The adorable pair are bundles of michief who will melt your heart, could you give them a happier future?

If you can offer an animal a new home, please call the Kimpton centre on 0300 777 1490, visit www.bluecross.org.uk or drop into the centre on Kimpton Bottom, Kimpton, SG4 8EU (call ahead for opening hours).

The Blue Cross relies entirely on public donations to help thousands of sick and needy horses, dogs, cats and small pets every year. If you cannot give a pet a home, you can help mend a few broken hearts this Valentine’s Day by giving your loved one a warm-hearted gift.

For just £15, choose from ‘Puppy Love’, a ‘Kitten Cuddle’ or a ‘Horsey Hug’ and your other half will receive a certificate and a warm glow from the knowledge that your gift will help The Blue Cross care for all its homeless residents.

For more information and to find out how else you can help, visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Dean McKee is an avid hunter, so when he and his neighbors began to notice that there werent as many deer in their Lower Alloways Creek Township woods, they began to look into what was going on.

What McKee found was an explosion in the amount of coyotes in the area animals that are known to feed on small game, including deer.

Coyotes a wild member of the dog family have been in New Jersey for years, their populations expanding as they continue to adapt to the environment, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Coyotes adjust really well to their surroundings, said Larry Ragonese, spokesman for the DEP They are in all 21 counties, including urban places, but people do not realize it.

Coyotes have not been reported as causing any problems in South Jersey in years, according to the DEP. In 2007, Washington Township had multiple sightings of the animals and in 2009 two had to be euthanized by police in Deptford Township after being hit by cars. But the animals which resemble small German Shepherds have not been attacked or harmed any humans, which the DEP says is the way it should be.

Theyve been here for many years and they havent really caused many problems for people, Ragonese said. They generally prey on rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals and also young or weaker deer.

Its the deer that worry McKee. He and his fellow hunters rely on a large deer population, so a few years ago he began actively hunting the coyote.

Coyotes are legal to hunt during small game season Sept. 10 through Nov. 11 for bow and arrow and Nov. 12 through March 15 for both firearms and bow and arrow but all coyote killings must be reported within 24 hours.

I started about four years ago and Ive caught over 20 in four years, McKee said. What Im finding is a problem is I have a lot of people calling because the deer numbers are down. Jessica Beym 2/10/12 finding to be a problem? finding is a problem? this sounds weird

McKee uses snares along known coyote routes, but hunting coyotes is not an easy task.

These animals are so smart, by far the smartest Ive ever dealt with and their sense of smell is superior to any animal in this area, he said. Thats why there are only a couple guys who have been able to catch them but so many people want these coyotes off their property.

According to the DEP, coyotes eating deer isnt a problem its simply how they survive, and as long as they have ample food in the wild, they shouldnt be a bother to residents. But if there are sightings of coyotes that are not afraid of humans, that could be an issue.

You should always be aware, Ragonese said. Conflicts you might have most likely will develop as they forage for food for their pups during spring or summer.

He said the DEP especially recommends that any small pets be monitored while outside, because they are the animals that could suffer from a coyote in the neighborhood.

In suburban and urban area they occasionally attack small pets, Ragonese said. If you have a small pet rabbit on your deck, a puppy, sure, you should watch them.

For 40 years, Ann Tolkoff never imagined seeing a coyote in her hilltop neighborhood near Coolidge Corner, a densely settled area where the Prudential Center is in clear view.

But over the past year, the rangy scavenger has become a regular, unsettling presence, foraging through garbage, attacking small pets, even lurking menacingly along residential streets.

If I let my dog run in my backyard, it could be capital punishment, said Tolkoff, a retired schoolteacher.

As the ranks of coyotes have expanded in the Boston suburbs, where backyards provide an abundant food supply, concern over the influx has risen in kind. In Brookline, Newton, and Belmont, where coyote sightings have become more frequent, residents are urging town officials to take steps to control the population, and increasingly taking precautions with their pets and even young children.

Last month in Haverhill, a coyote bit a 9-year-old girl, only the fifth documented case of a coyote attack on a human in Massachusetts since the 1950s. Last week in Wellesley, coyotes attacked an ailing deer and two dogs in separate events, killing one just outside its owners house.

