Tools Required for Potty Training
Happy Voice & Unhappy Voice
PATIENCE & DETERMINATION & CONSISTENCY

1. Have an acceptable area where you will allow toileting.
First decide where you will allow your puppy to do his business. Have a few acceptable areas. When my puppies were small I had two areas that I allowed them to eliminate. In the garden and on newspaper (or you can use potty training pads). I started potty training with the newspaper but also let the puppy know by means of praise and a happy voice that if he eliminated outside in the yard I thought that was very good behavior.

I only used newspaper for a short period of time and only when the puppy was very young. Over a period of time I moved the newspaper from just inside the door to just outside the door and then I completely removed the newspaper altogether.

If you are potty training your puppy to go outside ensure that he can get out! Will you always be there to open the door for him when he needs to relieve himself? Can you leave a door open? Do you have a doggy door? Does he know how to use the doggy door?

2. Contain your puppy to one or two rooms.
Before your puppy is potty trained, don't let him have the run of the house. Try to contain him to the room you spend the most time in so you can watch him most of the time. Close all bedroom doors and barricade other areas that do not have doors. One idea to contain puppy is to use baby gates.

Watch your puppy as much as you can. This is where diligence comes into play. You must be prepared to watch your puppy as much as possible.

It is never a good idea to get a new puppy on Saturday or Sunday and then go to work on Monday. If it is possible try to organize at least a weeks leave from work so you can spend some intensive time potty training your puppy.

For those busy owners like me, I'd recommend keeping the puppy in a pen with newspaper so that newspaper will smell like toilet to him... HAHA. And only when you are free enough to keep an eye on him, let him wander around but always keep an eye on him and some newspaper near, so when he is showing the signs of eliminating, rush to his side and place him on the newspaper... Of course you must always praise him for doing the right thing at the right place. :)

When you want him to graduate to peeing in the garden, simply dump his poop on the grass and bringing him to the garden when he display signs of wanting to do his business. After some time, he'll gradually learn to let you know when he needs to go, but remember that accidents may happen, so always have an acceptable area for eliminating inside the house.

3. Know the signs that your puppy is about to eliminate.
Puppies are quick. One minute they are playing and the next minute they are peeing on your carpet.

Some of the signs that your pup is about to pee are:
Sniffing the floor
Circling
Whimpering/Barking
Taking off suddenly to another room or area. They often do this when they want to poop.

4. Give your puppy the right message.
When you notice your puppy doing any of the above things gently and without a big fuss pick him up and place him on the newspaper or take him outside. Don't frighten the pup when you do this. It's a fact of life that your puppy has to pee and he has to poop so you don't want him to get the wrong message that peeing and pooping are wrong. You want him to get the message that peeing and pooping in the wrong place is not acceptable behavior and toileting in the 'allowed' area is acceptable behavior.

5. Catching Puppy in the act.
When you catch him in the act tell him firmly in an unhappy voice: "Nooooo don't pee there." Then take him to the newspaper or outside. If you shout and carry on at him it will only frighten him and he will soon learn to sneak off and do it where you can't see him.

Your puppy may have already started to pee by the time you reach him and although you may have dribbles across the floor still take him to the newspaper and then praise him for being there. Sometimes you are not quick enough and he has finished peeing by the time you reach him. Never mind.. Take him to the paper anyway and tell him 'Pee here, good boy. Clever dog.' Don't ever make the newspaper something to be frightened of.

I have found it helps to put some dog pee on the newspaper because the pup will identify the smell and associate it with toileting. When your puppy has an accident blot a little of the urine on to the newspaper, this will encourage your puppy to pee on the piece of soiled newspaper.

When your pup goes to the newspaper or outside of his own free will, wait until he starts to eliminate and then as he is doing it tell him in a happy voice what great fellow he is. 'What a good boy... Good work... Well done!'

