From Egg To Chicken… The Cycle of Life…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pet Owner’s Worst Nightmare: Florida Store Allegedly Sells ‘Defective’ Dogs

(Miniature Pinscher Puppy that was purchased from Wizard of Claws)

When Ed Webb brought home his newborn Maltese “Vanna,” he never expected that just weeks later he would be putting her to sleep.

The Humane Society is asking a Florida judge to certify a class action lawsuit against a company the group says sells defective puppies like Vanna to unsuspecting pet owners.

While the animal protection organization has long targeted breeders and companies that it believes mistreat pets and other animals, this would be the first class action lawsuit the group has filed in its 53-year history. A civil complaint was filed June 18 against Florida pet store Wizard of Claws for allegedly selling sick, mill-bred puppies.

“[Wizard of Claws] is a very bad actor but is an example of a nationwide problem,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of the animal protection litigation for the Humane Society of the United States. “In this case we had so many people — members and others — complain to us that we started looking at it.”

Wizard of Claws sells dogs from its Pembroke Pines store as well as on its popular Web site where celebrities like Sharon and Kelly Osbourne are listed as satisfied customers. With just a few clicks of a mouse, prospective pet owners can simply browse through a library of photographs and find the puppy they like the best.

Jim Anderson, the owner of Wizard of Claws, tells ABC News he’s innocent and is being unfairly targeted. Anderson says that his pet store is one of the best kennels in the world, and that he is the victim of the Humane Society’s vendetta against pet stores.

“Their goal is to close all pet stores in the country. They don’t want one pet store open,” Anderson said. “I have a model facility.”    

The civil lawsuit is part of a larger movement to toughen and enforce what are known as “puppy lemon laws.” These laws, which vary state to state, are designed to protect pet owners from purchasing sick puppies and ensure buyers get compensation for any veterinary bills. In some states, owners are given the opportunity to receive a replacement puppy.

But many pet owners don’t care about the money and are concerned solely about the well-being of their pet, some experts say.  

[via ABC News]

Outdoor lighting for any size yard

Summer is here and that means one thing – (no, not rolling blackouts) it’s time to go outside and enjoy your yard or patio. This is easy during the day, when the sun is shining and natural light is plentiful. If your outdoor areas are not properly lit, however, the setting sun can be like a countdown to pack up and head back indoors. For many regions around the country, the best time to be outside is at night, when the harsh sun has gone down and cooler temperatures prevail. The best way to enjoy warm summer nights is by having a yard that employs ample outdoor lighting.

There are lighting options available for any sized yard, whether you have a large lot or a cozier petite patio. Lighting larger outdoor areas usually means the use of a few different light fixtures and mixing them throughout your yard. Conventional wall-mounted or hanging lights work great under covered patio areas while weatherproof post-mounted lanterns and lights are ideal for corners of decks and anywhere else they can be mounted. If you have a solid perimeter wall, mounting wall sconces every eight or ten feet is a great option that adds light and also decoration during the day. For accent lighting, solar powered path lights are ideal for, you guessed it, paths, and also in planters and gardens. These solar lights use absolutely zero electricity and come in a variety of styles and finishes to suit just about any decorating taste.

Smaller yards and patios can employ many of the same lighting fixtures as larger lots, just on a slightly smaller scale. It’s important to keep smaller spaces uncluttered and to not overdo it when it comes to outdoor lighting. Sometimes a single wall fixture is all you need to provide enough light. Just as with larger yards, solar powered lights make great accent pieces and are generally very inconspicuous for small yards and patios. Be aware, however, that these fixtures don’t provide enough light to be used as primary lighting sources. They generally only emit a soft glow and therefore should only be used as accent lighting.

[via American Chronicle]

Durable Décor… it’s not just for the outdoors anymore

One of the hottest trends in decorating today is the concept of “the Outdoor Room.” In this process, the home’s outdoor spaces are decorated with fashion, design, and coloration while allowing for the ability to withstand the elements. Making this exterior decorating possible is what the industry calls performance fabrics and fibers. With the use of these fabrics, fibers and finishes, outdoor living spaces are becoming the showplaces of many homes. Why not take the features that make outdoor furnishings last long, look great, and feel relaxing and bring them to the indoors? Performance, plus fashion, plus comfort, equals durable décor… it’s not just for the outdoors anymore!

Performance – The use of performance fibers and fabrics is not a new concept. However, with the latest advancements and introduction of such revolutionary yarns as DuraCord®, performance has risen to a new level. Outdoor fibers are constructed to resist fading due to solution dying during the creation of the fibers. As in the case of DuraCord®, this type of fiber also resists staining due to a low moisture regain. Stains can not set in as the fibers are non-absorbent. Although the fibers work to resist mildew, cleaning still is a breeze with soap and water or with a bleach-and-water solution for tougher stains. The solution dyed fabrics and yarns are colorfast and are not affected by bleach use. How better to cover that indoor sofa than with fabrics that can sit in the window and never fade or cleanup with ease from that spilled wine during pizza and movie night?

Fashion – Bringing outdoor fabric inside used to mean color pallets of the many shades of twigs and moss. Even less was available in design choices. This just isn’t the case anymore as performance fabrics are now ablaze with coloration and original art designs. “Fabrics, like DuraCord®, offer beautiful original designs in multiple motifs, from bold stripes to intricate jacquard prints,” states Bill Rosso.

“Many styles give the customer the option of using the rocker, rugs or seating set anywhere in the home.” This versatility is due to the manufacturers following indoor color trends as much as outdoor trends.

Comfort – Until recently, performance outdoor fabrics and fibers have had the reputation of having a comfort level similar to sitting on Great Aunt Effie’s plastic couch covers. Not so now… all good décor, indoors or out, incorporates lasting comfort. Soft woven designs equaling the hand of cotton are available with durability as a bonus. Delustering and tazlinizing, or teasing, of the fibers in yarn creation results in this soft, perfect-for-curling-up, comfortable feel. “The softness feature is most requested in lounging furniture to outdoor rugs,” states J.R. Pelletier, manager of TheHammockCompany.com. “But lounging is not just found on the deck.” Retailers are finding that comfort coupled with durability is being requested for unique interior spaces such as libraries with large windows or busy bonus rooms.

Durable décor is not only a trend that is gaining popularity with homeowners nationwide. It also makes good sense. When it comes to pricing it is on par with indoor pieces with lead times often shorter due to seasonal demands requiring the stocking of inventories. The long-lasting, good-looking, and comfortable features found in decorating for outdoor spaces is finding its way to the indoors without any compromise on color, design, or comfort. Durable décor… it’s not just for outdoors anymore.

[via cherokeesentinal]

Dolphin calf dies…

At five days old, the calf born to deaf dolphin Castaway died of breathing complications on June 15 at the Florida’s Marine Mammal Conservancy (MMC). The male calf’s body was sent to a National Marine Fisheries laboratory for a necropsy, though the cause of death could not be determined.

Veterinarians stayed through the night to care for the calf after noticing it had difficulty swimming and breathing. “Everything was done that could have been done,” MMC President Robert Lingenfelser said.

Despite the loss, a marine mammal researcher said, the calf’s first sounds, recorded two seconds after his birth, could provide new information on dolphin communication. Jack Kassewitz of speakdolphin.com said this is the first time a newborn’s sounds have been recorded in isolation.

[via National Geographic]