This story was originally printed in the Las Cruces Sun-News on April 3, 2015. It happens every year, from early spring to early winter. People find kittens in their garage, under their porch, or in a bush. Although they look recently abandoned, the mother and father have probably been living there all along, but — fearful of people — only come out at night. If you find kittens on your land, your first impulse may be to call Animal Control or to take them to the shelter yours

This story was originally printed in the Las Cruces Sun-News on February 6, 2015. Did you all make the same resolution as many do every year — to get healthier, which means to lose weight? Have you looked at your cats lately? Are they overweight? I'll bet they are. According to a 2011 survey of cats in the United States, 55 percent were overweight and 24.9 percent were obese. Do you remember Meow, the 2-year-old, 39-lb. cat who was surrendered to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter w

Special thanks to Mountain View Market Co-op for this recipe. Tasty Cat Treats 1/2 cup quinoa flour 1/2 cup brown rice flour 1 tbsp dried catnip 4-5 oz cooked meat (sardines, tuna or chicken) 1/4 cup parsley, rough chopped 1/2 tbsp of oil Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Throw all of the ingredients in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment until it comes together. It should be cohesive, and just a little sticky. If you would l

This story was originally printed in the Las Cruces Bulletin on October 17, 2014. Because horses are large prey animals, they can often panic if they feel trapped or confined and injuries can result. Because they have heavy bodies on slender legs that are essentially digits (with the same bones as a human finger), their soundness can be threatened by accidents and overwork. To prevent injuries, we can keep fences smooth, highly visible and in good repair. We can work horses b

This story was originally printed in the Las Cruces Sun-News on July 25, 2014. According to surveys made by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the third most common problem that veterinarians treat among dogs is canine diarrhea. If your dog has ever had this problem, you know how much it can affect your daily routine. Diarrhea is not a disease. It is a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Oth

Summer fun can be deadly for pets While chasing a ball at the park and taking trips to the beach might sound like fun, pet owners are being warned of the dangers of heatstroke this summer, particularly in dogs. According to Murdoch University’s veterinary expert Dr. Katrin Swindells, heatstroke is one of the most catastrophic, and yet easily prevented, conditions that dogs can suffer. “Dogs are so eager to please their owners; they often won’t stop playing until their bodies