Update

Well, its been a rough couple of weeks at our household.

First we decided that we were not the right family for TJ. After much debate, argument and tears, we started the quest for a new home for her. After many emails, phone calls (both to references and prospective new homes), we found her a wonderful loving home. I am very grateful for that.
While I miss her terribly...I am certain that she is loved and spoiled in her new home with her new family.

Second...the anole that was found has since lost his battle to recover from the time 'out' without food, water or proper heat. We had him for just over a year and while he wasn't a "hold-able" pet, he was fun to watch and will also be missed.

I just hope that we are done losing pets for a long time. I worry from time to time about Yukon and Shyan - they are both 11 and are both my firsts. While they both received a clean bill of health from the vet this spring, I can't help but worry that they will come down with some strange illness or weird happening. However, so far, so good and most of the time I fully expect several more years with each of them... I am not ready to let either of them go over the bridge just yet.

Puppy Yummies!

I haven't had too much to blog about lately. Things have been relativly quiet around here, which is both welcome and relaxing!

I am posting one of my dogs' favorite recipes (my cats' too, for that matter).
Let me know how it works out for you.

Turkey Treats

• 2 cups cooked turkey -- cut up • 2 cloves garlic • 4 teaspoons grated cheese • 1 tablespoon parsley --freshly chopped • 2 egg • 2 cups whole wheat flour • 2 tablespoons brewer's yeast • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil


Combine turkey, garlic, cheese, parsley and mix well. Beat the eggs in a bowl and pour over turkey mixture. Add the flour, yeast, and oil. Stir until thoroughly mixed and all ingredients are coated. Drop into small lumps onto ungreased cookie sheet. Cook in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes, until brown and firm. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

He's back!!

In the last post, I told about Iskybibble and how he got me "hooked" on reptiles. One of the benificiaries of that is my green anole - who for some reason doesn't have a name... We have had him for a year now.
However, he has been missing for the past 2 weeks and I was convinced that he was a gonenner...even took his cage apart and everything.
Then, I get a call a work from my husband telling me:
"I found one of your wild animals. Its in a jar on the counter"
"Is it a lizard?" I just knew he had found the anole.
"yes." Yay! It is the anole.

The rest of the day, I was thrilled, my little buddy was back. I was perplexed too... what had he been eating and drinking for the past two weeks????
Apparently nothing.

He was is so skinny now...I feel so bad for him.
I have him in a new, more secure cage and am happy to report that he is eating and drinking once again and totally looks like he is going to pull through this little adventure of his.

I think he should be named now... any ideas?

Snakes, Dragons and other lizards

I have always had an affinity for animals, all animals really, but ones with fur most of all. I have shared company with all sorts of furry creatures; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, etc. It never really mattered to me, I liked them all. What I wasn't fond of was anything with scales (excluding fish) and feathers.

That was until about 6 1/2 years ago. My step-son Paulie had moved into an apartment of his own and in his 18 years of wisdom decided that it was the perfect time to bring a baby ball python into his home. 'Ok, whatever'. That worked great until he then decided that maybe living on his own wasn't as great as he thought it would be.

So, now what to do with this snake that his step-dad decided couldn't come along for the free room and board deal? Hmm what to do with him??? Now if he was a kitten, I wouldn't have given it a second thought, he would have a forever home.

But he wasn't a kitten...he was a snake; an icky, slimy snake.

After much debate and looking for a place for him to go (apparently, petstores do not like to take them back) it was decided by my husband that the baby snake would be able to stay here - just until we find another place for him to go.

Yeah, that was 6 1/2 years ago. In that time, we have learned to feed him (frozen/thawed, of course), to keep him clean and healthy, and yes we have even grown attached to him.

Iskybibble (that will be a whole 'nother blog) has paved the way for anoles, bearded dragons and other assorted lizards.

I have officially become a reptile enthusiast.

I still don't do feathers though (sorry Kathy)

Pets and money

Have you ever sat down and added up what you spend on your animals per month? I mean everything: food, bedding, toys, housing, litter, vet care? Have you? NOT ME!!!



I need "plausible deniablity". I need to be able to look my husband in the eye and tell him that the animals aren't that big of a financial strain. And as long as I can manage to space everything out, they aren't.



However, its weeks like this one where EVERYONE needs food that the expense of having them becomes all to apparent.

For example:

the dog needs food: 20.00

the puppy needs food: 20.00

the cat needs food: 10.00

the dragons need food: 10.00

Just food for just those animals: 60.00



Keep in mind that total doesn't include the fact that the puppy needs to be spayed in a coupld of weeks (yeah, that right now is going to cost me 115.00) or litter for the cat, rat food, snake food, etc.



If you have cost saving measures, I would love to hear them... leave me a comment!

Dogs and Cats Today

Ok, I'm just going to get this out of the way right now. I am shamelessly promoting my website... http://www.dogsandcatstoday.com/ at the moment it is a storefront for an Amazon directed store that is filtered for pet products.

That is, however about to change and the website will be geared toward information. The types of stuff that I will be putting there, will be directly related to this blog, only BIGGER!

So, please be sure to check the site out, visit often and please give me feedback!

Thanks, ya'll

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the first installment of my new blog: Lifes a Zoo!

I guess that I should start with introductions. Ok, I am Karen, wife and mother. I have two young children - Wyatt (he is my thinker) and Josie (she is my do-er), they definately keep me busy.

However, they don't keep me even close to as busy as my other "kids". As of last count, we have 23 individual animals in our care (keep in mind, that includes the fish), they break down to (I believe) 8 species of animals.

A quick run through:

2 dogs (Yukon, 11 - TJ, 5 1/2months)

1 cat (Shyan, 11)

1 snake (Iskybibble, 6 1/2)

2 rabbits (Shiney and Rabbit, 3)

3 rats (John, Cinderella and Prince Betty, 1 1/2)

2 bearded dragons (Jasmine and Jesse, 7 months)

2 hermit crabs (these guys have never officially been given names, but have lived here 1 1/2yrs)

7 convict chiclids

1 gold fish

1 rosy red

1 newt (Zeke)

Yup, thats everyone!

My goal for this blog is to be a place where I can share information, fun and helpful information with you. A place were we can commincate with eachother about our pets, children or both!