Although I have devoted much of these pages to dogs and cats, I want to give our other wonderful animals and pets some mention also.

As I said on my previous pages ALL of our animals and wildlife need our love and protection. This includes mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and even insects, for every one is a very special creature and adds something special to our world. Each and everyone has a very special place and function on earth. And although some people may feel squeemish or intimidated by some of them, the truth of the matter is that they WILL not harm you unless they or their young are threatened by you.

So the next time you meet up with a snake, mouse or spider, don't assume that it is ready to bite you! Easier said than done you say.... but if you just let the creature go on its way it WILL go on its way! There is no reason to destroy any creature just because we may not like them, or because they have gotten an unjustified bad reputation

HORSES
Since I have never owned a horse I cannot offer any advice on the care or treatmet of horses. I do however LOVE them and have found some very interesting links on horse care.

Another great site for all kinds of horse info is ACME PET

RABBITS

Another animal that I have never had the pleasure to own is a bunny! So again I cannot give advice on the care and raising of them, but I have found out some very interesting things about them.

Rabbits CAN be spayed and neuterd, so once again, be a responsible pet owner and SPAY and NEUTER.

Please do not de-claw your rabbit! Rabbits are not like cats who can retract their claws when the don't need them, therefore this operation is even more painful for them because they have to walk on the surgical area all the time. They do not have raised pads like cats do to walk on. AND, rabbits need claws for traction. If you remove the claws they will have a very difficult time getting around on a smooth surface. This in turn can lead to leg problems for your bunny. And most important if you remove his claws he cannot scratch himself. Imagine how cruel this would be to your bunny!

Some rabbits can have very adverse reactions to Amoxicillin, which is a common antibiotic. Before you give your pet ANY medication please consult with your veterinarian.

One of the sad things about rabbits is that they are sometimes bought for children at Easter as a gift without the understanding that they require lots of love and care too. Then after the holdiay is over they are disgarded and unwanted by the children who grow tired of them when the novelty wears off. Please don't buy or give your children rabbits unless you and they are prepared to CARE for them. They are living creatures, not toys that can be ignored or disgarded!

And another atrocity that happens quite frequently is the selling of baby rabbits at flea markets and yard sales. This is fine if they are treated humanely and sold only to responsible adults. However this is not always the case. If you see any evidence of this at any of the flea markets etc. that you visit PLEASE report this immediately to your local law officials or humane society. Overcrowding and inhumane conditions for any animal is against the law and punishable! As I said before don't assume the next person will report it.. YOU do it!

For more info and lots of great links about rabbits to toHouse Rabbit Socitey

Birds

I have had the wonderful pleasure of having several pet birds while growing up, mostly parakeets, but since I have not really owned any type of bird again I cannot offer advice on how to care for them.

I do feel that like rabbits many birds are purchased as a novelty and when they are no longer a novelty they are released to the outside. This is INHUMANE. If you feel you cannot take care of the bird please try to find a worthy home for it. There is an excellent organization that originates in Texas but offers to help anyone in the US with this type of problem. If you have such a problem you can try the Pet Birds Rescue page for more info on how to contact them. Domestic birds such as parakeets and exotic birds cannot survive on their own when released. Don't make your pet, whether it be a bird or other, pay for your mistake.

Did you know that some caged birds are afraid of the dark. Try a night light or leaving the front of the cage uncovered. --American Animal Hospital Association

Amphibians & Reptiles

These are probably the most misunderstood and most feared creatures. I have never actually owned one but I believe that that they too are beautiful and deserve our respect and love. No one would run faster from a snake or lizad that I would but I would NEVER harm one. We must try ot accept these wonderful creatures and give them their part of the world too.

Many would say that they make excellent pets and I would probably agree if I owned one. However, the sad part again is that many people get these creatures for pets and find that they have made a mistake and then don't know what to do with it. This is especially true with snakes. And again it is INHUMANE to release any type of pet reptile or amphibian just because we cannot take care of it. How many times do we hear of boas being found in people's basements or houses that have been released by its owner. These unfortunate animals are just trying to survive and end up being destroyed.

Please DO NOT get one of these type pets unless you are sure you can care for it and give it the love and attention it deserves.

An excellent link for more info about amphibians and reptiles is ACME PET

A great site that I found that was dedicated to Iguana care that I found very interesting and informative wasIguana Care

FISH Last but not least are the beautiful fish, and again the problem with fish is that they DO require a lot of care. Most people buy fish and think that they will take care of themselves. But aquariums do need cleaning and care in order to have humane living conditions for your fish. Setting up an aquarium can be an expensive and time consuming project so be sure you know all the necessities before deciding on this type of pet. Because again, you cannot just dump them out if you cannot care for them. They too are creatures and deserve our love and respect.

If you are thinking of getting fish a great site to visit isMining Co. Aquarium Page

An excellent site that I foundon goldfish care isThe Place for Goldfish Lovers