Get in to the Oklahoma City Zoo for FREE next week!
Admission is free to the Oklahoma City Zoo on July 17. Here’s some more information from the good folks at the zoo:
We thank you, Oklahoma City Zoo supporters, for all you do! Tuesday, July 17, 2012, marks the twenty-second anniversary of the 1/8 of a cent dedicated sales tax being passed by Oklahoma City citizens for the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, and to celebrate, the Zoo is offering free admission to all on Tuesday, July 17.
Passed by Oklahoma City citizens in 1990, the sales tax has made numerous capitol improvements possible at the Zoo including Great EscApe, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, the main entrance facility, the Canopy Food Court, Oklahoma Trails, the Children’s Zoo and the Elephant Habitat. Moving forward the sales tax will help fund a new animal hospital slated to open in 2014.
“We are extremely grateful to the citizens of Oklahoma City for their ongoing dedication to the Zoo. The significant support we receive from the community enables the Zoo to continue to grow and strive for excellence in our mission of conservation, education, research and recreation; while becoming a world class attraction that Oklahomans are proud to call their zoo.” said Dwight Scott, Executive Director/CEO.
Take advantage of the free admission and make plans to visit the Zoo on Sales Tax Appreciation Day, Tuesday, July 17. Group reservations are not required. Regular prices apply for all rides and attractions.
Visit Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top three zoos in the country as named in the 2012 10Besties Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. The Oklahoma City Zoo is a proud member of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages three-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free.
Now through August 26, the Zoo is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Morning Zoo Rise. Guests can take advantage of our late Saturdays through September 1, and stay and play until 8 p.m. All guests must leave grounds at closing. Become a Zoo fan at http://www.facebook.com/okczoobg or follow us on Twitter @okczoo. To learn more about these and other happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.com.
Snakes and spiders and lizards, oh my!
As most of my friends know, I have quite the collection of pets. Unlike my co-author on this blog, Carrie, dogs are not my only exprience with pet ownership.
This is thanks mostly to my lovely wife, Sarah, who brought to our relationship a blue and gold macaw named Melvin and various other small birds. I also bought Sarah a cat as a birthday gift a little over a year ago. In addition to our three dogs, one cat, Melvin the macaw and various small birds, we also own a collection of reptiles.
Elizabeth the bearded dragon
I’ve always been interested in reptiles, but Sarah was a true enthusiast, and we soon began keeping snakes. We have some little milk snakes, but my favorite reptiles are our lizards. I have always wanted a bearded dragon, and we got one a few months ago, along with some leopard geckos.
Our most recent additions came last weekend at the Oklahoma Herpetological Society’s reptile show. We bought a male mate for my female bearded dragon. Their names are Elizabeth and Andy. We also got a second breeding group of leopard geckos.
These shows are a must for anyone who has in interest in exotic animals. In addition to lizards and snakes, you can find various turtles, frogs, tarantulas, scorpions, centipedes, and most of the other little critters that often make people squirm.
Reptiles certainly aren’t the most common or popular type of pet, but I would encourage everyone to give them a chance, particularly the lizards. Bearded dragons and leopard geckos have a lot of personality and are a lot of fun. The main thing to consider when buying a reptile is to do your homework and know what you are getting into.
Happy (top) and Poseidon the leopard geckos
Large snakes aren’t for everyone and can be dangerous to those who don’t know how to handle them. Stay away from large pythons, paricularly the reticulated, Burmese and African rock pythons, unless you are an experienced snake keeper. Ball pythons, corn snakes and milk snakes can be good pets and require a fraction of the work of dogs, cats and small mammals like hamsters.
Iguanas are also a handful and should not be taken on by those who don’t have the means to care for them property. They need huge enclosures, expensive ultraviolet lighting and can be a bit cranky if not socialized. Leopard geckos and bearded dragons are a better choice for someone looking to take on their first reptile. They need a heating lamp or pad, and a few feeder bugs at least twice a week, but they are harmless, do well being handled if done with care and will keep you entertained as they cruise around their enclosure.
So don’t be a hater like Carrie. Give the creepy crawlies a chance.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Another reason to quit
Secondhand smoke is bad for the lungs, whether it’s human lungs or animal lungs. (Can you believe cartoon characters used to smoke? No wonder kids started smoking!) Here’s some information the Oklahoma City-County Health Department sent out today:
While the effects of secondhand smoke on human health are well known, there’s also evidence that smoke-filled rooms can cause serious health problems for pets. “Most pet owners probably don’t realize that if they smoke they’re putting their pets at risk of debilitating and deadly diseases,” says Mary Pointer of the Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition.
The Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition will host a booth at the Dachshund Dash this Sunday to provide information for pet owners about the dangers to pets from secondhand smoke.
