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Bellwether Magazine

Volume 1 Number 59 Spring 2004 Article 23

Spring 2004

Animal Crackers

M. Josephine Deubler University of Pennsylvania

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Recommended Citation Deubler, M. Josephine (2004) "Animal Crackers," Bellwether Magazine: Vol. 1 : No. 59 , Article 23. Available at: https://repository.upenn.edu/bellwether/vol1/iss59/23

This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/bellwether/vol1/iss59/23 For more information, please contact [email protected].

Animal Crackers “New”AKC Breeds for manatee identification. Thousands of photo- Petting Zoos graphs are stored in Gainesville, Fla. One docu- The black Russian and the Neapolitan Children are enchanted by face-to-face mented manatee has scars from 49 previous become eligible for competition in the encounters with animals, but there always is the run-ins with boats—the 50th killed the animal. working group at AKC shows on July 1, 2004. possibility of an animal transmitting disease. The manatee is a tourist attraction. Recent- On October 1, 2004, the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ly, there has been some controversy about their will be eligible to compete in the terrier group. has issued safety guidelines for events and facili- endangered status. New speed zones for Florida This will make 153 breeds with full recognition. ties that offer public contact with farm animals. waterways and areas where boaters would be The black Russian terrier was developed in These guidelines recommend providing hand- restricted or prohibited anger some groups. Russia in the 1960s for the national security washing facilities with soap and disposable There is an active Save the Manatee Club. force. Seventeen breeds were used in its devel- towels, prohibiting human food in the inter- opment, particularly the giant . It also Most Popular Breeds action area, and posting information about dis- has Airedale, Newfoundland, and ease that can be contracted from animals. characteristics. According to AKC registration figures for Outbreaks of illness can be caused by nail- The has existed in 2003, the Labrador , for the 14th con- biting, eating food, or other manners of touch- since Roman times. The mastino has a large, secutive year, is the most popular purebred ing the mouth after petting the animals. This unique head with skin hanging in exaggerated in America. The Labrador’s versatile nature can be prevented when proper precautions are folds. The move slowly with a bear-like makes him ideal for work or play. He is shown taken. Washing hands is an important requisite gait. Originally bred as a fighter, they are no in AKC events and used in , service for disease control. longer pugnacious toward other dogs. Stoicism work, and as a family companion. is a characteristic of the breed. Mastinos are At the other end of the list, the least- Pacemakers noble and devoted guardians. Recently, the registered purebred dogs are English fox- Implanting a pacemaker in an animal is not breed has been in the limelight as “Fang” in a , , harriers, American fox- unusual in veterinary medicine. A pacemaker is Harry Potter movie. hounds, and komondors. indicated in cases where the conduction system The Glen of Imaal terrier is an old Irish in the heart is diseased and thereby causes an breed used to hunt badger and control the Ownership abnormally low heart rate. Most of the pace- rodent population, and as a . The A recent survey showed that there are 64.2 makers used in animal patients are donated by breed was recognized by the Irish million pet-owning households in the United family members of deceased persons with pace- in 1934, several years before the soft-coated States. These include 77.7 million cats, 65 makers. Such pacemakers have plenty of bat- wheaten terrier. The breed gained a foothold in million dogs, 16.8 million small mammals, 17.3 tery-life left and can help a dog, cat, ferret, or the United States about 1980. Glens resemble a million birds, 8.8 million reptiles, 7 million other animal. Pacemakers can be sent to the heavyweight Sealyham. Accepted colors are saltwater fish, and 185 million freshwater fish Cardiology Service, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary wheaten, blue, and brindle. Another finding was that one-third of Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3900 Further information may be obtained at small-animal owners consider their pets as chil- Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. . dren or family members. Manatees Tribute to a Dog It is said the fossils suggest that manatees U.S. Senator George Vest wrote this tribute Cardiac Disease Screening have made their home around Florida for 45 in 1870.“The one absolutely unselfish friend Offered million years. These shy, chubby marine mam- that man can have in this selfish world, the one mals, sometimes called sea cows, eat aquatic veg- that never deserts him, the one that never Cardiologists at the Ryan Veterinary etation. An average adult is about ten feet long proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog. A Hospital offer clinics to screen dogs and and weighs 1,000 pounds. Manatees and man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in cats for cardiac diseases. Breeders and dugongs, a close relative, are believed to have poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep owners can make appointments for inspired the mermaid legend. Breathing through on the cold ground, where the wintry winds individuals and litters to be screened for their snouts, they surface to take a breath every blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he inherited cardiac defects. few minutes. In cold weather, they tend to may be at his master’s side. He will kiss the The screening includes auscultation, huddle near warm springs or power plants. hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the and if an abnormality is detected, further The manatee has been listed as an endan- wounds and sores that come in encounter with evaluation would be recommended. The gered species since 1967. Before they were pro- the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep clinics are scheduled for one day every tected, people killed manatees for their succulent of his pauper master as if he were a prince. other month, beginning in May 2004. meat. Collisions with boats are a leading cause of When riches take wing and reputation falls to To make an appointment, please call death for manatees. Propeller scars have a pat- pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in 215-898-4680. The charge is $40 per dog. tern similar to fingerprints and serve as a basis its journey through the heavens.”

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