Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

Meet Byron.

On first appearance he looks like your typical golden Labrador. But an article earlier this week from the Daily Mail introduced readers to what really is a seven-year-old Super Dog.

Byron’s owner, Kate Cross, suffers from Ehlers Danlos syndrome, an inherited disorder that affects her joints, skin and blood vessels. As the article explains, her joints are so weak that she could dislocate a shoulder just from opening a door.

About five or six years ago, Kate’s emotional state began to suffer. She’d been forced to take early retirement from her job as a schoolteacher and had basically sought refuge in the safety of her home. As she says in the Daily Mail:

'When I first got Byron, I hadn’t left the house by myself for almost 18 months. I felt useless, and I hated going outside – people stared and didn’t know how to speak to me.

"Once, I was in my wheelchair going through the park, when a gang of teenage boys playing football decided to use my chair for target practice. I was so upset, I couldn’t imagine going out again. I became afraid of the world."

Then she heard about Canine Partners, a charity that matches assistance dogs with people who need help. Now, thanks to Byron, Kate not only has an easier time with her day-to-day activities but also feels free again. “Byron hasn’t just changed my life; he’s given me my life back,” she says.

Byron knows more than 100 different commands and is able – among other things – to:

• open and close doors
• load and unload the washing machine
• make the bed
• take money out of the ATM (Kate just has to key in her pass code)
• help with the groceries by fetching items from the lower shelves, loading the conveyor belt and handing Kate’s purse to the cashier

A best friend, indeed.

Over to you: how much of a rock star is Byron?

You carefully track your kids around the playroom, armed with your point-and-shoot camera, waiting for that magic moment when they'll hold still for one second. Just. One. Second. Pleeeease? Hold it, and snap!

You got the shot, only to review it a few seconds later and find that's it's a whirl of blur. Artistic, maybe. But not exactly something you can send to Grandma and Grandpa. It happens to the best of us, doesn't it?

Whether you're an amateur or a professional, mastering a few photography basics can make more of your snapshots worthy of framing and displaying. The following pro tips from Toronto-based photographer, Jennifer Pearson, will help you to take better photos starting...now.

1. Motion
It may seem counter-intuitive, but holding your camera as still as possible, while tracking your moving subject, can keep your subject in focus. That's what I didn't do right in this shot:

Moving traffic on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway blurs while the sunset remains clear with a steady hand. Photo by Jen Melo

Had I tracked the traffic with my camera as it zoomed by, I could've gotten a clearer shot of the cars, but that probably would've blurred the lovely sunset. And so, I learned, every shot is a photography lesson.

According to Pearson, manually adjusting camera settings in favour of a quick shutter speed (choose a higher number) can help you to capture your action shots at their best. And that's probably what I should've done to get a clearer shot of the zooming cars. Noted for next time.

But video just might be the best way to capture the action, so consider shooting video clips too. Had I spent more time with my new Panasonic Lumix GF3X's instruction manual, I'd have known that it has an auto-focus function that can lock its focus on a subject while in video mode, and gradually shift its focus to another moving subject at my fingertip's command.

2. Lighting

Light and shadows add dimension to my treasured hibiscus bloom, non? Photo by Jen Melo

Whether you're shooting with a flash indoors or outside in natural lighting, know where your light is and pay attention to those shadows.

When photographing outdoors seek "open shade," a photographer's trick for ensuring a flattering photo. Position your subject under an awning for example, with the sun behind you, and over your shoulder. This magical lighting can help make your subject's eyes look bright and vivid while eliminating squinting and distracting shadows.

When shooting indoors and flash is too harsh, consider manually adjusting your camera's exposure setting or directing the flash upwards, "bouncing" it off a low, light-coloured ceiling.

3. Framing
"Pay attention to your background," says Pearson. "It can make or break your shot."

Look for simple and/or interesting backgrounds like a brick wall, for example, to make your subject stand out. For picture-perfect results, look for natural or architectural borders and frames such as archways and door frames.

You can find plenty of framing options at playgrounds too, but if you want to avoid having a bunch of strangers' kids in your shot, follow Pearson's advice: "Get there early."

4. Composition
Experiment with the rule of thirds. Break up your frame into thirds vertically and horizontally. As you look through the viewfinder or at your camera's LCD screen, align your subject with the lines or place a focal point such as a person's eyes where the lines intersect. "It can make for a more interesting shot," Pearson explains.

5. Creativity
With digital photography enabling you to photograph and delete without incurring film and photo processing costs (remember those days?), dare to try various approaches and unleash your creativity. Alternate close-up shots with wide shots, people and objects, to help tell a story. Use photo filter options (if available on your camera) and see your photos in new and different ways.

