Write You - Pets

Maintenance: A Change Opponent
There are many activities that oppose to change initiatives. Maintenance is one you probably wouldn’t reckon to fit the profile, yet it is a very powerful element fighting change propositions. And possible without the intention of doing any harm.Maintenance is the group of activities that are used to gradually upgrade... systems, buildings, cars and just everything else that is durable. Even knowledge can or should be maintained.A business example. There is this information system. It has been designed eight years ago and all consecutive years the system has thoroughly been maintained. New functionality has been added according to extra requirement that were necessary to handle the latest developments. Due to this conscientious maintenance the system could survive years with the continuous launching of new technology. Voices in the same company to build or even buy a new system have been parried and the maintenance budget increases even more.Think about the opposite of a situation where there is a complete absence of maintenance. House windows are a good example. When the paint peels off over time, and the wooden structure erodes, the window is due to replacement. And often maintenance-free-material like polyester or other synthetics replaces the traditional windows: “Hasta la vista windows!”But serious, “maintenance” and “change” are fierce competitors. They form a relation of which you should be aware but which also provides opportunities. The first thing to do when planning a change is to stop all maintenance. Another thing is to check the horizon when preparing for an investment. A more innovative attitude requires a short-term focus. High investments in maintenance erodes the innovation budget. And you cannot bet on both.© 2007 Hans Bool

explains the Pro’s and Con’s section, pigs may struggle for dominance to establish themselves as “top pig.” Except without any other pigs around, you or a very surprised houseguest may be the one they struggle with. This can get dangerous. (21)

The owners of Washington’s Pigs Peace Sanctuary also warn against premature pigging-out. Like Pigs, A Sanctuary, Pigs Peace Sanctuary is a nonprofit 501©(3) organization. Also like its kindred refuge, the Pigs Peace Sanctuary is dedicated to providing a safe home for unwanted, abused or neglected animals in need . Their online FAQ page reveals that getting easily bored is an aspect of the pig’s high intelligence, and this boredom can result in raiding the refrigerator and cupboards and ripping up clothing and blankets to make a bed. (22) Veterinarian Lianne McCloud, a veterinarian and About.com’s resident guide to exotic pets, advises teaching your pig rules and boundaries to thwart bad behaviors and giving positive reinforcement. “Consistent rules, praise for good behavior, and correction/redirection with lots of repetition and patience will help produce a well mannered pig with a good relationship with its family.” (23)While Pigs, A Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary sometimes adopt their pigs to suitable homes, Pigs Peace Sanctuary is more tentative: “High quality life long homes for pigs are hard to find and the adoption process is difficult,” relates their website. Pigs, A Sanctuary allows adoption of its animals, provided. They request filling out a written adoption application and require vet references. Farm Sanctuary also has high standards, so be prepared. “Adopters must be vegetarian. They have to have good vet references, proper facilities and fencing and a vet who can work with their pigs. That is the basic criteria for all animals from our shelters,” says Coston.

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Howard Lyman is an ex cattle rancher whose current objective is “to educate people on sustainability and the dangers of current methods of food production”. This is a wonderful website with plenty of eyebrow-raising info from impeccable sources. www.madcowboy.com

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

Travel Notes
The light was good and the day had dawned full of fresh hope as I left Brisbane and headed for the coast.It seemed like a perfect couple of days to get out of town and try out some fishing gear my Dad had given me.Over the past few months I had developed an interest in rock fishing around the Gold Coast area and was reciting to myself the rules I had heard time and again.Always fish with someone else. Never fish off rocks with a vertical wall behind you. Always wear a life jacket and bike helmet. Invest in some good rock climbing gear and crampon yourself to some rock hole which is secure.And here I was alone with no safety gear, ah well I would have a look at the waves at least before I started in case I needed to swim home.I had packed the swag as usually the weather could turn rainy and I had a couple of new books to read including Laborde’s Influencing with Integrity which I had been trying to get for years. Rain or sun I had a bit of camp food and was looking forward to a few days of peace and quiet.The first thing to do was to find a good spot to camp as with all the new rules you couldn't camp near the fishing spots and I wasn't that keen on setting the swag up in a caravan park full of families. I could get enough of that at home.Time to make a call to a bloke I knew who had a key to the government fisheries area and ask him if he needed some help with the research they were doing.Mid morning by the time I arrive and set up the swag and the rain has set in and the water looks a bit choppy so I decided to settle in under the tarp with a small bottle of rum and a couple of books.Looks like the fish will have to wait till later.

