Valley Life Pets Liane M. Roth, Editor, (661) 267-4230, [email protected] Antelope Valley Press, Friday, September 2, 2011 B7 COMMUNITY NEWS GREEN VALLEY Community swap meet set Green Valley Charitable Hall will have its semi-annual swap meet from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat- urday and Sunday . Vendors who would like to par- Pet food ticipate can come set up and pay $10 for the weekend. A country breakfast and lunch, labels hard along with maps to homes selling additional items, will be available at the hall. to decipher For details, call (661) 270-9534. By DR. MARTY BECKER LANCASTER and GINA SPADAFORI Activities at lodge Universal Press Syndicate Lancaster Moose Lodge, 44545 Division St., offers advanced line It sounds great when your dancing at 7 p.m. on Monday and dog’s or cat’s food is described as beginning to advanced line dancing “natural” or “organic,” doesn’t it? at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. It’s easy to imagine happy cows and The lodge will have dinner from chickens being raised sustainably 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday , followed on Farmer Jan’s property. by dancing to the Al Cooper Band. The real defi nitions don’t have For details, call (661) 942-0104. anything to do with how farm animals are raised or the quality of ROSAMOND the food, though. In the eyes of the Moose swap meet, barbecue U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the term “natural” does not have The Rosamond Moose Lodge, an offi cial defi nition. It simply 1105 Sierra Highway, will have a Robbie and Stephen Keszey of the Discovery Channel’s show “Swamp Brothers” will be appearing at the North American Reptile Breeders means that a pet food does not swap meet, barbecue, car and bike Conference and Trade Show opening today at the Anaheim Convention Center. Contributed contain artifi cial fl avors, colors or show and live band on Saturday . preservatives. The swap meet starts at 10 a.m. The Association of American and the $5 barbecue and other festivities start at noon. Feed Control Offi cials, a trade For details, call (661) 256-2657. organization that develops nutrient standards and ingredient defi nitions for pet foods, said a Socialize with veterans “natural” food or ingredient is The Rosamond Veterans of For- one that is made only from plant, eign Wars Post 9657, 1990 El Rey animal or mined sources and is St., has Happy Hour every Friday not produced by or subject to a from 4 to 6 p.m. featuring reduced chemically synthetic process. drink prices. Foods described as natural may For details, call (661) 256-9476. By LIANE M. ROTH Valley Life Editor not contain anything artifi cial, he North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade except in amounts that might occur PALMDALE Show kicks off with a special VIP reception sponsored by Reptile unavoidably during manufacture. Watch your neighborhood Magazine at 5 p.m. today and runs through Sunday at the The AAFCO said the term Palmdale will have a Neigh- Anaheim Convention Center. “natural” should be used only borhood Watch Orientation for TA covey of cold-blooded creatures will be invading the southland, to describe products when all of residents at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. organizers said, with an amazing exhibition and sale of pet-friendly the ingredients — not counting 6, in City Council Chambers, 38300 reptiles ranging from $5 to $75,000 and open to the public. chemically synthesized vitamins, Sierra Highway, Suite B. Everything from the common gecko to two-headed snakes will be minerals and other trace nutrients Residents are invited to learn represented by more than 100 dealers from across the country, with — meet this defi nition. about the program and how to thousands of frogs, iguanas, snakes, lizards, tortoises and of course, those No rules govern the use of the form and maintain a group in their charming geckos, available for purchase at the captive-bred-only reptile word “organic” on pet food labels. neighborhood. show produced by ECO Wear and Publishing and Chicago Reptile House, The term “organic” refers to the City crime prevention offi cers Inc. conditions under which plants were and L.A. County sheriff deputies “Nothing is taken from the wild,” said Brian Potter, co-owner of the grown or animals were raised. will facilitate the presentation. show along with partner Bob Ashley. Typically, foods that claim For details, call (661) 267-5170. “We have a showcase of stuff breeders have worked all year to produce to be organic may not contain that they are bringing to the table, tables and tables of stuff, all for sale.” ingredients that are genetically engineered or produced using Dinner at the Moose Lodge All things reptilian can