Some of the most interesting people I've met in my years spent writing about pets are those who have turned their passion for animals into their life's work.
When you think about people who make their living working with pets, veterinarians, dog trainers or people who run boarding or pet-sitting businesses probably come to mind. And you'd be right -- these are among the most common and visible of people involved in caring for animals professionally.
But if you poke around at shows or on the Internet, or among those little ads in the back of pet magazines, you'll find a whole world of people who had a good idea for a single well-crafted pet product. Or maybe they have a handful of ideas, and they're working outside the realm of the big chain stores to bring these lovely items to the people and pets who most appreciate them.
They're not outside the superstore system entirely by choice, by the way. With their hand-crafted items they find it difficult break into the "big time," maybe because they can't handle the volume, can't meet the price, or both. So they eke out a living on the edges, providing a small but dedicated pet-loving clientele with some rather nifty goods.
I've run across two such products recently, made by small family businesses owned by people who seem passionate about their pets.
The first product is the Kitty Tease, made by John Galkiewicz's, The Galkie Company. His award-winning "cat fishing pole" toy has been going strong for 20 years. It's sold by mail and at pet shows and endorsed by veterinarians, behaviorists and cats everywhere. Galkiewicz sent me a sample, and it was everything he said the cheap ones were not -- it's made of high-quality materials for years of happy use.
"People ask me, what makes the Kitty Tease so special?" said Galkiewicz. "I tell them, 'it's because it's designed for a cat, not a person or a wallet.'"
Considering that more cats than ever before are staying inside -- a good thing, for their safety and health -- toys are very important to keeping them active and engaged. A toy like this is great fun for both cat and human, keeping the cat from becoming a couch potato and keeping the human from being the object of play attacks.
The Kitty Tease is $10, plus $5 shipping and handling from the company's Web site (www.kittytease.com), by phone (423-869-8138) or by mail (P.O. Box 20, Harrogate, TN 37752).
The Kitty Tease may be too pricey for the chain stores, but it's awfully cheap compared to the spectacular parrot play gyms made by Wayne Gagne of Wayne's Parrot Stuff (www.waynesparrotstuff.com; P.O. Box 848322, Pembroke Pines, FL 33084; tel: (954) 538-1994). That observation is not a knock on the gyms, which are large, wonderfully designed and sturdy play stations for parrots. They're handmade from the foot-friendly, chewable limbs of bottlebrush trees.
I might never have heard of Gagne's gyms had it not been for my friend Ben, whose macaw Courtney is crazy for hers. He told me her personality changes to happy, playful and animated, whenever she goes near it.
With my new parrot, I wanted to try the product out, so I ordered one, along with some toys. Two weeks later the gym arrived, and I set it up in less than 10 minutes. My experience has been the same as Ben's: My little parrot Eddie lights up when I put him on his play gym. He climbs, chews, swings and just loves the freedom of being out of his cage. When I'm home that's usually where you'll find him.
Prices start at around $200 for models made for cockatiels and other small parrots and go up from there, depending on the size and complexity of the play gym and the species for which it's designed. Gagne also offers some marvelous toys made from bottlebrush, cotton rope, wood, leather and other bird-friendly materials, as well as perches, starting at $6 for the smaller perches and climbing to around $160 for a set of toys and perches for large parrots. Great stuff, all of it.
PETS ON THE WEB
I've been meaning to mention the IMOM site (www.imom.org) for ages, after so many readers have pointed it out. Short for "In Memory of Magic" in honor of a special black cat, the site connects pet-loving people with a little money to give with those whose pets have treatable medical conditions they cannot afford to remedy. IMOM is a 501(c)3 charity, and the first person who wrote me about it was someone whose pet had been saved by the group.
THE SCOOP
Wayne Gagne of Wayne's Parrot Stuff passes along a nifty tip for containing parrot mess for easy cleanup -- go to the home-supply store and buy a pan designed for going under a water heater, at a cost of $15 to $20. Designed to contain leaks, the pans will catch anything and everything your bird drops, throws or ... well, you get the point. Buy a couple so you can switch in a fresh pan while you're cleaning the dirty one.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: I came across a book I thought was helpful in finding out which dog is the right one for people looking for a pet. It is "Paws To Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your Family" by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson (Warner Books, $23).
It lists information for each breed such as: usual pluses, possible drawbacks, height and weight, color, grooming, shedding, training, exercise, children, other pets, bite potential, possible health concerns and special comments. It also breaks down the breeds into categories such as: good dogs that are hard to find, the 9-to-5 dog, the family dog, etc.
I was interested in finding out about greyhounds -- all I had ever heard was good things. I know that all breeds have issues of some kind, health or behavior. This book gave me a good overview. It also helped me know about similar breeds that I may not have known about, such as the whippet and Italian greyhound. This will be helpful when I start looking for a new dog. -- N.M., via e-mail
A: This book is one of my favorites, too. So many breed-selection books seems to bend over backward not to offend people who fancy breeds that really shouldn't be in most homes (either because of temperament issues or such things as super-intensive grooming requirements). These authors pull very few punches, and their candor is just what someone needs before jumping into a breed that might be a horrible mistake for their family. It's an entertaining read, too!
I also like Michele Welton's "Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide" (Henry Holt, $16). That's because Welton's book contains some of the best information I've ever read on finding a reputable breeder and avoiding the other kind -- and why that's so important. The fact is, even if you choose the perfect breed of dog for your family, if you get a puppy from a less-than-reputable breeder, you've thrown your hard work out the door. There are scads of clueless and careless people out there who are producing purebreds with shocking health and temperament problems, dogs that will break both your heart and pocketbook. Don't support them!
Whatever kind of pet you're considering, it's so important to take your time and do your homework before making what should be a lifetime commitment. Books like these really help.
Q: Is there a solution I can mix with household supplies to keep the neighbor's dog from using my yard as his bathroom? Some spray that would deter the dog by the smell? My neighbor walks his dog to my back yard and allows him to go to the bathroom there twice a day. I have two German shepherds, and I clean up after my dogs in our own yard. -- D.A., via e-mail
A: Too bad there's nothing you can spray on your neighbor to change his irresponsible and inconsiderate ways. Beyond that, the best I can suggest is talking to him -- if you haven't tried that already -- and asking him to take his dog elsewhere, or a least pick up after the animal.
This is one of those cases where a good fence around your property would make a better neighbor out of this nitwit.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
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