Specialists say that coyotes pose virtually no threat to humans, but that pet owners should not let small dogs and cats run free.

Its normal coyote behavior to grab small animals if left unattended, said Linda Huebner, deputy director of advocacy for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. People need to keep their animals safe and supervised.

Wildlife officials estimate that there are up to 10,000 coyotes in Massachusetts and they are widely scattered throughout the Boston area. Although typically associated with the wild, coyotes are highly adaptable and are drawn to safe, dependable food sources such as bird feeders, pet bowls, and unsealed trash cans.

Weve turned our yards into drive-throughs, said Michelle Hamel, senior animal control officer in Haverhill, a city on the New Hampshire border.

Hamel sees coyotes daily, and said residents who are uneasy at their proximity often have only themselves to blame.

Coyotes are instinctively afraid of humans, wildlife specialists say, but over time become more comfortable unless given reason to feel otherwise.

Most of the time coyotes are not getting the message that people can be a threat, said Marion Larson, outreach coordinator for the state division of fisheries and wildlife.

Specialists say coyotes are easily scared off by loud noises, having objects thrown at them, or being sprayed with a hose.

But many, especially those caught off guard by an encounter or afraid the coyote might respond with aggression, simply let the animal be. Eventually, coyotes realize they have little to fear and before long are strolling through backyards like they own them.

Over time, that boldness can lead to increased aggressiveness, specialists say. On rare occasions, such coyotes will approach pets on a leash and approach or follow people.

In those cases, residents should report the incident to animal control, Larson said.

Concern about coyotes has spurred calls to remove or destroy the animals, but officials say such steps would be counterproductive, and say peaceful co-existence is the only solution.

We cant possibly solve problems with coyotes by killing them, Huebner said. Theyll simply expand their range and breed more.

By law, wildlife officials can only destroy an animal if it is determined to be a public safety threat. Attacking an unattended pet does not qualify, Huebner said.

Coyotes can be hunted and trapped in boxes, but leg traps for recreational use are banned.

Residents like Tolkoff say aggressive action is needed to ward off a growing incursion.

Weve lost four cats on my street, she said. And neighbors have complained coyotes have followed them. Its changed our quality of life.

In Wellesley, dog owners said coyotes are regular visitors to Centennial Reservation, a popular walking area, but tend to keep to themselves.

Maggie Wilson said her dog Cooper, who weighs in at over 100 pounds, has been known to chase them.

Keep Centennial safe, Cooper! Wilson said as the unleashed dog bounded off across the open field.

An airline just for pets was an act of genius, Martha Hamilton figured. No cold cargo holds for Phoebe, her 10-year-old miniature schnauzer. Attendants would check on her regularly during the flight. There would even be a pet lounge for the emotional goodbye at the airport.

Enlarge This Image

David McNew/Getty Images.

Loading Pet Airways’ maiden flight from the Los Angeles area in July 2009. The company has flown more than 7,000 pets.

But Ms. Hamilton and Phoebe just finished a three-day cross-country journey — in a car.

The once-loved Pet Airways, created by a California real estate developer, has run into trouble, stranding cats and dogs and leaving their unhappy owners holding the leash.

“It’s outrageous,” said Ms. Hamilton, after Pet Airways canceled three reservations. “Thanks to Pet Airways, I had to fly from New York to L.A., rent a car and drive all the way back.”

Pet Airways — once the great transportation hope for animal owners — is now suffering a fate similar to its counterparts that cater to human travelers.

Dog and cat owners are angry about canceled flights. Travel sites are abuzz with complaints, including customers who claim they have not received refunds for paid-for flights. And the company is burning through cash at a rapid rate.

The co-founder of Pet Airways, Alysa Binder, acknowledged in an e-mail exchange that the airline, which does not own an airplane, has had some problems since November, when it decided to contract a plane from a new company. “After several flights, it was apparent that the company and plane could not perform as represented, and that there was a definite safety issue, especially in cold weather,” said Ms. Binder.

Pet Airways, she indicated, has since switched back to its previous contractor, but needed to cancel “some flights during the holidays and into the new year” because that plane was committed elsewhere.

