PET SUMMIT.

A forum for dog lovers,owners, academicians,nutritionist and pet researchers, all came together to learn,rub minds and exchange ideas. Purina’s commitment to offering a forum of ideas is commendable. In a similar vein, the company hosted another notable event on November 7—a free live video cast of the Family Dog Project from Hungary—with over a dozen presentations by leading scientists and animal behaviorist exploring everything from canine cognition to sensory perception in dogs. Like the Pet Summit, it was a fascinating collection of concepts and dialogue, enriching to everybody who participated. The afternoon offered a room full of experiential exhibits—interactive displays that provided lessons in healthy environments, cognition, reading your pet, nutrition and your pet’s purpose. Manned by teams of experts, the well designed displays presented an immersive course in Dog and Cat 101. I’d love to see the exhibits showcased to the general public, those most in need of education and guidance in the proper care of pet companions.Read more about event here; http://thebark.com/content/better-pets-summit

ZEOLITES FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT IN DIARY FARM.

• Waste management is an important issue in livestock, with each producer looking for a better way to manage waste. The biogas has been implemented in some farms now the use of Zeolites is another option. Dean Swagger is a dairy man, with a dairy herd of approximately 4,000 head, handling manure in a way that is friendly both to his neighbors and the environment is a key priority. That’s why he has partnered with Mario de Haro-Marti, University of Idaho Extension educator in Gooding County to test different methods for handling dairy waste. De Haro-Marti specializes in dairy and livestock environmental education.One the new methods that shows promise is a zeolite filter to remove ammonia and odor from a dairy manure flush system’s pit. Swagger Dairy has a mix of flushed free stalls and open lots. The collection pit receiving the flush water was capped during the summer of 2015. Gases were collected using a fan with variable frequency drive connected to floats and then passed through a self-contained pressurized zeolite filter. Zeolites are highly absorbent porous minerals, composed largely of silica and aluminum. They are useful for their ability to capture and hold a variety of undesirable materials, much like a sponge absorbs water. Zeolites have long been used in water filtration systems or in aquariums. Preliminary results from three replicated on-farm trials showed that the ammonia levels were reduced from 53 to 92 percent in 2015. Odor emissions were also reduced by 45 percent. The project was funded through a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant. Based on those results and what he observed during the trial period, Swagger believes the zeolite filter worked but he’s not convinced it’s a solution for everyone. Read more here;http://magicvalley.com/business/agriculture/research-shows-new-options-for-manure-management/article_4f7f55cd-0648-5ca9-ad77-cf80feb8d125.html

THERAPY DOGS FOR PATIENTS WITH ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

Researchers in Saskatchewan say regular visits with a therapy dog can improve your mental health and well-being. A team went to three addictions and mental health treatment sites in the Saskatoon Health Region and spent six months at each one.Therapy dogs have often been praised for their abilities. In this particular study, the words from the adult clients, staff, and observers speak volumes. According to the researchers, one staff member reported, "Client rolling in grass laughing while dog was licking her, snuggling. Heard the client state, 'I love you. I want to take you home.'" "I could see it on her face the love she felt from [the therapy dog]. She kept on smiling during her entire session." "The meeting was more than I thought it would be," one client at the Calder Centre said. "Animals are in the moment and live each moment in the present. It was a nice reminder." "The word love was said many times. With the one-on-one experience the person felt comfort — able to open up," an observer cited in the research project said. "I could see it on her face, the love she felt from [the therapy dog]. She kept on smiling during her entire session.""The dogs can have an impact on an individual's healing journey in a multitude of ways, from providing comfort through to increasing therapeutic alliances with service providers," Dell said in a news release. Read more about research here;http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-researchers-praise-dogs-healing-therapeutic-1.3322183

READING DOGS HELP CHILDREN STUDY.

“Reading” Dogs Help Children Learn | The Bark Reading is indeed fundamental, but for many, acquiring the skill is daunting. Fortunately, thanks to some innovative programs and cooperative dogs, the challenge is getting easier to meet. Across the nation, dogs are lending their ears, and thousands of children who need extra help with reading and interpersonal communication couldn’t be happier. Imagine this scene, described by Brooklyn’s Good Dog Foundation founder and executive director, Rachel McPherson: “For each session, the dog and the child-tutor settle down onto a blanket-covered pad on the floor in a corner of the school media center or in the library. Either the dog picks out a book or the child selects a picture book, brings it to the dog, holds it flat and begins to read.” Though the children believe they are teaching dogs to read, in fact, with the dog as a comfortable, attentive audience (and an occasional gentle assist from the dog’s adult volunteer partner), they are actually teaching themselves. As far as the child is concerned, however, reading is about the dog, not about the child. No pressure. No embarrassment. No humiliation. Learn the technique and those involved;http://thebark.com/content/reading-dogs-help-children-learn

VETERINARY MEDICINE : Diabetic alert dogs.

Diabetic-alert dogs, Orion is a Labrador Retriever who has been trained at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars. Orion was trained by Canine Hope for Diabetics to do his job, which is to detect odor changes that indicate a low blood sugar level and alert Domi. When Domi is awake, Orion alerts him by pulling at the bringsel (which looks like a small foam roller) that Domi wears at his waist. That’s the cue to Domi that he should check his blood sugar, which he does 15-20 times most days, but around a dozen times before, during, and after each game in addition to the rest of that day’s tests. When he is asleep and his blood sugar drops, Orion wakes him up by barking and jumping on him. If that doesn’t rouse Domi, then the dog will use his paws to wake him up with some well-placed contact to the face. Low sugar levels in his blood can be especially likely after a late-night game, so Orion’s tenacity about waking him up is especially critical at those times. Orion travels with Domi to all their games so he must be able to handle the air travel, the huge crowds, hotels, the ice rinks and the generally complex and crazy life of a professional hockey player. One challenge for anyone with a service dog is preventing other people from petting him or otherwise distracting him while he is working. All the other players along with coaches and other staff of the Arizona Coyotes know that they cannot interact with Orion when he is working. When he is off duty, though, he is just as friendly and loving as you might expect, and everybody cherishes the time they get to spend with Orion when he is not working. Domi treasures all his time with Orion and is grateful for how much easier it makes it to concentrate on hockey. At only 20 years old, he’s arguably the best rookie in the NHL, so any fan of Domi or his team should appreciate that, too.Read how he got Orion;http://thebark.com/content/professional-hockey-player-and-his-service-dog

5-STAR HOTEL FOR YOUR DOGS.

Traveling? need to board your dogs? imagine this in your neighborhood.A 5 star hotel for your dogs,every need is attended to and they have their own bed and flat screen TV. The dogs are given royal treatment @ 200 dollars a night!! Thinking of a business in the pet industry? boarding is just a part of pet business. Read here for details of how the hotel operates;http://www.businessinsider.in/At-this-New-York-City-pet-hotel-dogs-can-sleep-in-suites-bigger-than-some-Manhattan-apartments/articleshow/49794435.cms

2-LEGGED DOG GETS WHEELCHAIR FOR MOVEMENT.

- A puppy born without his front legs is rolling into a new life with the help of a new 3-D printed wheelchair.Tumbles was rescued from the cold when he was just 2-weeks-old, according to Friends of the Shelter Dogs in Athens, Ohio. The little guy has been able to adapt and scoot across the floor using his nose and back legs, but a veterinarian recommended he be fitted for a cart so he can build muscle in his back legs more naturally. The puppy got a new lease of life by using a wheel that allow movement easily.See more here;http://abc7.com/pets/meet-tumbles-2-legged-puppy-gets-3-d-printed-wheelchair/1085244/