Pet Talk
Test Your Pet Savvy
By Frances Goodman
Greetings pet lovers! Here’s our September pet lovers’ quiz. Enjoy!
And if you have a pet question, be sure to email it to me at fhpettalk@hotmail.com. Or, let me know if there’s a special topic on which you’d like more information in the column.
Questions:
1. In the United States, do dogs outnumber
cats as pets, or vice- versa?
2. Is it okay to kiss your pet hamster?
3. True or False: All large toads in South Florida are toxic toads.
4. How well can dogs understand what we are saying?
5. True or false: Most any plant that has a bulb is toxic to pets if
eaten or chewed.
6. What popular small pet is related to the porcupine?
7. Cats and cage birds tend to hide the signs they are ill. Why?
8. Why do male Betas (Siamese fighting fish) blow bubbles on the
surface of the water?
9. What’s the difference between a service dog and a therapy
dog?
10. Those Germans, they do like dogs! Can you name at least four
dog breeds that were developed in Germany?
Answers:
1. In the United States, statistics show that cats
outnumber dogs as pets.
2. Kissing a hamster or any other pet rodent is not okay, as
rodents can carry salmonella.
3. At this point in time, almost any large toad in our area is an
invasive toxic toad, according to a spokesman for the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Commission. That’s because they have edged
out the native toad populations. Their toxic secretion can be
fatal to a pet if there is not immediate intervention.
But every spring, thousands of baby toxic toads are hatched,
so there are plenty of small ones around, too. The FWC
recommends blunt trauma to the head as the humane way to
eliminate them, although the small ones can be crushed like a
bug. (Just do it quickly and humanely. Even small ones are
dangerous to small pets.)
4. How well dogs understand us depends on how much we have
taught them. Researchers report that a Border Collie named
Rico, who is well socialized with humans, has learned the
meaning of 200 words.
5. Most plants with bulbs are highly toxic to all pets. These
include tulip, hyacinth daffodil, crocus and almost all lilies. Cats,
who tend to nibble on the greenery of bouquets and potted
plants, are especially at risk from lilies.
6. Take your pick: Hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rats and rabbits all
are related to the porcupine, which is a quill-bearing rodent.
7. Cats and cage birds retain the instinct of their wild relatives to
hide signs of illness because this would reveal weakness to
potential predators. This “cover-up” means caregivers need to
be alert to slight changes in their normal behavior, which may
be the first or only clue to the onset of an illness.
8. Male Betas, the ones with the flaring fins and tail, blow bubble
nests to attract a mate. If one is found and she lays eggs, the
male will carry them in his mouth and deposit them in the
bubbles, where they remain until they hatch. He also tends the
nest, catching any eggs that fall out and re-depositing them in
the bubbles.
9. A service dog provides a service for those with physical
challenges – for example the seeing-eye dog, the hearing-ear
dog, or one that retrieves dropped items. Service dogs assisting
owners cannot be denied access to public buildings.
A therapy dog provides the therapy of a comforting presence
and unconditional acceptance to those who would benefit from
it emotionally or psychologically.
Typically, therapy dogs go with their human volunteers to visit
patients in nursing homes and other institutions, such as
treatment centers for addictions or brain injuries. However, they
may also provide comforting therapy to an individual whose
doctor has determined they need the support of the dog’s
presence at all times. In such cases, just like service dogs, they
are legally entitled to accompany the owner into all public
buildings and facilities. Even HOA’s that do not allow residents
to keep pets are legally required to make exceptions for bona
fide therapy pets.
10. Breeds developed in Germany include Rottweiler, Doberman,
Weimaraner, Pomeranian, Schnauzer, Dachshund (Doxie) and
of course German Shepherd, to name a few.
Frances Goodman is a professional dog trainer and pet care writer who lives in Royal Palm Beach. Got a question? Email her at fhpettalk@hotmail.com. See her ad this page.