6. Have a Schedule.
Take your puppy outside once an hour. Stand with him but don't distract him at all. Let him sniff around. If he goes to the bathroom while outside tell him what a good dog he is while he is actually peeing or pooping. Choose a word for his elimination. You can call it what ever you want as long as you are consistent with it. For example: While he is peeing say, "Hurry up." or "Go potty, great work, good dog." By saying these words your puppy will then be able to learn these words and associate them with the action. In the future you will be able to ask your dog to urinate on command.

Immediately after he is finished toileting make a big fuss of him. Praise him, pat him, play with him. Let him know that if he goes to the bathroom outside you are very, very pleased with him.

If you take the puppy outside and after three or four minutes he hasn't gone to the bathroom bring him back inside and try again in ten minutes.

Puppies will normally need to go just after they have eaten and just after they have woken up. Always take your puppy outside after these events. They go plenty of other times too so keep a watch out. Take him outside as soon as he wakes and within a few minutes of eating. Puppies may also need the potty while playing. If your puppy runs away from a game you are having always suspect he is off for a toilet break.

7. Expect Accidents.
Don't have unrealistic expectations of your puppy. He is going to have plenty of accidents before he gets the message of what is expected of him.

8. Praise not Punish.
Praising your dog for doing the right thing will always work far better than punishing him for doing the wrong thing. Don't get angry. Don't go overboard by yelling and screaming. Teach your dog by positive means instead of negative reactions.

9. Too Late. I just stood in it!
Accept some of the blame yourself, you should have been watching him better. Don't get angry.

If you find the mess or puddle after the event has happened do not rub his nose in it. This is a big NO NO and it is such an old fashioned idea that doesn't work. However, you must let him know that this is unacceptable. Put your dog on his leash and take him to the puddle or mess. Change the tone of your voice... Adopt a not happy voice and say, "I'm not happy with this." while pointing to the puddle or poop. It is more than likely that your pup will not want to look at what you are pointing at and he will avert his eyes from what you are showing him. Often, he will try to change the subject and maybe try to start a game or look for some other diversion. Ignore this cunning behavior. Always have some toilet paper or tissue at the ready and pick up the poop or blot the urine and take it outside and put it where you would have liked him to do it in the first place. Make sure you still have him on the leash and that he accompanies you and watches every step of the procedure. Put the tissue on the ground and then tell the puppy in a happy voice, "Good place... Pee here... Very good place!" or words to that effect.

10. I still keep finding little surprises on the floor
If you are constantly finding puddles and messes follow the above procedure with one small change. When you take him to the puddle or poop and he averts his eyes and doesn't want to know anything about it, tie his leash to something nearby such as a table leg or chair leg. Make sure he can't escape seeing it. Leave him like this for a few minutes while you walk away and ignore him. Don't leave him there for more than five minutes, that's long enough to get the message across.

11. When you are not there
You can't always be with your puppy 24 hours a day. When you go out you have the choice of putting him outside or containing him to one room. You could also put him in the garage or make a fenced off area. Choose an area that can be easily cleaned after accidents. Put newspapers in the room with him near the door.

Don't just shut him up in a pen or a small bathroom. That's not going to teach him anything.

12. How long does it take to potty train a puppy?
On average it will take about two to three weeks. Remember that all dogs are not the same and some will learn very quickly and some will take a little longer. I once had a dog who learned paper training after one day. I caught her 'in the act' and put her on the newspaper and she never again went anywhere else apart from the newspaper or outside. She was a very smart puppy and an exception to the rule.

13. Expect Regression
Sometimes months after you think you have successfully toilet trained your dog he will have the odd slip up. Expect this and deal with it as you did in the beginning. Accidents may happen with fully trained dogs. Dogs that are not neutered or spayed have a higher incidence of eliminating in the house. Scent marking is another form of undesired elimination and can be managed by neutering and refreshing house-training.

We have a comments page where you can discuss potty problems with others. You may also be able to offer advice to others. Let them know what has, and what has not worked for you.

14. Other:
Sometimes when a dog sees you cleaning up his poop/pee, he may learn to eat/drink it because in his mind, you're telling him that this is wrong and should be cleaned up and he may think that by 'cleaning it up', he's actually helping you. Every dog is different, so you must understand your dog and make your training style fit him.