More expert photography tips:

• Play with angles. Shoot from above, below and on the same level as your subject.
• Forget the fake smiles and try some candid shots. Avoid instructing, "smile!" before every shot. Some of Pearson's most "soulful" portraits come from natural facial expressions, free from coaching.
• Use the grid feature on your camera's view, not only to work with the rule of thirds, but also to use the straight lines as guides. Say goodbye to crooked shots of horizons or tall buildings.
• I've said it before but it's worth repeating. Read your camera's instruction manual and take time to get to know your camera's settings. There could be plenty of unexplored features just waiting to turn your photos into wonderful works of art. Or at least some answers on how to find that shutter speed setting that'll help you to get that perfect portrait of your active child.

Motion shots are my biggest challenges so some of my favourite subjects -- kids and pets -- are commonly the sources of my photo woes but I'm learning more with every shot I take.

And now, I'd love to hear your thoughts on your most common photography challenges so please post a comment below. Would you rather photograph a squirmy two-year old or a hyperactive dog? How about shooting both the dog and the kid together? I welcome -- and look forward to -- your photography tips.

“Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

February is Heart Month, and Global Pet Foods is asking you to open yours to the homeless animals in your community.

(image via Wikipedia)

Their seventh annual Show Us Your Heart campaign aims to raise money for local animal shelters. Each Global Pet Food store across Canada has chosen a local shelter to support, so any money you donate goes directly to the homeless pets in your area.

Here are just a few places that will feel the love:

• In Sydney, N.S., ABAS Society, an animal rescue for abused and neglected dogs
• In Saint John, N.B., Earth Spirit Horse Rescue, a group dedicated to saving horses from abuse, neglect and slaughter
• In Aurora, Ont., North Toronto Cat Rescue, a volunteer-run, no-kill and no-release shelter
• In Saskatoon, New Hope Dog Rescue, a network of foster homes for dogs
• In Crossfield, Alta., animal rescue shelter Tails to Tell

So how do you get involved? There are several ways:

1. Visit your local Global Pet Foods store between now and Feb. 14 to donate in person. (Global and Hill's Science Diet will give $1 for every donation they receive.)
2. Text “heart” to 20222 to donate $5.
3. Make a donation via their Facebook page.

Last year's campaign ran for just one week and raised $100,000. Here's hoping even more animals are reached this year.

Here’s a question to ponder: If you’re an airline, how do you simultaneously accommodate passengers who wish to fly with their cats while also ensuring that people who are allergic to the animal don’t suffer?

Oh, just cancel my flight. No way the plane has this much leg room (image via Wikipedia).

It’s a question Air Canada, Jazz and WestJet have been mulling over since late last year. In December, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ruled that the airlines had to modify their policy on allowing cats in aircraft cabins. (The policy counted a cat in his crate as one piece of carry-on baggage.)

The decision came about after three passengers who suffer from severe cat allergies issued a complaint. The CTA ruled that the airlines must do one of two things:

• ban cats from being on the same flights as passengers with severe cat allergies (“severe” in this case meaning respiratory problems, not just sneezing and a running nose); OR
• upgrade all of their planes’ air filters AND ensure a five-row buffer zone between travelling cats and passengers with allergies.

And the solution doesn’t appear to be as simple as people just leaving the family feline behind while the rest of the gang flies to Maui for a sunny holiday. For some people cats act as “emotional support animals” – basically, they’re not only a pet, but also a service animal. As such, the animal is permitted on the flight as long as the passenger can provide a note from a certified mental-health professional.

Having had time to consider their options, Air Canada finds its hands tied. As reported in The Calgary Herald:

“Air Canada says that with the exception of its Dash-8 fleet, it is ‘prepared to implement the accommodation suggested by the agency’ – namely, to upgrade the air quality and to create a cat-free buffer zone of five rows between a person with a disability as a result of their cat allergy and cats carried as pets in the cabin.

With its Dash-8 fleet, Air Canada said cats who are deemed as pets would not be carried when there is a passenger ‘with a demonstrated allergy to cats that amounts to a disability.’

But a ban on a cat classified as an emotional support animal on Dash-8 flights could put the airline ‘in breach of other legislative requirements.’”

So, indeed, what’s an airline to do? Let Fluffy fly, but be prepared to revoke his boarding pass for some Dash-8 flights (and if he does fly risk the possible – but probably unlikely – scenario of the cat breaking free from his crate and commandeering the cockpit). Or keep Fluffy grounded and risk breaking the law.

Do you travel with your pet? And what do you think of this situation: Should the rights of the passenger with allergies come before the rights of the passenger who requires the presence of their pet to travel in comfort?

A recent TV special introduced viewers to Danielle Tarantola, whose answer to "Would you clone your pet?" was a resounding yes.

Dolly isn't the only animal to have been cloned (image via Wikipedia).