Calling someone a pig implies that they are dirty, greedy, or otherwise unworthy of our respect. Yet in reality the pig is clean, odorless, and smart. The more we discover about the history and mysteries of pigs, the clearer it is that they demand respect rather than inclusion in our recipes.

What is a Pig?

Beyond the cute curly tail and the portly body, what is a pig? Classification of animals begins broad and narrows dramatically. In the wider sense, pigs are grouped in the order Artiodactyla. This order includes 211 species. All are even-toed ungulates, meaning they have hooves. The order Artiodactyls is divided into 9 families. Hogs and pigs, which are synonymous, make up the family called Suidae. This hog-happy family has 16 species. What is a species, exactly? Michael Taylor, author of Pot Bellied Pigs as Your New Family Pet (New Jersey: T.H.F. Publications) simplifies the science with this definition: “A group of similar animals that will freely interbreed under natural conditions.” (1)

Distribution

The domestic pig that we’re all familiar with is called Sus Scrofa. Originally Scrofa and 15 similar species could be found throughout Africa, across Eurasia south of 48° N and on islands as far away as the Phillipines and Sulawesi. Where humans go, pigs follow. As a result of being introduced to almost every country (generally for hunting) pigs now star in Australia, New Zealand, North America and various islands.

Pig Personality

Writing about the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig in Rare Breeds Journal, Kiyoko Hancock says: “Each piggy has an amazing depth to his feelings, a real ability to communicate, and an affectionate nature coupled with a high degree of intelligence. (2) Although this comment is specific to the Vietnamese pot-bellied variety, these qualities are true of all domestic pigs. Wild pigs may also have these traits, but given humankind’s limited knowledge of many species of Suidae, whatever character distinctions these possess is sheer speculation.

The domestic pig is less of a mystery. Despite this, myths prevail. The most prevalent is that they are dirty. The reality is quite different. “They tend to keep themselves cleaner than most animals,” says the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. (3) Naturalist and author of The Whole Hog (London: Profile Books), Lyall Watson agrees. Recently he told the UK’s Guardian newspaper: “The first thing you learn when you walk with a pig for more than a day is that he has a latrine somewhere. That he will never do it anywhere else. In sties they don't have much choice." (4) What about their penchant for rolling about in mud? Far from being an indication of bad manners, this is an adaptive skill. Since pigs have few sweat glands they need this muddy moisture to cool themselves. It also serves to protect them from insect bites and sunburn.

Combine a lack of direct experience with pigs with pigs portrayal on television (think sweet-but-stupid Porky Pig) and it’s not surprising that most people are unaware of the pig’s intelligence. Yet pigs are intelligent. Like dogs they can be leash-trained, house trained and can learn tricks. Even circus tricks. Pigs are capable of walking on tightropes and jumping through hoops. They are capable of remembering things and can solve problems like opening a bolted door. (5)Other special traits include an advanced sense of taste. This is especially useful since their vision is flawed; having eyes on the sides of their head limits forward vision.

History

When did the pig transform from charging boar to peaceful pet? Many authors speculate that this occurred before recorded history. Yet the exact dates of this history are under debate. Juliet Clurtton-Brock; author of Domesticated Animals from Early Times (Enland: British Museum) believes that pig remains in the Pre-pottery of Jericho trace its relationship with man back to 7000 BC.(6) The World Conservation Union dates the pig’s Jericho domestication back to 8,500 BC and adds Europe, the Near East, southern Greece and north-eastern Iraq to pig-keeping places. Other experts contend that the fossilized records of pig-made hollows indicate that domestication began in the Far East around 11,000 BC.(7)

Fascinating yes. Specific no. More recently, detailed records highlight the specifics of man’s relationship with pigs. In his book, Nicobar Islands (New Delhi: National Book Trust), K.K. Mathur reveals the respect shown by this culture in India. He states that they “occupy an exalted place in the sentiments of the people”, enough for the Nicobarese to compose songs in their honor. Despite this the Nicobarese eat pork and hunt wild pinks. (8) The pet-to-pork transition can also be found in Asia and in Christianity. In Asia, both domesticated pigs and dogs were pets before they were meat. (9).

