We don't recommend exotics as pets. However, if you have your heart set on an unusual pet, read our Exotic Pet Starting Guide and Checklist.

That's an easy one! Pin the drawing to the wrong side of the fabric and cut it out. It will be looking in the opposite direction as one cut from the front side of the fabric. Anything worthwhile doing is worth the time it takes to do it. You get out of a project exactly what you put in! Remember, you are making heirlooms, quilts never go bad, and they never wear out (you just patch them!) Also, you don't have to use all of the animals in the patterns, i.e.

There is no evidence that bird flu is a risk to dogs. Recently, there have been reports of a canine influenza virus in the U.S. but this is a different flu virus that affects only dogs. There is evidence from the Asian outbreak that the bird flu virus might affect cats fed raw poultry, but there is currently no cause for concern because the virus is not present in the U.S.

Illness with the H5N1 avian flu has been reported among domestic and exotic cats in Asia, which is unusual. Since the H5N1 avian flu virus has not been identified in Arizona or the United States, dogs and cats which may capture wild birds are not at risk for this disease.

The size of a wolf's track is dependent on the age and size of the wolf, as well as the substrate the track was made in. A good size estimate for a gray wolf's track size is 4 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide. In comparison, a coyote's track will be closer to 2 1/2 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. Only a few breeds of dogs leave tracks longer than 4 inches (Great Danes, St. Bernards, and some bloodhounds).

A pet bird would have to come in contact with a wild or domesticated bird with avian flu to become infected. Most human cases probably came from direct contact with infected birds or their droppings. Follow good health habits when cleaning your bird’s cage, and wash your hands frequently. In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S.

The same CDC regulations that apply to animals for individual use also apply for zoos. These regulations allow for exceptions, as determined by the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. We can supply written permission for importation of restricted animals such as nonhuman primates or African rodents, for use in scientific research institutions and educational exhibits.

We recommend that all new birds be examined by an avian veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will ask you questions about where you acquired the bird, what you are feeding it, if you have other birds, if you have noticed anything that concerns you, and so on in order to help you and your new companion get a good start on a long term relationship. The veterinarian will observe your bird's attitude and energy level, and then perform a thorough physical examination.

In addition to wild and domestic birds and poultry, humans, domestic cats, and dogs, we know that pigs, palm civets, cynomolgus macaques, New Zealand white rabbits, stone martens, tigers, leopards, ferrets and rats can become infected with the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. It's possible that other mammals may also be susceptible to H5N1 HPAI infection.

The Tropics is a wild life sanctuary for exotic birds. These birds can be tame pets, breeders, zoo and show birds.

Because H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has not yet been detected in the United States, it is unlikely that the bird would pose a risk of H5N1 HPAI infection to your cat, and no special precautions unique to avian influenza (AI) prevention and control are warranted. If the virus is found in the United States, and if it is found to infect wild birds upon which cats are likely to prey, you should contact your veterinarian for assistance.

Unequivocally, no. The theobromine in chocolate that stimulates the cardiac and nervous systems is too much for dogs, especially smaller pups. A chocolate bar is poisonous to dogs and can even be lethal. The same holds true for cats, and other household pets.

Healthy birds are infected when there is direct contact with infected bodily discharges of infected birds such as droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. Close confinement causes a rapid spread of disease among birds. All bodily discharges contain high concentration of END virus. Therefore, the virus-bearing material can be picked up on insects, rodents, containers, shoes and clothing and carried from a sick flock to a healthy flock.

Generally if you find a baby animal it is best to leave it alone. Often the animal is not orphaned, and the parent may be out bringing food for the animal, or watching the baby. Never pick up baby animals and remove them from their natural environment! Handling of wildlife causes great stress.

END is a threat to the caged-bird industry and poultry hobbyists. Birds illegally smuggled into the US are not quarantined and tested on entry. Anyone who is offering to sell young parrots should be suspected of smuggling or purchasing smuggled birds. Amazon parrots can be carriers of END and can shed the virus for more than 400 days.

There are myths about the paw size of a puppy or kitten indicating how big they will get. We can come fairly close to the size they will become by judging body structure at a certain age and comparing it to certain breeds. Again, the DNA test will be able to tell much more of a dogs history and breed crosses.

Currently, CDC restricts birds from countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is present in poultry, in order to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) implements regulations regarding the importation of birds. To import a pet bird of non-U.S.

Once constructed, bale walls are very strong and stable. When tested, bale walls have withstood the equivalent of a significant wind of over 215 km/hr. ASTM E72 80 transverse load testing of load-bearing straw bale walls, Building Research Centre of the University of New South Wales, Australia, 1998

Dogs and cats could possibly become infected by eating dead infected animals such as birds, but this is unproven.

A pet bird would have to come in contact with a wild or domesticated bird with avian flu to become infected. There is no reported avian flu in the United States at this time. But even after bird flu is identified in the United States, the risk is small for caged birds.

The first thing for you to consider when deciding what to feed your exotic cat is to remember what they eat in the wild and then try to incorporate what you would find in nature into your feeding program. A frozen whole prey natural pet food diet is widely considered to be preferable to any commercial processed canned or dry food diet. All exotic cats are obligate carnivores and get virtually all of their nutrients from the prey (raw meat) they catch in the wild.

Non-domestic cats are usually not suitable as pets. As a general rule they are too big, strong, and destructive. Then there is the questions about legality and regulation. Many states, counties, and cities have strict regulations about keeping wild animals as pets. We would encourage you to satisfy your desire to be around wild cats by contacting your local zoo. Zoos often have volunteer programs where you will be able to spend time with the cats and learn more about them.

Absolutely! The Indianapolis Animal Care & Control Division has a wide selection of healthy pets available and ready to be placed in a loving home. Please visit Indianapolis Animal Care & Control or visit Pets Available for Adoption to view available animals. The fee to adopt your new pet is $60, which includes spay/neuter procedure, first round of booster vaccinations and a microchip.

It is very unlikely that you will be able to take your cat (or any other pet) with you. Please mention this at your interview. CSV will try to take your wishes into account when looking for a suitable volunteering placement, but it may reduce considerably the opportunities available to you. Our advice is to make alternative arrangements for your pet.

That's the easy part! Jackson does telephone consultations all over the world! Call 720-938-6794 and talk to Jackson to make sure that a Little Big Cat consultation is right for you. For more details on the consultation procedure, click here.

The name "Little Big Cat" came from a combination of factors. As a teenager, Dr. Jean spent two summers on a Nez Perce reservation in Idaho; so one of her favorite movies is "Little Big Man," in which the main character shifts back and forth between the Indian and white ways of life in the frontier West. And Jackson has a great interest in big cat behavior, and in how lions, tigers, and other big cats are similar to our domestic feline companions.

No. Not unless you were to go immediately from one cat to another, and have wet saliva, urine or blood on your hand. Even then the chances would be slim. FeLV needs to be transferred through the media above, and will not live long outside the host (the infected cat). Warm, dry environments will deactivate the virus and common household detergents and disinfectants will eliminate it from any contacted surfaces.