“We are a very new company that is pioneering, just as FedEx pioneered the overnight packaging business,” said Ms. Binder. “We have ups and downs, but we are keeping our eyes on the long-term goal of providing a safe and comfortable transportation option for the pets.”

Begun in July 2009, Pet Airways held great promise. Frustrated by their experience traveling with their Jack Russell terrier, Zoe, Dan Wiesel — a former real estate developer and women’s swimwear manufacturer — and his wife, Ms. Binder, wanted to offer a better way.

“We got to thinking. Maybe Zoe was trying to tell us something,” the two, who own roughly 37 percent of the company, wrote on the company’s Web site. “Maybe there was a travel solution that would suit her perfectly, and everyone else out there too.”

In the beginning, the upstart, which offers service to nine cities including East Farmingdale, Long Island, trumpeted better service at a potentially lower cost than traditional carriers. Flights run from about $100 to more than $1,000 each way, and roughly 40 pets can sit in crates in the main cabin (the airline doesn’t carry the pets’ owners).

“Your best friend travels in four-legged style in the main cabin, constantly monitored by a pet attendant with the temperature just right and with lots of fresh circulating air,” boasted an online commercial.

Since the service began, Pet Airways says, it has flown more than 7,000 cats and dogs, and at least one potbellied pig.

It was an upgrade from the alternative. Major airlines — some of which ban even small pets in the cabin — typically store animals in the belly of the plane with luggage and other cargo. There, the temperature can vary wildly, leading to death in rare cases. Between May 2005 and July 2010, 122 dogs died in cargo holds of United States airlines, according to the Department of Transportation.

Now, Pet Airways has fallen on tough times. The carrier — which based on its recent schedule typically offers two eastbound routes a month and two westbound ones — did not have any flights between Dec. 16 and Jan. 16, according to a regulatory filing, and it is unclear if it has had any flights since then. A New York Times reporter looking into the airline had reservations canceled twice, once in January and another last week. Her credit card company canceled the charge. 

Ms. Binder declined to comment on the last time Pet Airways operated a flight.  The airline continues to take reservations. “We are working toward being in the air as soon as we can be assured that the planes are ready for our use,” Ms. Binder said.  

But its financial picture also looks shaky. At the end of the year, the company had roughly $30,000 in cash on hand, and its “net monthly cash burn” is $25,000 to $55,000 a month.  In the filing the company said it did “not currently have sufficient cash on hand to meet our financing needs.”

“We have experienced a history of losses and have yet to begin generating positive cash flows from operations and, as a result, our auditors have raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern,” the company wrote in the February regulatory filing.

The situation has left this special breed of fliers without many options. Colleen Paige — who rescued an 8-year-old longhair German shepherd named Rocky in Los Angeles and secured a home for the dog in North Carolina — said Pet Airways had canceled on her twice. Now, it’s unclear where Rocky will end up.

“They won’t call me back,” she said of Pet Airways, which has not yet refunded her money.  “Rocky is with a foster family who can’t keep him indefinitely.”

(PRWEB UK) 15 February 2012

Magnuson Hotels, the world’s largest independent hotel group, announced today the complete rebranding of the Magnuson Hotel Abbeville. Formerly an Extended Stay Inn amp; Suites, this 52-room hotel seeks to upgrade its local, regional and national market position through its affiliation with the Magnuson Hotels brand designation.

Corporate, educational, government and leisure travelers will appreciate the Magnuson Hotel Abbeville which is situated only three miles west of the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame Museum, while golfers can enjoy Abbeville Golf Course, which is 6 miles west. Palmetto Island State Park and Lake Lanier are less than 10 miles from Magnuson Hotel Abbeville. SugArena and Cajun Field are less than 20 miles from the hotel and check out the Old South at Shadows on the Teche Plantation, which is 16 miles east of Magnuson Hotel Abbeville’s central location.

The Magnuson Hotel Abbeville offers guests an outdoor pool to relax by, and free Continental breakfast is served from 5 am to 9:30 am daily. A business center, free high-speed wireless internet and fax/copy service are available for corporate guests. Parking is free and guest laundry is available as well. The hotel welcomes small pets with additional charges.