Mythology

Being that its hoofed feet have left muddy tracks all over the world, it’s not surprising that the pig has also left an impression in mankind’s mythology. A love-hate one, however. Egyptians, while believing pigs to be unclean, thought sacrificing swine to the moon and Osiris would be highly appreciated. Further south, in the ancient Asian area of Malaysia and the Philippines, pigs were though to support the earth yet also cause earthquakes. (10)

Irish folklore imbues pigs with psychic and healing powers. In Southern Ireland it’s long been believed that hogs can see the wind, and that walking three times around a pig cures illness. A pig-positive perception is also shown in the name of Ireland itself. One of the ancient names for this region is Muic-Inis, or “Pig Island”. (11)

Threatened Cousins

The domestic pig’s pink proliferation is in stark contrast to its relative the pygmy hog. Averaging 10 inches (20 cm) at shoulder height and weighing 26.2 pounds (11.8 kg), this native-to-India nest-dweller is aptly named. With less than 150 left, the World Conservation Union lists the pygmy hog as critically endangered. (12) This special species joins Sus barbaratus and Sus verrucos. Sus barbaratus is also known as the bearded pig. This large, grey, migrating pig is named after the rugged bristly hairs that surround his snout. Found in the islands of Southeast Asia, our bearded friend’s numbers are being chopped down along with his habitat. Adding insult to injury, since having his habitat destroyed drives him into farmlands to look for food, he is considered a pest. The 40,00- year-long practice of hunting him also demonstrates a lack of compassion. (13) Today Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), lists him as endangered.

Pigs as Pork

In The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig ( New York: Columbia University Press) author Claudine Fabre-Vassas reveals how from the Middle Ages to the present Christians have defined themselves through eating pork as much as the Jewish have distinguished themselves through not eating it. “The more we enjoy the piglet, the better Catholics we become,” declares one 18th century song. Although for Christians, serving pig as a main course has long been synonymous with serving God, before its’ slaughter the pig was a treasured family member similar to a child. Pig was welcome in the home, fed with care and cared for when sick. (14)

Although though Genesis 9:3 states that “every living thing will be meat for you,” it hastens to add, in Genesis 9:4: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” It doesn’t take a scholar or theologian to interpret this. Unfortunately people often interpret things according to their needs. Perhaps God was referring only to raw meat: One could argue that when cooked properly meat has no visible blood, so it’s okay to eat it. Or is it?

"With corporate hog factories replacing traditional hog farms, pigs raised for food are being treated more as inanimate tools of production than as living, feeling animals,” says Susie Coston. Coston is the Shelter Director for Farm Sanctuary With over 100,000 members, Farm Sanctuary is America’s leading farm animal protection organization. Their work ranges from legal and institutional reforms to hands-on rescue and refuge. Their 175-acre shelter in upstate New York and 300-acre shelter in northern California is home to over 1,000 rescued cows, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, ducks, geese and the star of this article…pigs. “Pigs come to us from many different situations. The largest portion of our current herd actually came directly from a factory farm in North Carolina- on their way to slaughter in Pennsylvania. When these pigs arrived most had very swollen leg joints, from standing on concrete. Most of the pigs came off of the truck walking on their knees- unable to stretch out their legs ful ly. It took months of intense physical therapy with some of the pigs to get them up on their feet again, but all did make it. Of the 40, 30 still reside here at the shelter.” That was 5 years ago. Today these same animals enjoy a warm, straw filled barn and their very own pond, not to mention the expansive pastures of Farm Sanctuary's essential estate.

Sadly, Farm Sanctuary's idyllic conditions are not the norm for farm animals. A September 30, 2005 report from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service states: “U.S. inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2005 was 61.5 million head… All inventory and pig crop estimates for September 2004 through June 2005 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.”(15) Sound cold? It’s appropriate language for a heartless industry. Today’s farming is big business, and business is booming. In 2004, the average American ate 221 pounds of meat and poultry, even more than 1990’s 199 pounds. (16) In the hog trade, 50 percent of American hog slaughter is dominated by 4 corporations. (17) Human contact is little more than being pushed into a transport truck for slaughter. Food, water and waste removal are automated. “In order for the industry to turn a profit on the low prices Americans have come to expect, most livestock are kept and slaughtered on factory farms, where animals eat corn- and soybean-based feed — 10 to 30% of which is often radically different from what the animal would consume naturally,” writes Jane Black in “10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You”, which was featured in the October 11, 2005 issue of Smart Money magazine.(18)

And that’s the sanitized version. In Freefarmanimals.org, a Farm Sanctuary website, expert testimony is given from sources such as the Journal of Animal Science. “The Welfare of Sows in Gestation Crates: A Summary of the Scientific Evidence”(19) reveals the horror of modern farm life. While there natural lifespan ranges from 12-18 years, a breeding sow exists for 5. For most of this time she will be kept in a stall. The National Pork Producers Council recommends that this be 9.2 to14 square feet, or approximately 2x7 feet and 3.3 feet high. (20)This does not allow enough room to turn around, but comfort isn’t the goal. Production is.

