Pets

Bring your buddy

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Senior living centers across the U.S. are accepting more pets

Shirlee and Nathan "Nick" Horowitz faced one serious health crisis after another before their doctor said they had to move into an assisted living center. They had only one condition - they weren't going anywhere without their dog.

Hundreds of retirement communities across the country now allow seniors to live with their pets and more and more keep house pets that provide the benefits without the responsibility.

As many as 40 percent of people ask about pets when calling A Place for Mom, the nation's largest senior living referral service, said Tami Cumings, its senior vice president.

When the service was founded 12 years ago, pets were seldom considered when it came time for older people to enter rest homes or skilled nursing homes, Cumings said.

Missing puppy found; reward not accepted

Ray Duckler — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Concord

Lab hadn't been seen in nine days

Browning, the 15-week-old chocolate Lab who went missing nine days ago, came home yesterday.

An unknown man returned the puppy to her owner, David Ramos, at Phoenix Auto Body on Manchester Street, one day after the puppy's tale was featured in the Monitor.

Ramos, the shop's manager, had been working nine days ago when Browning approached a man walking along the street. Quicker than you could say "doggone," Browning and the man, who Ramos believes is homeless, had disappeared.

The man returned to the auto body shop yesterday, asked if the dog belonged to Ramos and said he'd be back in an hour with her. He also repeated over and over that he hadn't stolen the dog.

"He said she followed him," Ramos said. "He said he thought the good lord sent her to him."

One hour later, after refusing Ramos's offer for a ride to the man's home and running south on Manchester Street, the man came back with the puppy.

Pet of the Week: April 28

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cassidy and Fiona are 2-year-old spayed female Beagle mixes who are looking for a home together. Cassidy, Fiona and other animals available for adoption can be seen at the SPCA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 753-6751.

Pet of the Week: April 28

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Pet of the Week

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Walker is a Shar Pei-Beagle mix who is looking for a home. Walter is a fun, sweet young boy who enjoys time outdoors with his nose to the ground exploring. He recently attended a local training class where he did great! Walter will make a great match for a fun, outgoing family that has lots of time and love to give to him. Walter and other animals available for adoption can be seen at the SPCA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m. For information, call 753-6751.

Pet of the Week

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Boomer is SPCA's longest standing resident

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Boomer is a long-haired, 5-year-old spayed female who is looking for a home. Boomer is the SPCA's longest standing resident at 78 days. She is a quiet soul who tends to be misunderstood. Boomer and other animals available for adoption can be seen at the SPCA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m. For information, call 753-6751.

Boomer is SPCA's longest standing resident

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cats, cats, cats! (and kittens, too)

Katy Burns — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Purrfect escape from political foolishness

I was decidedly cranky last week, and who could blame me?

Our crackpot House of Representatives had two brief shining moments of glory when it buried bills to ban gay marriage and to dot the New Hampshire landscape with low-rent video slot palaces. But it mostly continued its fact-free, anecdote-driven ways by voting to abolish the state university chancellor's office and mandating that no New Hampshire school can be approved by the state unless it "promotes state and national sovereignty and is not subject to the governance of a foreign body or organization."

Troubled zoo shaken after loss of a giraffe

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Indonesia

High death rate draws attention

The tigers are emaciated and the 180 pelicans packed so tightly they cannot unfurl their wings without hitting a neighbor. Last week, a giraffe died with a beachball-sized wad of plastic food wrappers in its belly.

That death has focused new attention on the scandalous conditions at Indonesia's largest zoo. Set up nearly a century ago in one the most biologically diverse corners of the planet, it once boasted the most impressive collection in Southeast Asia.

But today the Surabaya Zoo is a nightmare, plagued by uncontrolled breeding, a lack of funding for general animal welfare and even persistent suspicions that members of its own staff are involved in illegal wildlife trafficking.

The rarest species, including Komodo dragons and critically endangered orangutans, sit in dank, unsanitary cages, filling up on peanuts tossed over the fence by giggling visitors.