Research over the past twenty years has found that dogs and cats living in households with smokers may be at significantly higher risk from a variety of cancers. “Secondhand smoke can cause oral and nasal cancers, as well as malignant lymphoma in animals,” says Oklahoma City veterinarian Dr. Richard Mauldin.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, dogs with long noses are the most vulnerable to developing nasal cancers associated with secondhand smoke. “That’s one of the reasons we are reaching out to dachshund owners,” Pointer says. “All pets may suffer health consequences from tobacco smoke exposure, but dachshunds and other long-nosed dogs appear to have a higher risk of nasal and sinus cavity cancers.”
Short-nosed dogs are at greater risk of lung cancer from tobacco smoke. “In short-nosed dogs…less filtration of cigarette smoke occurs in the nasal cavity than in long-nosed breeds,” says University of Massachusetts School of Public Health professor Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, who conducted several studies on the effects of smoke on dogs and cats. That’s why collies, greyhounds and Dobermans are more likely to get nasal cancers, whereas pugs, boxers and bulldogs are more susceptible to lung cancer.
Other research shows that cats may also be at much higher risk from oral cancers related to household tobacco smoke. That’s partly because cats spend a lot of time grooming. When cigarette smoke settles out of the air, it can leave behind deposits of cancer-causing chemicals on floors, walls, furniture, bedding and cat fur. Scientists have identified more than 40 distinct mutagens and carcinogens in secondhand tobacco smoke.
To help celebrate “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month,” the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition is making a special effort to help make the public aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke for pets.
“The best way to protect your pets from tobacco related diseases is to avoid smoking around them,” Pointer says. “And of course it would be even better to avoid smoking altogether- to protect your own health as well as the health of your pets.”
For more information on the coalition or secondhand smoke, please call (405) 419-4247. For free help with your effort to quit tobacco use, please call the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at 1-800 QUIT NOW.
And moments later, this showed up in my inbox from the American Legacy Foundation and the ASPCA:
If you are a smoker and love your dog, there is one VERY important thing you can do to save Toto’s life and yours too: quit smoking. A growing body of research – including the Surgeon General’s Report – shows there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke – for humans and for animals.
An estimated 50,000 Americans lose their lives to secondhand smoke (“SHS”) annually and 4 million youth (16 percent) are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. A number of studies have indicated that animals, too, face health risks when exposed to the toxins in secondhand smoke, from respiratory problems to allergies and even cancer.
Toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats, along with allergy and respiratory problems in other pets. One recent study shows that nearly 30 percent of pet owners live with at least one smoker – a number far too high given the consequences of exposure to SHS.
In honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April, Legacy and the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) are challenging pet owners to quit smoking for their pets’ health. They are asking smokers with pets to “take it outside” or even better, kick the habit altogether.
“While most Americans have been educated about the dangers of smoking to their own bodies and their children’s, it is equally important that pet owners take action to protect their beloved companion animals from the dangers of secondhand smoke,” said Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, President and CEO of the Legacy, the national independent public health foundation dedicated to keeping young people from smoking and providing resources to smokers who want to quit.
The ASPCA, one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organizations in the world, lists tobacco smoke as a toxin that is dangerous to pets. “Tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans,” said Mindy Bough, Vice President of ASPCA Animal Poison Control. “Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause many of the same harmful inflammatory changes in the airways and lungs of dogs as their human counterparts.”
“Nicotine—found in cigarettes and other tobacco products—is also highly toxic to animals if ingested,” said Bough. “A dog that accidentally eats tobacco may develop weakness, decreased breathing rate, and could possibly die. The ASPCA strongly recommends keeping your pet away from tobacco as well as secondhand smoke.”
Legacy and the ASPCA are optimistic that pet owners who smoke will be motivated to quit once they learn about the dangers of SHS to their pets. At the very least, smoke outside and preserve the lungs of your two- and four-legged family members.
Legacy provides resources and information to smokers who want to quit for good through a national campaign called EX® – as in EX-smoker. EX encourages smokers to approach quitting smoking as “re-learning life without cigarettes,” which may include putting that cigarette out the next time you take Toto for a walk! For more information visit www.becomeanex.org. To join or view the community of smokers who are quitting for their pets, visit: http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/groups/27185/quitting-for-our-pets/.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – smacking the shark
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Bashing shark saves girl. (New Zealand)
- Groundhogs not welcome. (statewide, page 1D)
- Bee sting helps MS patient feel better. (nationwide, page 2D)
- Exotic pets stalk viewers. (nationwide, page 1D)
- Dear Abby: Older man questions whether to adopt a dog. (Nevada)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – coats for pets with coats
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman -
- Pets need to find warmth when weather turns cold. (statewide)
- Nature center plans activities. (Norman)
- Nonprofit groups adopt former police horses. (Tulsa)
- Animal case gets new twist. (Texas)
- Parties vote back U.S. beef important ban. (Taiwan)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Dogs are funniest … not on purpose
So just in case you were wondering, dogs outshine cats when it comes to wins for America’s Funniest Home Videos. I’m not sure that’s a good thing, though. Most of the time winners on America’s Funniest Home Videos have either done something ridiculously stupid or just been hit in the groin.
