Dear Porky & Buddy: OK, so I’m sort of a manly guy, if you know what I mean, and I adopted this cat, George, thinking he would add to my manly image—plus I just love cats, how aloof and independent they are—like me.
Dear Porky and Buddy: I just looked at the weather prediction for the next couple of weeks and it’s not going above 30 degrees for days. Goofy, my Husky, mix couldn’t be happier, but Bubba, my little Pitbull mix, is crossing his legs and begging me to (just this once) not make him go outside to do his business. He keeps eyeing the cat’s litter box as if he’s thinking, “That’s not such a bad idea.” Are there any special things I should know about taking care of my pets when it gets this cold. I love being outside in this weather, but I also know how to open the door and let myself back in and I have jackets and boots. Signed, Kathy
Dear Porky and Buddy: Our Kitty is very old, 15 plus years. The vet said she is no longer able to groom herself I can brush her, especially when I hold her. She is very clean and never misses the kitty box--she just needs help grooming. Is there a product you would recommend? Please don't recommend any thing that will make her uncomfortable. I hesitate to use commercial products. What have other older owners of senior cats done for their kitties? She looks like a rag-a-muffin, but she is our beloved pet. Signed, George
Dear Readers: If you always thought that when you pay a little more for “organically” produced animal products, you were also supporting “humanely” produced animal products, you were wrong. Federal rules for organic labeling, instituted in 2000, had nothing to do with humane animal welfare practices. With the rise in demand for organic products and the absence of organic animal welfare standards, the market became flooded with large-scale, industrial producers who profited from the public’s desire for products like “cage-free” eggs while still relying on the cruel practices found on typical factory farms. “Cage-free” does not necessarily mean adequate room or access to the outdoors.
Dear Porky and Buddy: My dog, Frou Frou, (he’s a Doberman, it’s a long story) has suddenly, like in the last week or so, developed bad breath—really stinky, disgusting bad breath. It’s not like he eats garbage or anything, but suddenly it’s more than I can stand just to let him sit on the couch with me. What should I do? Is there some kind of breath mint for dogs? Signed, Caroline
Dear Porky & Buddy: I just read that February is “Spay/Neuter Awareness Month!” Not exactly as catchy as Ground Hog Day or Valentine’s Day or the Super Bowl, but still, as an animal lover, it’s important to me. I always have my pets spayed or neutered, but I know that it’s a hard expense for some of my neighbors who really love their pets but don’t have much money to spare. Are there any programs out there to help? I would be happy to spread the word. Signed, Tony
Dear Readers: We just learned that U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Friday February 3rd, suddenly removed inspection reports and other information from its website about the treatment of animals at federally licensed research laboratories, zoos, dog breeding operations (puppy mills) and other facilities.
Dear Porky & Buddy: I have been reading about the rescue by the Oswego county Humane Society and Friends of Homeless Animals of the 16 cats that had been trapped in a house with a collapsed roof up in the Town of Boylston. I sure do appreciate their efforts and I would be very interested in adopting one of them, but I read that almost half of them are 12 or 13 years old. Gulp. Isn’t it risky to adopt a cat that old? How would he or she adjust? What if the cat became ill? They only have a few more years to live—why would anyone take on that heartache? I don’t mean to sound like I don’t care about them. I do, but it just seems like too much to ask of an adopter. Signed, Fred
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