Chinese Zodiac
As the year turns, so does the Chinese Zodiac. For those who follow these things, 2008 was the year of the rat, and 2009 is the year of the Ox.
To celebrate, I give you a picture of an ox with a mouse on its head, courtesy of the Mainichi Daily News.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- - Rural Texas town to let authorities shoot strays.
- - Store has bone to pick. (Utah, page 12a)
- - Aging horse is given happier trails ahead. (Kansas)
- - Man arrested in gator thefts. (Louisiana)
- - Missing Texas dog found. (Kansas)
- - Vets rescue injured dog dragged behind vehicle. (Bristow)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Holiday photo contest – have you enetered?
It’s that time! Have you sent in a holiday photo of your pet? If not, you still have time! Check out this entry we recently received. Donna Elledge of Del City said this: “Boomer is determined not to miss Santa this year, even if he has
to stay awake all night!”
So enter the Pet Show Holiday Photo Contest! Your photo could win you pet a bag full of treats from Santa and Del Monte!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Merry Christmas!
Merry Chirstmas and Happy Holidays from the Pet Show crew!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – We want a hippo … and voice lessons
Have you ever wanted to hear the Pet Show crew sing?
Of course not!
Unfortunately, that’s what happens this week. Listen to our podcast. Laugh it up, friends. You should. We celebrate the 55th anniversary of the song “I Want a Hippopotamus for Chrismtas.”
Dawn gave us some great tips for keeping your pets – particularly cats – safe during the holidays. Bryan shared two great news stories. 1) Grumpy miracle pig voted most popular animal. 2) The Scorpion Queen sets a new world record.
Yeah, Bryan really knows how to celebrate the holidays.
On that note, we here at Pet Show would NOT like a hippopotamus for Christmas, though we love the song. We simply don’t have back yards big enough.
Merry Christmas!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- - Chinese pandas settle in Taiwan. (page 9a)
- - Oklahoma City affirms push to save animals.
- - Movie review: “Marly” a fetching film for dog lovers.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Having turkey for Christmas dinner
Like many others, Roger and Marianne Barron want to have a turkey for Christmas dinner. 
Actually, it’s not like everyone else. The English farming couple has grown so attached to their Christmas turkey that they decided to set him a place at the table rather than on the table. Terance the turkey separated himself from the rest of the birds at the Barron’s turkey farm by being fearless and becoming the alpha turkey of the group.
The act endeared Terence to the family, so he got a reprieve this year. While the Baron’s eat one of his mates, Terance will sit at the table and eat grain.
Merry Christmas, pet lovers!
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Free calendar – Tuesday!
The first person to comment wins this 2009 calendar! (Don’t remember what we’re talking about? Read this.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
So a reindeer walks into a bar…
You best just accept the fact that it’s Christmas and you will be treated to these kinds of stories for much of the week on this blog. 
Gordon Elliot who lives north of London, gets quite a response when he takes his pet reindeer for walks to the fast food joint or the local bar. Dobbey, who has 3-foot antlers, follows Elliot virtually everywhere, especially around Christmas. The man hand reared the renideer, along with many other animals, at his farm.
Unfortunately, reindeer antlers tend to fall off around early December, but that doesn’t mute the response when Elliot takes Dobbey for a Christmas walk to see local children and visit local schools.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets need extra care during the cold
Turns out, animals can get frostbite, too.
I have two dogs, and they’re like me in a lot of ways. They can be impatient, loving, curious, sleepy – a full range of emotions. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that they, like us, are susceptible to the changing weather.
Oklahoma weather is just ridiculous. Just this month is was 70 degrees one day and snowing the next.
But unlike us, pets can’t add extra sweaters or gloves – unless you put them on.
The ASPCA gives these 10 tips for keeping your pet safe through the cold winter months:
- - Keep your cat inside.
- - Bang loudly on your car hood in case cats curl up in your engine for warmth.
- - Don’t let dogs off leash during snow or ice. They can lose their scent and become lost.
- - Wipe sleet, snow or ice off your pet when he comes inside. The precipitation could have antifreeze or salt he could ingest.
- - Don’t shave your pet down to the skin.
- - Don’t leave an animal in a car alone. Your vehicle acts like a refrigerator, holding in the cold.
- - Consider paper-training puppies during the winter because they are much more sensitive to cold.
- - Clean up any antifreeze spills in your driveway. It’s deadly to animals.
- - Make sure your pet has somewhere warm to sleep.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