“Guests will enjoy the variety of activities near the Magnuson Hotel Abbeville. We are proud to welcome owner Vijay Patel and his staff, and are committed to increasing their property visibility and reservations,” stated Thomas Magnuson, CEO.

As a Magnuson Hotels affiliate, the Magnuson Hotel Abbeville will receive complete brand representation across North America and the UK, without the costs and requirements of franchise brand affiliation. The Magnuson Hotels brand offers owners of mid-scale service hotels amp; resorts the highest visibility brand positioning, to clearly communicate the value of their hotels service and quality to mid-scale business, group and leisure travelers worldwide.

About Magnuson Hotels:

In nine years, Magnuson Hotels has become the world’s largest independent hotel group, representing nearly 2,000 UK and North American hotels with assets in excess of $5.5 Billion. One of the top 5 global hotel chains, Magnuson Hotels is the #1 Hotel Company of Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest growing private US companies. For more information visit magnusonhotels.com, Magnuson Hotels on Facebook, and Google+, or follow Magnuson Hotels on Twitter @MagnusonHotels

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ITS BEEN a very busy and chilly couple of weeks here at The Blue Cross in Northiam.

The centre looks really beautiful in the snow and weve all been working extra hard to keep the animals nice and toasty. Staff have been wrapping up super warm to take the dogs out in the snow, making sure they get their regular exercise.

They think its great fun of course, particularly Lupa, a beautiful Siberian husky, who was in her element with the freezing weather.

For other pets not quite so well-built for snow, weve had to give them a bit of extra help so its nice, warm dog coats all round, particularly for those with shorter hair, and heated snuggle pads to keep cats cosy.

Were also making sure all the kennel areas are super-snug, with extra heaters and just little things like keeping all the doors closed is helping to block out those chilly draughts.

Unfortunately, the cold weather can bring a few dangers for our furry friends, so there are definitely a few tips worth bearing in mind, to keep them safe when the temperature drops.

Sadly, Blue Cross vets have seen a number of cases of cats that have died from salt toxicity and suspected anti-freeze poisoning. So if it is really cold outside, it might be best to keep your cat indoors for a few day just to be safe.

Salt is poisonous to cats and the salt used to grit roads can easily get onto cats paws and coats when theyre grooming themselves.

They also seem to like the taste of anti-freeze, but it can be deadly for them.

So be sure to keep an eye on them and take them straight to the vet if you notice any symptoms such as vomiting, appetite loss and drinking excessively.

Its also important to make sure your pets arent left outdoors for too long just like us they can develop hypothermia if they remain in the cold for long periods.

Small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable, so bring them inside if possible, or make sure they have extra bedding to keep them warm.

And please take extra care when walking your dog in snowy or icy weather keep them on the lead if youre likely to pass frozen water.

Call for help but dont go after your dog if they do run on to ice, as it can be extremely dangerous.

Hopefully well see a thaw soon and the start of warmer weather as spring arrives.

There are lots of fantastic animals looking for love here at The Blue Cross in Northiam, so if you have room in your heart and home for a new pet, give us a call on 03007 771510 or drop in to see us in the centre at St Francis Fields, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6LP.

ANIMALS can feel the cold as much as we do and charity Blue Cross is warning pet owners of winter dangers to their pets.

Several cats died from salt toxicity in the last icy snap from gritter salt, and in the last few days a cat died from suspected antifreeze poisoning.

Salt and grit can also be harmful to dogs and irritate their paws.

Chief Blue Cross vet Mark Bossley said: “If it is icy outside and salt is being used to grit the streets it is wise to keep your pet indoors. Salt is poisonous to cats and it can easily get on their paws or fur and be swallowed when they groom themselves.”

Signs of poisoning include lethargy, vomiting, appetite loss and drinking excessively.

Consider keeping cats indoors, as well as small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs which are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia, or at least make sure they have extra bedding to keep them warm.

Download a free ‘Surviving winter’ advice leaflet and see more pet care advice at www.bluecross.org.uk.

There is something special about the relationship between a pet and a child. Pets teach empathy and responsibility to kids and they don’t talk back to mom and dad. They have the ability to be an integral part of a family. If a family can swing it financially, allergy and otherwise, they are a wonderful addition to the household.