Three years ago, Danielle's beloved dog named Trouble died. To say she loved her dog would be an understatement: he was both "the love of my life" and "like a child I never had."

In the three years since Trouble passed away, Danielle’s house has remained a shrine to him – a drawing of his likeness encompasses an entire wall and she has yet to throw out anything that was once his, including his toothbrush and toothpaste, the water that was left in his bowl and a piece of chicken that would've been his next meal.

On the TLC special “I Cloned My Pet,” she talked of how she went to South Korea and paid $50,000 to have her dog cloned. (South Korea is the only country where the cloning procedure on dogs is available.) Danielle now has a genetic replica of her beloved pet. His name? Double Trouble.

I’m having an even harder time wrapping my head around this than I did with the idea of pets getting plastic surgery. Yes, the cloned dog would be a physical twin, but his personality wouldn’t be the same. And don’t the most meaningful memories you have of a pet come from who he is, not from what he looks like – his habit of cosying up with the cat for a shared nap, or his tendency to steal your slippers and hold 'em for a king’s random of doggie treats.

I’m curious about what you think. Would you clone your pet?

OK, that's not exactly an earth-shattering revelation.

According to a survey by U.K.-based website PetNet360.co.uk, 70 per cent of the adults they spoke with say that seeing a cute photo of, or hearing a funny story about, a pet cheers them up.

(image via Wikipedia)

This news seems like as good a reason as any for our second cute pet video round-up. (Not so much cute pictures, as cute moving pictures?) We start with one that's been viewed a mere 86 million times…

I'm usually sound asleep when the "Late Show" comes on, but I'll move my bedtime back a bit for Stupid Pet Tricks.

Mama cat snuggling her baby tight. I'm sure a couple dozen of the views on this one are by me alone.

Is there a video or photo that does the trick for you? Or is there a story about your pet that always cheers you up? Please share in the comments below.

If you find yourself missing Morris during the day or wondering what Whiskers is doing to pass his time…then, maybe?

Let me tell you about the Kitty Twitty Cat Toy, a step-by-step DIY project from Make magazine.

The Kitty Twitty (photo courtesy of Make magazine)

It's the brainchild of Mark de Vinck, the magazine's director of product development. After being asked by his wife one too many times for a report on their new cat, Chester, Mark designed a device that would let the cat update her himself.

Anytime Chester swats a bird tantalizingly suspended from a wooden box, a switch inside the box posts an update to Twitter that Chester is playing with his new toy.

It's certainly one way to know that your pet cat isn't sleeping his entire day away. And as resourceful as cats are, typing their own tweets may be stretching it. (Well, expect maybe for this cat.)

If knowing every time your cat plays isn't your ball of yarn (sorry!), you could instead connect the device to his food bowl to make sure he's eating his lunch (and no doubt, his multiple snacks).

Next on the agenda for world social media domination: Skype (image via Wikipedia)

What do you think? Is this a cute way to stay connected to your cat during the day? Or is it just a little too much information? And if you decide to make this, let me know how it turns out (pictures welcome!).

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway for the pet gift basket.

I loved reading all the stories of how your pets became a part of your lives.

Image via Wikipedia

As for the winner of the Iams basket, I'm going to let the Random Integer Generator decide that one.

And our winner is:

Congratulations, Penny! I'll be in touch with more details.

Thanks again to everyone who entered.

Since 1999 the Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign has helped
5.8 million orphaned animals in 21 countries.

The goal this year has been to help 1.5 million homeless animals find homes from October 11, 2011, through January 3, 2012.

If you've been thinking of adding a four-legged member to your family, check out Facebook.com/Iams to search for adoptable animals near you. (In Canada, there are as many as 250,000 orphaned animals.)

Even if you already have a litter – or are unable to adopt a pet – you can still help our furry friends out by donating a bowl of food to an animal shelter; find out how here.

Iams is how happy to offer a gift basket (value: $100) to one pet-loving reader. In it, you'll find:

• Full-value Iams pet food coupons
• Pet bed
• Pet picture frame
• Pet treat holder
• Disposable poop bags and holder
• Food dish
• Cat litter scoop
• Pet stocking

For your chance to win this pet gift basket, please leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, telling me how your pet became a part of your family. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to residents of Canada only. Not open to any TC Media employees or the people they live with. I'll randonly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, January 4, 2012.

Still looking for something for the animal lover on your Christmas list?

How about making them an Animal Guardian? Costing only $30, your contribution will support the Humane Society of Canada's efforts to protect pets (such as dog, cats and birds), horses, farm animals and lab animals.

As a thank-you, you'll receive a certificate of appreciation acknowledging your support of animals and their environment, a fact sheet on how your money will be used and a cute stuffed toy.

A plush toy will be a nice reminder of the real animal you're helping (overly decorated Christmas tree not included).