May 19, 2013
Yappy Talk
Photo by Mary Spencer
YAPPY TALK Finicky felines need special food, care
If there is one thing I have learned about cats over the years, I firmly believe that each one is a completely finicky creature in his or her own way. Regardless of if it’s male or female, King or Queen, Prince or Princess, a cat makes his or her own rules, and “finicky” applies to people, food and beds (no cat I’ve ever owned had only one bed!). These, along with the multitude of other choices our furry felines must make every day, endorses ...
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Photo courtesy of petnewsandviews.com
YAPPY TALK Nutritional value essential for dog food
Ask any pet owner or veterinarian his or her recommendation for pet food, and you will get a different answer every time. Years ago, when I became the proud parent of my own first “Dallas dog,” my trusted veterinarian highly recommended any type of food made by Purina. At that time, Purina was THE expert and had been creating pet food varieties longer than any other manufacturer on the market. Today, with so many pet food chefs, connoisseurs...
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Photos courtesy of Hillside Veterinary Clinic
YAPPY TALK Veterinary clinic setting new standards
Several years ago, I experienced an extremely disturbing evening when my current foster (an adorable little Shitzu named Chloe) became lethargic – a complete 180 from her usual bouncy manner. Quickly, her listlessness shifted to an explosive diarrhea attack (not the most appealing thing to describe) in a deep red color. I knew this little furry girl needed help – FAST! Naturally I panicked, then hurriedly scooped her up in a towel, realizing t...
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YAPPY TALK Advocates strive for a no-kill community
Years ago when I first became entrenched in the world of animal welfare, the number of rescue groups or actual shelters (all working toward the same mission of saving homeless animals), was much smaller than today. Now, the world is a completely different place, with many unique animal advocate individuals, rescue groups and inviting, friendly shelters – all serving the purpose of saving lives in this overwhelming endeavor. Too often, many o...
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Photo courtesy of DFW Animal Rescue This puppy, named Justice by rescuers, was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire this past April. He died days later.
YAPPY TALK Animals suffer from domestic violence, too
Throughout the years, Dallas media has featured numerous heartbreaking stories of animal abuse. These real-life, ongoing occurrences run the gamut – pit bull puppies being set on fire, a dog wandering around for weeks with a plastic jug securely fastened on its nose, kittens left in sealed boxes to die, dogs left tethered in yards with no food or water, small dogs being stomped, shaken and drop-kicked across a room. Neighbors hear the crying d...
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Photo by Mary Spencer After being lost for four months, Miller the cat is finally reunited with his family.
YAPPY TALK Microchip – so Lassie can come home
What would you do if your pet suddenly disappeared? Perhaps you get home from a hectic day at work, only to discover that the yardman left the back gate open and little Roxy is gone. Would you become hysterical, alerting all your neighbors – but not quite sure what to do first to insure a safe return? Or, would you call 911 and demand assistance? Since 911 would tell you to call 311 (Dallas Animal Services’ number), you can skip that step and ...
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Jody Jones (left) with daughter Cassandra and Chunky Monkey and Liza.
YAPPY TALK City animal shelter exceeding expectations
What a lucky coincidence that “Yappy Talk” has fallen on the special day created especially for lovers – Valentine’s Day. Many year ago, as a child living in a fantasy world but growing up in a small country town, my Valentine’s Days were filled with chocolate candy from Dad, colorful sugar hearts from friends and a yearly contest of who collected the most penny cards with love-filled promises. As I grew older and my interests shifted from “bo...
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Photo by George Boyd
YAPPY TALK Be careful around nature’s uninvited guests
The Spencer household has always maintained a rather lax “Open Door” policy regarding guests – both two-legged and four-legged ones. In the past, Friday night Happy Hours were weekly rituals for anyone to drop by for a glass of wine, hang out and share the week’s events. With friends and furry family members, these Friday Happy Hours became evenings dedicated to everyone enjoying unwinding after a long week. However, now it seems that the Spe...
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Photo by Mary Spencer
YAPPY TALK Take care of yourself as well as you do pets
Flu season has most certainly arrived. Hardly a day goes by without hearing another devastating story of folks from all ages and sectors suffering from this epidemic. Which is why, every fall, most of my friends insist on practicing safe prevention by getting their flu shot, much like we did as kids with our moms for the newly discovered polio vaccine. I must confess, though, that I am not one of those people. My mother would roll over in her ...
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Photos of Charley by Mary Spencer
YAPPY TALK Pet’s love has lasting impact on owner’s life
As most people contemplate their New Year’s resolutions, I decided to approach this new year a little differently. Not that I don’t believe in resolutions; I actually jotted down a few myself. However, this year I chose to reflect on my 13-plus years as a foster parent to the more than 600 homeless animals in need who have shared my home and my heart. This reflection gives me the opportunity to count my blessings as someone fortunate enough...
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