Just because you can't seem to train him doesn't mean that he's stupid, it just means that you need to change your way of training.

Good luck!

Ref: http://www.dogchatforum.com/toilet-training-puppy.htm

What to do?

2009-08-10T14:06:00.007+08:00

The other day, I went to a breeder's house and to my horror, I was greeted by a very disgusting stench and the howling and barking of dogs. I was getting a little worked up by that time, but when the door opened, an old lady opened the door and my heart literally dropped to the floor. How am I - a 19 year old - able to reprimand a woman as old as my grandmother?

I gave her a weak smile and walk into her house and saw a room with a Maltese and a puppy, another room had a Maltese with 4-6 puppies (one puppy even had poo stuck on it's backside), a cage with about 8 Terrier puppies, another cage with about 6 more Maltese puppies. A sick Chihuahua in a cage stacked on top of the cage of 2 Chihuahuas and a Maltese pup.... When I get to the backyard, I felt like crying, about 8 adult Chihuahuas were kepts in ONE cage, 2 large Golden Retrievers in a cage so small they can't turn around, a German Shepherd and a Golden together in another small cage and a GSD in a big cage alone. There were alot more but I couldn't take looking at the crying dogs anymore and walked to the living room. The lady was very nice and I didn't have the heart to say anything to her, neither did I believe that she would take me seriously...

I left with a heavy heart that day. I told my friend, who is also an avid dog lover and she called MKA, which in turn told her that only SSPCA could help but I've given up hope on SSPCA (KCH). I've lodged many reports and complaints to SSPCA however, the admin always told me that it was none of their business.

If it isn't your business, then, whose business is it?

I want to help the puppies, the dogs. But how? How, when the only Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals doesn't want to help?

But one word to all Kuchingites, please do not support the BYB located at Kota Samarahan.

When the buying stops, the breeding will too.
Do not be fooled that cheap equals good.
Are you willing to live with a dog that may have future health problems because of the environment s/he was brought up in?
Do you really want to spend more money in the future because her/his mother didn't give him enough nutrition?
Can you really ignore the fact that while the puppy is happy with you, her/his mother is still suffering in a cage somewhere?!

Think about it.
Stop supporting BYBs.

Beware of dog snatchers!

2009-08-05T17:45:00.002+08:00

Nowadays, I believe there is more than a gang of dog thieves around. They steal dogs and puppies to sell them to new owners or - it hurts me to say this - to dog eaters. It is nothing new about eating dog meat. The business in China has flourished to such extent that they now have dog and cat farms.

Please be aware of the dangers your pets may face when they are left without supervision.

My puppies were just stolen from me a few days ago, and I still feel the guilt of knowing I could've done more to stop the puppy burglars to snatch them away from me. You see, my gate used to be automatic, but when it broke down, we neglected to fix it so anyone could enter my car porch and yard by simply pulling the gate open. That was how the puppies were stolen. I couldn't help but blame myself for not getting the gate fixed to bringing them into the house for the night.

Always keep an eye on your pets, if you can't, crating them inside the house would do unless your dog is a giant Rottie or St. Bernard - I doubt anyone would try to steal those fierce and massive dogs.

Make sure that your fence and gate are escape proof. Puppies or small dogs can wriggle through the smallest holes, so make sure you dog proof your yard.

And last but not least: If you care for your dog, NEVER let your dog wander the streets alone. If dog snatchers don't steal him first, I'm pretty sure that dog catchers will impound him.

Pet Pawz Program

2009-07-17T15:06:00.012+08:00

Pets listed here are available for adoption. There is no adoption fee unless otherwise stated. If you would like to put a pet up for adoption, please contact us and remember to include type of pet, age, breed, sex, location, contact number, reason for adoption and a picture. It would be much appreciated if you can add more, so future potential owners may know more about the pet given up for adoption.

HOPE Adopted on 20th Aug 2009!

