Historic Day for Animals, ASPCA 142 Years Old

Today is a really big day for all of us animals. 142 years ago today, the ASPCA was started by a man who had a lot of money and liked to use it for good causes. His name was Henry Bergh.

In case you forget what ASPCA stands for, it is American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Abraham Lincoln was President when Bergh's passion to help animals came about. It was under unusual circumstances. He had been appointed by Lincoln as a diplomat for the Czar of Russia, Alexander II. He was shocked and dismayed to see how the work horses were treated, beaten an abused.

There was already a Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London, which he visited on his trip home to America. This was his inspiration to start a similar organization here in the USA, making it against the law to abuse animals. He called animals the "mute servants of mankind" when he argued his case.

Ultimately, his efforts lead to the incorporation of the ASPCA on April 10, 1866, 142 years ago today.

It is interesting that AFTER this organization was started, a similar one to prevent cruelty to children was formed, and Bergh served as a Vice President of the organization for a period of time.

For more information on the ASPCA, visit their site at http://www.aspca.org.

Health Benefits of Owning Cats and Kittens

I can't believe my owner convinced me to add a page on owning cats and kittens, you'll see it listed in the right column under "Pages". I think it's because so many people in her family have cats...there's more about that on the page.

I made sure to add a comment or two of my own, that was our agreement, if we have to write about cats, I have to add at least my two cents worth.

We think we noticed that you can't make a comment on the pages, so if you have something to say after you read the article, come back here and comment!

Have a happy day! Aspen

2 New Yorkie Blog Pages

I just wanted to let you know that two more pages were added to the "pages" section of the blog today (see the list of pages to the right)....one about aging pets, and another with the start of a list of food recalls, food warnings, and foods that are not dangerous for you, but may be dangerous for me.

Hope you had a great weekend, my family was out a lot at church and visiting family, I missed them.

It's National Professional Pet Sitters Week

People who take care of pets for their owners when they can't be there are very special people, and this is a special week in the year when Pet Sitters are honored.


There's even a Pet Sitters International website.

These helpful sites will have information about finding the best sitter for your pet, or will help you if you are a Pet Sitter or thinking of becoming one.

Yorkies in a Basket - 6 and 7 Weeks

Here is Aspen and her brother in the Spring of 1999.  Aspen is the one that has more brown in her face, the one on the left in this picture. They are 7 weeks old and we took them to the vet in this basket for their checkup and most likely a shot. They had to go to the vet a lot when they were puppies and always got LOTS of attention wherever they went.

We decided to update this page in August of 2013, written a little over 5 years ago, to say that my brother passed on earlier this year.  

And now I am updating this page in March of 2014 to say that Aspen passed on just weeks after we did the August update above.  We miss her terribly, but both she and her brlother lived good long lives with loving owners.