Pets in the paper – Bark looking for bite

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – what’s new at the kids’ zoo

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -

 And for the stuff that was only photos …

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And go here to see cute pictures of dogs swimming in a Norman pool.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – an attack rescue

Check out these stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Horse Sense – brought to you by the Extension Service

smart-horseThose folks over at the Oklahoma County Extension Service are always doing fun things. Here’s one of their latest classes you can take.

Learning to care for a horse is no easy undertaking.

A whole lot goes into the care and maintenance of these animals,” stated Ray Ridlen, Agriculture Educator for the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service. “Anyone who undertakes the task of caring for one needs to know the challenges that must be faced.”

To help Oklahoma City area residents become more knowledgeable about the care and training of horses, the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service will offer a seven-week “Horse Short Course” this September and October.

Classes will begin on Thursday, September 10, at the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service in Oklahoma City from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will continue on each Thursday evening until October 22.

“We’ve set the program up so that the average horse owner or someone who is thinking about getting a horse can learn quite a bit about the management and care of their charges,” commented Ridlen, who will serve as one of the instructors for the course. “Some of the state’s foremost experts in equine topics will be speaking during this course.”

Dr. David Freeman, an OSU Extension Equine Specialist, will begin the course by talking about the basics of horse ownership and care. This includes an overview about the current horse industry, an assessment of production and use goals, and identification of operating expenses.

Other specialists teaching the course include Dr. Gene Parker, Area Animal Quality and Health Specialist, Dr. Justin Talley, OSU Extension Entomology Specialist, and Sherman Grubb, Creek County Extension Educator.

“We’ve set the course up so that each week the horse enthusiasts can learn quite a bit on a different subject,” Ridlen stated. “This program has been done in other places throughout the state and has proven to be a great help to horse owners.”

Nutrition, feeding management, pasture, fencing, forage production, pest control, breeding specifics, and even behavior principals for training are also courses that will be addressed in the seminar.

In addition to the in-class course work, participants will also visit a successful horse training operation in Yukon, OK, as they learn more about training principals from local breeder John Lethem.

“There shouldn’t be a dull moment in these seminar courses,” Ridlen stressed. “This should be the single-most informative class horse lovers could take to find out what they need to know about the care and management of horse stock.”

Horse ownership is not required for the course, since it has also been designed to help people to plan for a horse they plan to own in the future.

The seminar will be limited to the first 30 people and a pre-registration fee of $30 is required. For more information about the seminar, contact the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Center at 713-1125.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – taking the reins

Check out these stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – saying goodbye to Boz

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – a dog that tucks children in bed

Holy moly! I was out of town, so there’s lots of catching up to do. Here are the animal stories in The Oklahoma today, yesterday, Saturday and Friday -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


In memory of Boz

One of our favorite Pet Show guests, Boz, recently passed away. Boz, a boxer owned by Dr. Phil Mosca, was a therapy dog at Integris Southwest. You can read the original column I wrote about Boz last year. Also, here a video of a visit with our favorite therapy pup:

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Pets in the paper – baby zebra makes his entrance

Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll


Taco Bell Chihuahua Dies

gidgetThe dog who is best known for the Taco Bell commercials has died. I think Gidget may have been responsible for a jump in the popularity of her breed back when the commercials came out. Who could resist the cute pup spouting its desire for Taco Bell?

Gidget, who surprisingly was a female despite the male voice in the commercial, died of a stroke Tuesday night at the age of 15. Her trainer said Gidget really liked being on the set but prefered to sleep most of the time when she wasn’t working. She had a few jobs after her Taco Bell stint, including playing Bruiser’s mother in “Legally Blond 2.”

Sounds like she had a happy, productive life. Thanks for introducing me to the cuteness that is a chihuahua, Gidget!

- Staff Writer Dawn Marks