Type of Pet: Dog/Puppy
Age: Aprox. 2 Months old
Breed: Mongrel
Sex: Female
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Contact number: 016-8071557
Special needs: Lots of love and a good home
Reason for adoption/ Message for interested parties:
When I found this puppy, she was involved in a car accident. Both her hind legs were paralyzed. I brought her to the vet and after 2 weeks of treatment and care, she healed. She is now walking and even running. She is very playful and cute. As reluctant as I am to give her away, I have to. Due to the fact that I already have 2 dogs and frankly, I do not have the space and financial means to keep another dog.

I will not ask for any money at all, not even for her treatment expenses, all I ask is that the kind person who adopts her will love her and treat her well. I do not want her to end up on the streets again.

I named her Hope because while everyone else thought that she would not survive and asked me to put her out of her misery. But I saw life in that little puppy and did not give up 'Hope' on her. The person who adopts her may rename her, but I would be happy if you keep her name.

Interested parties may contact me on my mobile 0168071557. I would like to meet you before you take her, I will also bring her along so you can see her.

Thanks!

Zeus & Mr. Mouse Adopted!! Thx to Bong Ching Yee.

Type of Pet: Cat
Age: Aprox. Approx. 1 Yr (Updated - 13th Nov, 09)
Breed: Local
Sex: Male
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Contact number: 016-8880419
Reason for adoption:
My friend took Zeus and Mr. Mouse in out of kindness, seeing as they were both abandoned at Jalan Song. Mr. Mouse was a sick little kitten though, we never thought that he would make it because he did not eat, nor did he play. But as time passed, so did his appetite. He is very affectionate and loving, and extremely playful. They took them in without having the intention of keeping them, as they didn't have a place to keep them and kept him in the kitchen of their boutique at Jalan Song. If you are willing to adopt them, you may come by Jalan Song anytime. TQ.

Sasa Adopted!

Picture taken when she is just a puppy...

Type of Pet: Dog
Age: Aprox. 5-6 Months old
Breed: Local
Sex: Female
Location: Kuching, Sarawak
Contact number: 016-8880419
Special needs: Patient and understanding owner with lots of time to socialize and earn her trust because she is very shy!
Reason for adoption:
Her previous owner called me up and asked me how much would it cost to leave her at the pound. I told her not to do it, and to pass Sasa over to me, and I will find her a better home.

The first day she was with me, my own dogs started to befriend her, but the next day, they started to fight really badly, so I called up my friend, Wendy, who agreed to take her in. The day after she took Sasa, she told me that Sasa vomited worms. I messaged the previous owner and asked her if Sasa was ever given vaccinations, her final answer is no.

My pocket money is so minimum that I myself can't quite get by, and Wendy has two other furkids to tend to and a rent to pay. Feeding another mouth isn't much, but vaccinations, deworming and spaying all amounts up to something.

This is the first dog I took in, and finally I understand that saving animals isn't as easy as it seems. Ultimately, you need money. And for a student, that is something we don't have a lot of.

After spaying Sasa, she will be ready to go to a new home. If you're interested, please call 0168880419, leave a comment or email me.

What is a BYB?

2009-07-17T15:03:00.004+08:00

BYB is short for Backyard Breeder. It is what every responsible pet owner would stay away from and what animal lovers would love to shut down.

But what do they do?
They mass produce pets for profit, that's what they do. They cut down costs to maximize profit, which is why they generally don't give two hoots about the breeding stock's well being, and keep them in poor conditions -- resulting in malnourished and unhealthy parents to undernourished and unhealthy babies.

I've seen a BYB at work. I was 12, with no awareness of the cruelty to animals and bought home a Shih Tzu now named Beauty. When brought home, she was dehydrated and dying, but with preserverance and the help of countless vets, she is now healthy but still suffers from a skin disease the vets told me had no cure as it was genetic -- I am aware that Shih Tzus in general may suffer from skin diseases, but responsible breeders breed to improve the health of their lines. Looking back, I realized that I was supporting the BYB to continue on tormenting dogs. They had about 20 pairs of breeding dogs and all of them were kept in cages. Some were left in the sun with no shelter from heat or rain. Tell me, do you want to support those immoral breeders?

