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The Scoop: There's Less to Love With Micro Pigs

PetSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:50:15 -0700

It's a pig party! Now we've seen cute little oinkers here, before but the latest pet craze over in the UK are micropigs, bred down from a mixture of the miniature potbellied pig, Tamworth, Kune Kune, and Gloucester Old Spot varieties. Fanciers say they can be easily litter-box trained, grow equivalent to a medium-sized dog (45-60 pounds), and are fine for allergy sufferers since they have hair not fur. There are a couple catches: they must be sold in pairs - double trouble? - and, at this time, only overseas.

Do you think micropigs will eventually make it big, or should I say small, Stateside? Just don't go making any swine flu jokes around the lil ones.

Farm Animal Art: E-I-E-I-Ohhhhh!

PetSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:00:03 -0700

I may not peruse the halls of the MoMA every weekend, but I can appreciate art when I see it. Especially when the subject is animals! Artist Federico Uribe was inspired by ordinary objects to make these amazing farm animal sculptures, which are now on display at a Colombian gallery.

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Take this cow for example - made up of soles from hundreds of shoes, they were molded and shaped to look like grazing livestock. But Federico doesn't stop at footwear. He's using mops, belts, and office supplies to complete his work. Check out a few more examples in the gallery above!

Creature Features: Pygmy Goats

PetSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:00:55 -0700

So a pygmy goat walks into a bar . . . well, maybe not into a bar, but along the streets of San Francisco! Over the weekend I met this little pygmy goat in a trendy area of the city, and his owners couldn't be prouder. I'm not quite sure how you'd register a pygmy goat as a pet (or where you would keep it, and how you'd prevent him from eating all of your important documents), but he sure was cute. Not only cute, but he was personable - he walked right up to passersby and wanted to nudge and play with a few dogs as well!

What do you know about pygmy goats? Find out in this short and sweet quiz.

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Have You Ever Had a Pet Chicken?

PetSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:30:47 -0800

I vividly remember a childhood birthday party I attended at a farm where they had lil chicks in a plastic kiddy pool – they were unbelievably soft and sweet. It's definitely the most recent experience that I played with these downy animals, but also the last time I visited a farm. How many of you have owned chickens either as babies or as egg-laying, alarm-sounding adults?

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New Piggy Alert! Reese Witherspoon

PetSugar — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:45:44 -0700

That's right! Not a new puppy, Reese and fam took home a new piggy . . . and, seriously, how adoro is the little oinker?! While adopting a pig can be a challenge for many families – piggies need plenty of space to roam – if owners keep a close watch on their eating habits, a potbellied pig should end up weighing no more than 100 to 150 pounds. Methinks Atticus and Coco Chanel will have some new playmates for walks around the neighborhood! Check out piccys from their grand ol farm visit over the weekend when you read more.

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Pacific Coast News Online

This (New) Home: Eglu

PetSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:00:38 -0800

If you're dreaming of farm animals but you're lacking the farm, these enclosed homes are perfect for backyard egg layers! Your pet chicken won't feel cooped up in a classy eglu, and she'll have a detachable, fenced (fox-proof!) run for more strutting. Created by UK-based Omlet, there are two models – chickens and rabbits – offered stateside. Each chicken eglu ($515 including two birds and $495 without) includes a slide-out tray for cleaning, a roosting area, and a nesting box . . . if you're dreaming of omelets for real, you can run out to collect eggs from your own property and get started in the kitchen!

I'm happy to see a couple of these nice homes in the US and I'm hoping more will become available here soon. Last year, the company released that Eglu Cube (seen at the top left) and even offers useful Omlet courses run by an "eggsperienced egluowner" in England (ha!) to cover all the everyday skills required to look after your new feathered friend.

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The Sky Is Falling... So Take My Quiz!

PetSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:00:19 -0800

Wow, am I punchy in all this nasty weather!? Even though there are no acorns to fall on my head, rain and twigs are enough to make me think the sky is falling. As I'm scratching out a living here, I wanna know how well you recall chicken sayings – match the right phrase to the picture shown above. Are you scared . . . or I should I say chicken? Doing well will definitely give you something to crow about!

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Take the quiz

Farm Animals in Your Fam?

PetSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:30:20 -0800

Old MacDonald had a farm – do you? Some people are lucky enough to have the space to include outdoor animals at their homes or have had those farm animals as a kid. So, excluding those furry, feathered, and finned friends that live inside, I'd love to hear either what you have or what you'd crave!

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Bring the Outdoors In: Animal Themed Home Accessories

PetSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:11 -0700

After that fun Jonathan Adler pottery post I just couldn't get enough of the animal home accessories. So I dug up a few cute things from one of my favorite shopping inspirations, Charles and Marie and UK design shop Slam Design. I especially love the Dog Magazine Rack and fish drain stopper. Seriously, how cute is that!?

I also took a liking to the Deer Bookends, the Seal Coin Bank, and the Farm Animal Rubber Bands, and would totally toss the kitty pocket mirror into my bag. And just to throw in something for the outside of your home, there's a solar birdhouse that boasts a light-up perch. It's like a little porch light for your winged friends!

Furry Demonstration: What Is Prop 2?

PetSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:00:26 -0700

The fourth of November isn't just the day that we elect a new President, but it's also a day when we get to voice our opinions on a batch of new bills, propositions, and laws in our respective states. For those of us in California, there is one in particular that had a group of pooches and their owners barking. . . err, talking to folks on the streets recently. As a fan of all animals, this particular law hits close to home and made me want to get more information. Thankfully, there were a number of people on the street willing to talk me through it.

It's called Prop 2, and its goal is to help fight cruelty and inhumane treatment to farm animals. How?

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To find out the details of Prop 2, read more.

Talking to the people on the street, I got the lowdown on what Prop 2 would mean for farmers and their animals.
Prop 2:

Prevents cruelty by making sure farm animals aren't shoved into tiny cages that don't allow them enough room to turn around, lie down, and extend their limbs while being raised as livestock.
Improves food safety. By preventing animals from being confined to such close quarters, it helps reduce the number of diseases and germs that spread between them that can eventually make their way into our food.
Protects the air and water surrounding farms by regulating untreated waste that gets released into our ground water, waterways, and soil.
Gives farmers sufficient time – until 2015 – to shift from their confinement methods to more humane practices.
Other states like Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon have already passed similar laws!

It goes without saying that you should definitely research the bills that you'll be voting on in your state on your own, so that you can draw your own conclusions. Do you have similar bills in your state? What issues are you most concerned about this voting season?