The sow will leave this gestation crate only for one month periods when it is time to nurse her piglets. This takes place in a farrowing crate, which is about as comfortable as it sounds. Explains Coston: “After being impregnated, the sows are confined in gestation crates — small metal pens just two feet wide that prevent sows from turning around or even lying down comfortably. At the end of their four-month pregnancies, they are transferred to similarly cramped farrowing crates to give birth. With barely enough room to stand up and lie down and no straw or other type of bedding to speak of, many suffer from sores on their shoulders and knees.”

Pet Pigs?

Since pigs are smart and trainable, why not keep them as a pet? Just like getting a dog or cat have different factors to consider, so does getting a pig. “Pigs are not maintenance free animals and are not as easy to care for as a cat or dog,” says the website of Pigs, A Sanctuary ; a West Virginia refuge for abused, abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals that specializes in the care of potbellied pigs and farm pigs. “Vietnamese potbellied pigs have been heavily promoted as house pets -- the Sanctuary does not endorse this belief and does not believe that pigs should be raised full time as house pets.” Considerations listed in the Pro’s and Con’s section of Pigs, A Sanctuary, include allowing for the size of a potbellied pig-often over 130 pounds. And if you take on this commitment be aware that pigs live between 12-18 years. During this time, explains the Pro’s and Con’s section, pigs may struggle for dominance to establish themselves as “top pig.” Except without any other pigs around, you or a very surprised houseguest may be the one they struggle with. This can get dangerous. (21)

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

Utilisation And Disposal Of Digested Sludge
After anaerobic digestion, the sludge would contain about 35% organic and about 65% inorganic material. The digested sludge contains about 2,5% nitrogen, about 1% phosphorus and about 0,2% potassium. In addition to these so-called macro-nutrients, the sludge also contains the minor nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, sulphur etc. Depending on the source of the waste-water, the sludge would also contain metals such as copper, chromium, nickel, zinc and cadmium. Certain components of the sludge may be advantageously utilised when the sludge is incorporated into agricultural land. In fact, as a result of the organic content and the presence of the nutrients and the trace elements essential for plant growth, sludge is generally valued as a soil conditioner. However, due to the presence of certain contaminants such as heavy metals, viable pathogenic and other organisms and complex organic compounds, careful consideration must be given to its potentially dangerous and hazardous properties when disposing of waste treatment sludge.Waste-water sludge is classified into three types; (a) unstable with high odour and fly nuisance potential, contains a high content of pathogenic organisms - primary or raw sludge falls into this grouping, (b) stable with low odour and fly nuisance potential, has a reduced content of pathogenic organisms - humus, waste activated and anaerobically digested sludges fall into this grouping, (c) stable with insignificant odour and fly nuisance potential, contains insignificant numbers of pathogenic organisms - anaerobically digested sludge when preceded or followed by pasteurisation falls into this grouping, (d) as type c but with contents of specified elements below prescribed limits.The purpose of describing the waste sludge in terms of the above classification and placing certain restrictions on the disposal of waste sludge is to minimise nuisances and the transmission of pathogenic organisms either directly to man or indirectly through the food chain, as well as protecting water resources and the environment from pollution.As indicated above, waste-water sludge contains nutrients which can be used beneficially to improve the condition of the soil. Sludge helps to break up heavy clay soils and improves the moisture retaining ability of sandy soils. Although the nit

capable of walking on tightropes and jumping through hoops. They are capable of remembering things and can solve problems like opening a bolted door. (5)Other special traits include an advanced sense of taste. This is especially useful since their vision is flawed; having eyes on the sides of their head limits forward vision.

History

Mythology

Threatened Cousins

Pigs as Pork

Pet Pigs?