be found during what Potter said is the second largest such extravaganza in the country, with dozens of vendors sludge or irradiation, or that The Palmdale Moose Lodge, hawking items such as carnivorous plants, T-shirts, hats, books on contain certain synthetic 3101 East Ave. Q, will serve a reptiles, cages and even electronic controls for temperatures and lighting substances, and they must be free hearty ribeye steak dinner begin- requirements to ensure these prehistoric-looking creatures can survive of sulfi tes, nitrates or nitrites. ning at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. in comfort. Products labeled organic cannot Donations will be accepted. All Herpetology experts will be on hand to answer questions, provide contain non-organic ingredients if proceeds go to Moose charities. information and share tips, secrets and wisdom, which means amateur organic sources are available. A live band with dancing is from collectors or those new to the fi eld as well as professionals can gain Feeding an “organic” or 7 to 11 p.m. valuable knowledge in an affordable arena. “natural” diet is no guarantee For details, call (661) 947-6207. Swamp Brothers Robbie and Stephen Keszey, stars of their own against contamination. It’s great show on Discovery Channel and owners of Glades Herps Farm, a reptile to look for foods that meet the Noted astronomer to speak sanctuary in Florida, will be appearing at the convention, Potter said. ideals you desire for a pet’s diet, The AV Astronomy Club will Potter said all the animals at the trade show have been checked for but it’s always a good idea to meet at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at compliance according to all federal and state laws as well as guidelines call the manufacturer — contact the SAGE Planetarium, 38060 20th information is required to be on See CREATURES on B8 A Crested Gecko blends with its surroundings. Bob Jensen St. East. the label — and ask exactly what Guest speaker is astronomer is meant by the terms “natural” or Dr. David Lynch, a senior scientist “organic.” with The Aerospace Corporation. — Kim Campbell Thornton He specializes in spectroscopy of Automotive coolant a deadly comets, novae, supernovae, young Side-splitting barbecue bash pet poison and very old stars. By LIANE M. ROTH Valley Life Editor Q: My two dogs lapped up some His topic is “Color and Light.” antifreeze that had spilled in the Admission is free. Rib-tickling fun is on the menu for the garage. I saw on the container For details, call (661) 972-1953. second annual Baby Back Rib Cookoff that it was toxic, so I took them to presented by the Quartz Hill Veterans of the veterinarian right away. They TEHACHAPI Foreign Wars Post 3000 Men’s Auxiliary on needed dialysis, and I was told Community to remember 9/11 Saturday, Sept. 17 at the post. my dogs could have died. Why is First Friday Art Walk, a month- Think you’ve got the sauciest ribs in antifreeze so poisonous to pets? ly downtown Tehachapi community town? Enter the cookoff and fi nd out if A: Antifreeze, or ethylene event, will commemorate the 10th your recipe is a winner. glycol, has a sweet fl avor that is anniversary of 9/11 from 5 to 8 p.m. The entry fee is $30 and applications attractive to pets and children. It today . are due by Monday, Sept. 5. is not toxic on its own, but as the CrossRoads Gallery, Gallery ‘N’ The cooking contest kicks off at 10 body breaks down the antifreeze, it Gifts, Tehachapi Museum, Te- a.m. with judging at 4 p.m.; prizes will be creates metabolites that are toxic hachapi Depot, Fiddlers Crossing awarded for fi rst, second and third place. to kidney cells. Those metabolites and other participating venues will Those who want to enjoy the fruits (or form oxalate crystals that damage have special displays, demonstra- ribs) of other folks’ efforts can stop by from and block the kidney tubules. The tions and tributes. 5 to 7:30 p.m., pony up $10 for baby back animals act drunk and become Live music, champagne and ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, beans and dehydrated. Then kidney damage refreshments will be available. cole slaw. sets in. Admission is free. Entertainment will be provided by a Unless pets are treated quickly, For details, call (661) 822-5242 disc jockey, organizers said, and the event they usually don’t recover from the or visit www.crossroadsgalleryteha is open to members and guests. damage done to the kidneys. chapi.com. The post is located at 4342 West Ave. L, In the future, choose a brand of Quartz Hill. antifreeze that contains bittering For details, call (661) 317-3076; (661) agents. To get your news on this 618-1959, (305) 1630; or VFW Post 300 at It may cost a little more and it page, send e-mail to (661) 943-2225 after 2 p.m.