BYBs usually supply their animals to pet shops, so buying from pet shops is also indirectly supporting BYBs. Do not mislead yourself into thinking that if you purchase from them, you would be giving the offspring a chance at a better life, because by giving them money, you will be supporting them more than you can imagine.

And keep in mind that this these Backyard Breeders couldn't care less about what homes their cashcows go to. They usually breed their stock until they are no longer capable of producing young, and what happens to them then? I would like to think that they are released to better homes or put down, but no, because Backyard Breeders breed mainly for money, they would find the cheapest alternative to get rid of the infertile. Leaving them to die with no food and water would be the alternative they choose. So do you want to support these immoral people?

What are the signs of BYBs?
Having multiple different breeds and in large amounts.
Keeping the animals in cages, runs or kennels.
Unclean facilities.
Unhealthy animals.
The breeders refuse to answer some of the questions you have.
The breeders don't seem to care about the future of the animal.
The breeder sells the animal to you with no questions asked.

And many more, but these are the few signs that should make the alarm bells in your head start ringing.

In context of exotic animals such as Sugar Gliders, Hedgehogs etc, the BYB makes no effort in understanding the animal's needs and produce poor offspring as a result.

A Letter from a Shelter Manager:

I think our society needs a huge wake-up call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all... A view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day.

Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know. That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore.

So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not!

About 50% of all of the dogs that are 'owner surrenders' or 'strays' that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are:

"We are moving and we can't take our pet."
Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets and why did you choose that place instead of a pet friendly home?

Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would."
How big did you think a German Shepherd would get?

"We don't have time for her."
Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs!

"She's tearing up our yard."
How about making her a part of your family?

They always tell me:
"We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog."
Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies.

Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps.

It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it.

If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.

If your dog is big, black or any of the 'Bully' breeds (Pit Bull, Rottie, Mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted.

It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.

If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long.

Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.

If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being 'put-down'....

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails.

Until, they get to 'The Room', every one of them freak out and put the brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them.

Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are.

Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the 'pink stuff'.

Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams.

They all don't just 'go to sleep', sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage.

What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much further than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this: DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is.

I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog.

I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt." THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!

I hope that this article will enlighten you about BYBs and I hope more than anything that you will avoid them or shut them down. How? Call up your local SSPCA or Pet Rescue Society and I'm sure that they will be of assistance.

Read more:
Dogs
- The Puppy Mill Link Exchange Program
Sugar Gliders
- Heartless Pet Shops
- Is there such a thing a cheap Sugar Gliders?
Cats
- The Difference between BYB and Responsible Breeders

If you have a link to add, simply email xvlsyx(a)gmail.com. And if you wish to know more, the web is an open book. Simply open up a search engine and click go. Animal cruelty is everywhere, and believe it or not, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

New Owners

2009-07-16T12:00:00.000+08:00

New pet owners don't usually understand that having a pet means an extra load of responsibility. Some are totally clueless about the pet they've just brought home. Be it a cat, a dog or some exotic pet.

Do NOT get a pet before researching. Would you get a car before any kind of research? A car is still nothing compared to a pet as a car doesn't eat - all they require is fuel and water and battery to run on. Cars don't have some kind of habitat - they run on roads and live in car porches. Cars don't have any instinct by nature. Cars don't get sick - and when they do, all you need is a mechanic. But there is much, much more when it comes to getting a pet. It's like having a baby, but before you have a baby, I'm sure you will read up on infant care and drill your mother for information, right? So what makes getting a pet any different? They still require knowledge. Lots of it.

Do NOT get a pet before you are ready. Are you sure you are ready for a commitment? Are you ready for the responsibilities of a pet? Do you have time to care for them? Are you able to be a good owner? Do you have the financial means of getting a pet? And I don't mean the initial fee of buying a pet - which can cost up to thousands when buying a pedigreed dog fathered by a champion - I mean the vet bills, the housing, toys, the necessities, the food, training lessons (if applicable).

Getting a pet on impulse - which most people refer to as 'impulse buyers', are irresponsible and are just not ready for a pet. You don't just adopt the first cute kid you see, do you?