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

Your Yard Is Your Masterpiece
Landscaping your yard has often been compared to painting a beautiful picture. If you are an artist, then your teacher has probably told you that a good painting should have a focal point and the rest of the details should make the painting even more interesting and beautiful. In landscaping and gardening, this works in much the same way. You are creating a picture around a focal point to help make a cohesive, beautiful landscape that you can enjoy.The lawn is a very important part of the landscaping design. Open, green lawn space is always beautiful and relaxing. It makes even a small space look larger and more open. If you plant trees here and there or plant flowers here and there, then the lawn quickly becomes less open and more cluttered and choppy. It is hard for the eye to concentrate on any one part of the landscape, which makes it seem more busy and cluttered. A small group of flowers or a tree or two is fine, but it is when you begin planting without taking into consideration how everything looks as a whole that you begin running into problems.Consider the size of your lawn to make sure that you do not choose trees that may overpower your lawn. A tree should have good shape, with interesting fruit, flowers, bark, or leaves to draw your interest. A poplar tree is a good choice because it grows quickly, but it does have some drawbacks. It drops its leaves early in the season, which means that it sits there barren and ugly for quite a while. You need to take that into consideration before choosing poplar trees for your landscaping design. A catalpa is a lovely choice as well. It has broad leaves, beautiful flowers, and it has seed pods that stay on the tree for quite a while during the winter. Other trees that you may want to consider include an ash for its brightly colored berries, a tulip tree for its beautiful blossoms, a white birch tree for its interesting bark, and a copper beech tree for the beautiful leaves.Where the tree is going to be located should be a major consideration in where you decide to place the tree. If you are locating the tree in an area that is moist and low, then you may want to consider a willow. Mixing different trees close together will not look quite right either. For example, a neat and tidy juniper tree would look very out of place when placed next to a chestnu

s habitat destroyed drives him into farmlands to look for food, he is considered a pest. The 40,00- year-long practice of hunting him also demonstrates a lack of compassion. (13) Today Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), lists him as endangered.

Pigs as Pork

Pet Pigs?

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

A Better Night's Sleep In Ten Easy Steps
A good night’s sleep is probably one of the most under-rated means of leading a healthy and stress free existence. If you are finding it difficult to sleep, the simplest of all solutions are always the best. The adjustments that you need to make are more towards what you do before you go to sleep rather than what you do once you get into bed. Here are some useful tips to obtain a better night’s sleep:Routine: Build a routine, such as a quick shower or a hot water bath, reading a book, or watching a relaxing film, before you get into bed. This puts your body into a relaxed mode and makes it easier to slip into a good night’s rest.Gentle Exercise: Try not to do strenuous exercise prior to going to sleep. The body needs time to unwind before sleep. Gentle relaxation exercises are more beneficial.Relax: Try not to indulge in activities that energize your brain cells, they take a long time to settle down, and by the time they do that, half the night is over.Avoid certain drinks: Avoid caffeine and tobacco and alcohol at night. If you do have to indulge in them, try to do so at least two hours before you get into bed. Some people find that a warm milky drink helps them to sleep.Light meals: Our grandparents always told us to eat our meals 2 hours before we went to sleep and that advice still holds good. It may not always be possible due to the present day lifestyles, but we can control how much we eat and drink at night.Environment: A comfortable environment is essential to having a good night’s sleep. Ensure that you bedroom is quiet and clutter-free. Soft and clean sheets, good quality pillows, warm and comfortable duvets or comforters are all added inducements to sleep.Mattress: It is essential that you have a comfortable and suitable mattress. Backaches can occur if there is a gap between any part of your back and the mattress. Inflatable airbeds are a good option and very conducive to a good night’s sleep. A good airbed will support your body, particularly your spine without seeming too soft or too hard and it is one of the most comfortable “mattresses” to sleep on.Pillows: Ensure that you pillows are comfortable. The wrong pillow can lead to neck and spinal problems and headaches.Consider vitamin supplements: Calcium and magnesium produce a relaxing effec

through June 2005 were reviewed using final pig crop, official slaughter, death loss, and updated import and export data.”(15) Sound cold? It’s appropriate language for a heartless industry. Today’s farming is big business, and business is booming. In 2004, the average American ate 221 pounds of meat and poultry, even more than 1990’s 199 pounds. (16) In the hog trade, 50 percent of American hog slaughter is dominated by 4 corporations. (17) Human contact is little more than being pushed into a transport truck for slaughter. Food, water and waste removal are automated. “In order for the industry to turn a profit on the low prices Americans have come to expect, most livestock are kept and slaughtered on factory farms, where animals eat corn- and soybean-based feed — 10 to 30% of which is often radically different from what the animal would consume naturally,” writes Jane Black in “10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You”, which was featured in the October 11, 2005 issue of Smart Money magazine.(18)

Pet Pigs?