The show marks its 20th anniversary at 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC. (Read more about TV on the NewsOK Television Blog!)
And in honor of their anniversary, show officials calculated all the animal winners during the past 20 years. Dogs finished first with cats close behind. But there are all kinds of other animals that have won. (Who knew whales could be funny? And who knew that a praying mantis would win not once but twice?)
- 1 ANT
- 3 BEARS
- 22 BIRDS
- 1 BULL
- 1 CAMEL
- 34 CATS
- 1 CHIMP
- 1 DEER
- 136 DOGS
- 1 ELK
- 1 FERRET
- 1 FISH
- 1 FLY
- 1 FROG
- 4 GIRAFFES
- 4 GOATS
- 1 GORILLA
- 1 GUINEA PIG
- 3 HAMSTERS
- 4 HORSES
- 1 KANGAROO
- 1 LIZARD
- 2 LLAMAS
- 5 MONKEYS
- 2 MICE
- 1 ORANGUTAN
- 1 OSTRICH
- 2 PRAYING MANTIS
- 5 RACOONS
- 1 RAM
- 1 RAT
- 1 RHINO
- 1 SEA LION
- 1 SPIDER
- 1 SNAKES
- 9 SQUIRRELS
- 1 TARANTULA
- 1 TOAD
- 2 WHALES
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
All hail the scales!
If you’re into things that hop, slither or hang out under a shell, check out this event from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Thursday at the Midwest City Library, 8143 E Reno.
Come join the Oklahoma City Herpetological Society on the first Thursday of each month at the Midwest City Library! If you are interested in reptiles and amphibians, these meetings are for you. The OCHS promotes the scientific study and conservation of herps, emphasizing regional herpetology. This is your chance to learn about herps, and even show off your own. Any properly caged, nonvenomous reptiles or amphibians are welcome. For more information, call Larry Daniel at 737-8331, or send him an e-mail at jostoy1@aol.com.
The event is free and open to all ages.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Name that monkey
OK, let me just preface this by saying I have no clue what this baby capuchin monkey is doing in this picture from the Little River Zoo. That aside, here’s the news …
This female capuchin monkey was born May 3 at Little River Zoo, and officials there are looking for a good name. The naming contest is open to children ages 5-15. The entry deadline is Aug. 1. Entries can be made at the zoo or online. The winner receives a membership and gets to have his or her picture taken with the monkey.
Here’s some more info from Little River Zoo about capuchins:
Capuchins are the smartest of all the monkeys. Their life span is around 40 years. Unfortunately, they are often purchased for pets when they are very young, and then many good-intentioned owners come to realize how these monkeys do not make good pets. “Many of the monkeys brought to the Little River Zoo came from previous private ownership,” said Janet Sadler, Director/Co-founder of the Little River Zoo. “The zoo then introduces these monkeys back into family groups so they can live as normal a life as possible.” All the primates at the zoo were born in captivity, as the zoo does not take animals from the wild. Capuchin monkeys share and practice deception which are both signs of intelligence, and recent research indicates they also understand the concepts of justice and fairness.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Bom Bom’s backache
Goodness! We have a lot of stuff to catch up on since we all left for the holiday weekend. Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Friday -
- Bugs cause mighty problem on road. (Enid)
- Historic role awaits cattle group’s leader. (Waurika)
- Turtle Obama heads to sea. (Florida)
- Gorilla’s back pain is a medical mystery. (Oklahoma City)
- Zoos plan to reunite two sea lion brothers. (Tulsa, Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Responsible snake ownership
An unfortunate story out of Florida last week brings up an issue I feel very strongly about — responsible snake ownership.
A 2 year old girl in Oxford, Fla. died when an 8 foot pet Burmese python owned by her mother’s boyfriend escaped from a terrarium and strangled the child to death.
My girlfriend, Sarah, has a pet store, and reptiles are one of her specialties. She’s always been a big fan of snakes and lizards, and I too am fascinated by them. Sarah doesn’t carry Burmese or reticulated pythons. Both species are common in the pet industry, and they grow to lengths of 15 feet or more.
What people don’t realize is that owning a snake that size isn’t much different from owning a leopard or grizzly bear. They are capable of hurting or killing a human and should be kept only by professionals or others who are very experienced.
If you are interested in keeping a snake as a pet, I would highly recommend sticking with something smaller. Corn snakes and king snakes grow to about five feet. If you want a python, try a ball python. They look similar to larger pythons but stay a manageable four feet. All of these snaked tend to have good temperaments and make good pets.
Because they stay a reasonable size, they also can be kept in a decent-sized aquarium. Larger snakes need huge enclosures that can be very expensive.
If you insist on owning a large snake, do your homework and know what you are getting into. And for goodness sake, keep the snake in a secure area where it absolutely can’t reach children.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