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Since my kids have been born, we’ve always had at least one cat living with us.  We’ve had our current cat, Gus, since 2003. He is a loyal companion to our oldest child, who has always had the innate ability to understand animals. My younger two children are very active and our beloved Gussy tends to steer clear of them. However, he is able to sense if any of the three kids is having a tough day and will perch himself on their bed or lap as if to say, “It going to be ok.”

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An estimated 4 in 10 children begin life in a family with domestic animals, and up to 90 percent of all kids live with a pet at some point during their childhood, according to Gail F. Melson, PhD and author of Why the Wild Things Are: Animals in the Lives of Children.

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If you are looking to add an animal to the family, the best time for a pet depends on a child’s age. The website of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) lists out helpful tips for parents.  

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For kids ages 3-5, a good animal for a pet is a guinea pig. Guinea pigs like to be held and seldom bite. Because they whistle when they are happy or excited, they offer some playful feedback to the kids as well. Filling the food dish and water bowl are tasks appropriate for that age.

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Kids age 5-10 years have inconsistent attention spans and are best with small pets. Animals such as gerbils and goldfish that need food, water and play sessions are optimal. With supervision, kids this age can also manage chores such as cleaning out the cages and scrubbing down toys and furniture. 

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Once a child is age 10-13 and able to handle more responsibility, a cat, dog or rabbit can be considered. The kids should be ready to handle the feeding, walking and litter box/cage cleaning. Kids can deepen their relationship with their pet by reading pet care books or participating in dog training classes.

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As kids move into their teen years, they become very busy and the ASPCA recommends birds and aquarium fish. Despite their ability to handle the responsibility of a dog or cat, teens tend to lead a demanding lifestyle that lends itself to a smaller time commitment for a pet.

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Pets provide families with laughs and comfort. They teach our children countless life lessons. Whether it’s the whistle of a guinea pig, the purr of a cat or a sloppy kiss from a dog, pets have the ability to give unconditional love to kids and parents. If it will work easily into your family, consider adding a pet.

I’m a sucker for animals, and I always have been and will continue to have a soft spot in my heart for them.

It goes without saying I dread seeing an unfortunate animal, whether it be tame or wild, lying dead alongside the road after being struck by a vehicle, whether mine or someone else’s.

It also hurts me to see dogs or cats roam the countryside and through my yard, because I wonder if they are cared for and loved.

That’s why I hope the small dog seen wandering the wrong way up Broad Street in South Boston shortly after 6 pm Thursday made it home in one piece.

I was not able to stop, but the car in the other lane had come to a stop to allow the dog to make up its mind where it wanted to go.

I can’t help but think fondly of the pets I’ve had in my life, beginning with Trixi, then Butch and Little Butch.

My friends and neighbors fondly remember Duchess, a Collie that lived for 13 years (my lucky number).

More recently, I’ve become attached to friends’ pets, including those belonging to my former colleague, Sonny Riddle, whose dogs have accepted me into their confidence.

Two of them, Zeus and Pepper, are no longer with us, but when I visit nowadays I can’t make it past the front door without yelps of excitement from Spooky, Ruger, Kimber and Roxy.

My friend, Tom, lives in Richmond and tells stories of a family pet, Mollie the Irish Setter, who had her way many years ago in Milwaukee.

Tom has owned two cats, Karma, who passed away two years ago, and now Dudley, who celebrated his first birthday New Year’s Day.

I’ve had two cats, one I named White Paws, a grey tabby I owned when I was about 7-years-old.

From reading this space, everyone knows who owns my home now, and it’s not yours truly, but Little Whiskers, or Whiskers for short.

I met Whiskers about five years ago when she started to hang out in a neighbor’s yard, and the rest is history.

When the neighbors moved, by design or not, Whiskers was left behind, so I adopted her in September 2008.

Since then she has become part of my small family, and the green-eyed, calico-colored feline keeps me on my toes every day with her shenanigans.

More often than not Whiskers is sitting at the back window of my laundry room watching for me to drive up to my back sidewalk.

Anxious as she is to go outside, I only let her out when I can watch her, because I’ve heard too many tales of coyotes and birds of prey making off with small pets.