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

Estate Planning - Protecting Your Furred Friend
The whole concept of estate planning has a couple of primary aims: 1) making sure that your assets are distributed where and how you want them to be, and 2) ensuring that your loved ones are cared for and able to comfortably live out their lives after you are gone. If you consider your pets as part of your property, to whom do you leave them – and the obvious answer is to someone who won’t immediately haul them to the nearest shelter and drop them off.Providing for your beloved pets may be more complicated than it sounds. There is much to be considered. For example, who will take your dogs and cats in and provide for them with the same loving care you have shown them? Who will develop the same kind of close relationship that your animals are used to sharing with you? Your son may not want a cat that insists on sleeping on his head or your daughter may abhor a dog that sheds all over her chic apartment.Choosing an appropriate caregiver requires some careful thought and planning. First, you must make certain that whoever is going to care for Bootsie or Fluffy or Shadow, actually likes them and wants to have them around. Sure, a few thousand dollars to provide for Spot’s care over the next 15 years is a huge incentive – big enough to have all kinds of people professing their love and admiration for your friend in fur. While your next door neighbor may genuinely care for Callie the cat and all of her progeny into perpetuity, what happens when the kitty litter budget runs out? If you leave Fergus the dog to your cousin Harold, along with $10,000 to provide Fergus with the best of everything, what’s to guarantee that Harold won’t buy himself the best of everything and let Fergus eat cheap kibbles? What if there is simply nobody to leave Callie or Fergus to because you have no children and don’t trust the neighbors?Pet care businesses are springing up and advertising their facilities as havens for pets with money. It sounds good in print, but what happens when the facility is full, Sparky is getting old and there is still a few thousand left in Sparky’s care account. If Sparky were to depart a little early, there’d be room for another wealthy resident and Sparky’s assets would revert to the care facility.That’s precisely why, over the past few years, estate planning for pets has taken a

Reader Resources:

Farm Sanctuary is America's premier farm animal protection organization. It operates farm animal shelters in upstate New York and northern California. Visit www.farmsanctuary.org

Jane Black’s article, 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You is also an eyebrow-raising must-read. http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

Pigs, A Sanctuary. Thinking about getting a pet potbellied pig? This site has a wonderful Pros and Cons section. www.pigs.org/article.asp?article_id=3

The Frequently Asked Questions of Pigs Peace Sanctuary offers even more info about pigs. www.pigspeace.org/faq/

Veterinarian Lianne McCloud gives a wonderful summary of the nature and nurture of pet pigs. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

References:

1. Taylor, Michael. Pot Bellied Pigs As Your New Family Pet. New Jersey: THF Publications. 1993.

2. Willis, Marguerite. A Straight…Pacific Rim Magazine, 1991.

5. Guardian Unlimited: Science. Thursday, October 14, 2004. http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/interview/story/0,12982,1326316,00.html

6. Oliver, William L. R. and Deb Joy, Sanjoy. Chapter 5.3: Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Status Survey and Action Plan. http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/pphsg/APchap5-3.html

9. Leach, Marian ed. Fried, Jerome. Assistant ed. Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. NY: Funk & Wagnalls. 1972

10. Ibid

11. Oliver, William L. R. and Deb Joy, Sanjoy. Chapter 5.3: Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Status Survey and Action Plan. http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/sgs/pphsg/APchap5-3.html

13. Fabre-Vassas, Claudine. The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig. New York: Columbia University Press. 1997. Page 147. Secondary Source: Salisbury, Joyce E. The Singular Beast: Jews, Christians, and the Pig-Review. FindArticles. Journal of Social History. Summer 1999. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_4_32/ai_55084008#continue

14.Quarterly: Hogs and Pigs National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board.

15.U.S.Department of Agriculture. September 30, 2005. http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/php-bb/2005/hgpg0905.txt

16. Black, Jane. 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You. Smart Money Magazine. Published: October 11, 2005 http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

17. Wolfson, David, Beyond The Law: Agribusiness and the systemic abuse of animals raised for food or food production, Farm Sanctuary, 1999

18. Black, Jane. 10 Things Your Butcher Won’t Tell You. Smart Money Magazine. Published: October 11, 2005 http://www.smartmoney.com/10things/index.cfm?story=november2005

19. The Welfare of Sows in Gestation Crates: A Summary of the Scientific Evidence. Farm Sanctuary. http://www.freefarmanimals.org/gc_evidence.html

20. National Pork Producers Council. Swine Care Handbook, p.12.

22. Frequently Asked Questions. Pigs Peace Sanctuary. Date Accessed: December 1, 2005. http://www.pigspeace.org/faq/

23. McCloud, Lianne. Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets: What to Expect. Exotic Pets. About.com. 2005. About.Inc. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.html

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