Here is a list of questions to ask yourself before going out there and getting a pet:

Why do you want a pet? It's amazing how many people fail to ask themselves this simple question before they get a pet. Adopting a pet just because it's "the thing to do" or because the kids have been pining for a puppy usually ends up being a big mistake. Don't forget that pets may be with you 10, 15, even 20 years.

Do you have time for a pet? Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you're tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn't realize how much time it took to care for them.

Can you afford a pet? The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.

Are you prepared to deal with special problems that a pet can cause? Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren't yet housetrained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.

Can you have a pet where you live? Many rental communities don't allow pets, and most of the rest have restrictions. Make sure you know what they are before you bring a companion animal home.

Is it a good time for you to adopt a pet? If you have kids under six years old, for instance, you might consider waiting a few years before you adopt a companion. Pet ownership requires children who are mature enough to be responsible. If you're a student, in the military, or travel frequently as part of your work, waiting until you settle down is wise.

Are your living arrangements suitable for the animal you have in mind? Animal size is not the only variable to think about here. For example, some small dogs such as terriers are very active—they require a great deal of exercise to be calm, and they often bark at any noise. On the other hand, some big dogs are laid back and quite content to lie on a couch all day. Before adopting a pet, do some research. That way, you'll ensure you choose an animal who will fit into your lifestyle and your living arrangements.

Do you know who will care for your pet while you're away on vacation? You'll need either reliable friends and neighbors or money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service.

Will you be a responsible pet owner? Having your pet spayed or neutered, obeying community leash and licensing laws, and keeping identification tags on your pets are all part of being a responsible owner. Of course, giving your pet love, companionship, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular veterinary care are other essentials.

Finally, are you prepared to keep and care for the pet for his or her entire lifetime? When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.

Source: The Humane Society of the U.S

If you are one of those that couldn't be bothered to read this whole article, YOU ARE NOT READY FOR A PET!!

Why all this fuss and muss about getting a new pet? It's because too many people get a pet and then realize it was a bad decision on their part and what happens to the poor victim? They get dumped at SSPCA or abandoned. If you do get a pet and decide that you are unable to keep it, for the love of god, please be responsible and find a good home for your pet. Pets are not toys that you can just buy and throw, they are living things that deserve better.

About Pet Pawz

2009-07-16T11:50:00.007+08:00

So you're wondering what is up with this blog, who the hell got so bored of life and decided to start such a lame blog on pets, right?

Well, let me tell you something. First of all, I'm not bored of life, I just got sick and tired of seeing pets getting abused or neglected all over the world. There are some owners that have a perverted joy of torturing animals, but there are also those that abuse them unconsciously. How? By giving them the wrong food, by neglecting their health because of their lack of knowledge, by not stimulating the pet the way they should be or simply by not giving them enough attention.

Secondly, it's not a lame blog because I am going to collect information from the WWW and post them here for those lazy owners who can't be bothered to read though thousands and thousands of webpages.

Thirdly, I'm from Kuching, and frankly, it is so sad how we aren't as prosperous as KL. They have pet gatherings, pet cafes etc. How about us?

I am hoping for this blog to grow and become Kuching's number 1 pet blog. So all pet owners unite!!

Future projects:
- Having a list of animals for adoption from Kch. If you have any for adoption now, feel free to email me!
Because not every pet ends up in a good home.
- Have a list of reputable breeders from all around Malaysia, please email me if you're interested in being enlisted.
I think that the job of breeders are very important because they are responsible for breeding healthy animals and also guide the new owners along the way.
- Pet rescue.
Because people tend to overlook mongrels.

So a very big round of applause, please, for the birth of this blog! :3

FAQ

2009-07-16T11:47:00.001+08:00

Not available at the moment.

If you have any questions, please mail them in! ♥

Contact Me!

2009-07-16T11:43:00.000+08:00

You can email xvlsyx (a) gmail.com if you have any inquiries or if you found a mistake or something you'd like me to add. :)

Feedback is highly welcomed.