Whiskers enjoys showing off for company, including my neighbor, Bro Green and “Uncle” Mike Wilborne, who cares for her when I’m away.

I swear Whiskers is half rooster, because she’s better than an alarm clock at waking me up every morning, a task she undertook recently so I wouldn’t oversleep.

So, for your edification, is her biography.

Age: 6 years, according to her vet

Height: Tall enough to leap counters and cabinets in a single bound

Weight: Better not go there, she is a girl but like her master is on a “see-food diet.”

Appetite: Refer to above

Temperament: Again, better not go there, she may be reading this column

All kidding aside, folks, please nurture and enjoy your pets.

They’re like family to most of us who own them, and what they give back to you is the next best thing to the love of your family and friends.

Sending a flock of roadrunners out into the community would be a far-fetched solution to keeping coyotes away from urban areas.

Therefore, there are other suggestions that residents can follow to avoid any problems with the wild animals, who have been sighted rather frequently over the last few weeks.

In 2009, a public meeting and session participated in by local residents, the Niagara Regional Police, local trappers and the Ministry of Natural Resources was held. Around that time, many concerns were voiced in the community about what could be done to avoid any tragedies related to small pets being snatched by the elusive animals, which there were a handful of cases of in areas near the Old Fort.

That same advice that was shared back then still remains in place today.

In a coyote information pamphlet provided to the Town of Fort Erie by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), it is explained that coyotes are a natural part of rural and urban areas near ravines or wooded areas.

There are a number of things that can be done to prevent any interaction with them on your property.

Some of these precautions include properly storing and maintaining garbage containers, which would discourage them from prowling for a meal, and also prevent other rodents such as skunks and raccoons from putting themselves in a vulnerable position for a coyote attack.

Another measure that should be taken is removing all pet food from outside, which could draw coyotes in closer to your property.

Residents should avoid composting meat products, as failure to do so can also welcome coyotes closer to your home.

Purposely feeding and approaching the animals is also not recommended. They are timid and usually scare away from human contact, but being fed can make them more comfortable and cause them to return for additional food.

Motion-sensitive lighting in yards can help deter coyotes from trespassing on your property and alarms or whistles that can be set off in the presence of an unwelcome animal can scare coyotes off and cause them not to return.

Pat Smalldon, a local resident on Court Street near General Vanier Public School, has had four sightings in recent weeks and hopes people living in her area, many of whom are senior citizens with small pets, will follow the guidelines that can deter a coyote presence in urban areas.

She owns her own medium-sized dog and has taken extra caution by carrying a stick when she walks her pooch in the neighbourhood, or by combing the yard before she lets her dog out to do its business.

You have to be very cautious about letting them out, she said.

Geoff Stephenson, from the Town of Fort Eries by-law enforcement department, says there is little the municipality can do, other than raise awareness about the coyote presence by strongly advising residents to follow the precautions provided through the MNR.

Dont approach them or feed them, said Stephenson, who estimated that about seven complaints on the matter have been heard at Town Hall, so far this week.

If you have small pets, be aware that when you go outside there may be coyotes looking to eat, he added.

The Niagara Regional Polices district commander for Fort Erie, staff sergeant Dave Hunter, also echoed the recommendations provided by the ministry.

I would certainly emphasize, dont approach the animal yourself, he said.

The police can respond to a coyote-related concern, which is categorized as a nuisance animal complaint. If a coyote appears to be putting public safety at risk, thats the only time law enforcement can step in.

Unless the animal is a danger, theres nothing we can do, said Hunter.

Wendy Trombley, manager of the local SPCA said a trap was set up last week, in an attempt to apprehend a coyote that had been seen wandering around near the Peace Bridge and on Gilmore Road, with a severe injury to its leg.

We havent had any luck catching it, she said.

Trombley said that when calls about the animals come to her office, she usually refers them to the MNR for further suggestions…whether it is a re-iteration of the many points provided in the information sheet on the Town of Fort Eries website, or a recommendation to hire a local licensed trapper.

Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, it is legal to hunt coyotes in Ontario. But it has to be for a hunting purpose, and not just to eliminate their presence in your neighbourhood, especially if you live in a residential area.