November brought snow and cold temperatures to the Mountain West here, in the United States. December has been
bringing us extremely cold temperatures and more snow. This has been the coldest last couple of months compared to
the same months of the last few years. The region I live in has changing cycles of warmer or cooler/wetter or dryer
seasons. We often see a series of years with drought, followed by a series of years with enough moisture or perhaps
flooding. The last cycles have brought drought, with fairly mild winters (comparatively speaking).
Seasons and weather affect our pets. People who live in places where it gets below freezing and have outdoor
enclosures need to be sure that their Pixies have access to warm shelter and unfrozen water. In my area this is a
concern, though I do not worry because my cats live strictly indoors. Other regions, where it may not freeze, may
experience extreme summer heat. This means that cooling protocols must be put in place for outdoor dwelling cats.
Here, where I live, we can have extreme cold in the winter and extreme heat in the summer.
Planning and foresight are important tools to bring to bear when keeping our Pixie-Bobs safe, comfortable, and
healthy. Holidays bring their special circumstances and risks that must be considered and planned for. Much has been
written about holiday hazards, including toxic plants, ingesting foreign objects, visitors in and out of the house, and over
indulgence at holiday meals or eating inappropriate human foods. It is good to look ahead and navigate the possible
hazards that each season brings.
Another/other season/s to be considered are the “legislative” seasons. These seasons often bring changes in national,
state, county, and/or city laws/ordinances that may negatively impact the responsible care of our Pixie-Bobs, the right
to make choices about responsible breeding or at what ages to neuter/spay, what breeds we may or may not have, or
the number of animals we are allowed to legally have in our area. How does this affect the health and/or well being of
our pet Pixie-Bobs?
If you live in an area that once allowed you to have the number of cats that you could responsibly and willingly care for,
as long as it did not negatively impact your neighbors, and your area passes a law that allows for only 2 cats or bans
your breed, then if you have 3 cats or your breed (Pixie-Bobs) are banned, you will have to move, place your pet in
another home outside the affected area, surrender them to the authorities, or euthanize one or more of your pets. Do
you see how this might impact your cat’s health and well being, not to mention your own?
Many reasonable individuals believe that laws that support the above negative scenarios won’t be passed, yet it is
already happening on many (if not all) levels all around the United States. BSL – breed specific legislation is being
mandated in many cities and even states. There are places that you cannot own certain breeds of domestic dogs and
cats or their mixes. Often enforcement is a nightmare, because how in a place where domestic Bengal cats are banned
(for example) can you differentiate between them and the many other types/breeds of spotted tabby cats. The same
can be said about Pit Bulls and their mixes and many other breeds of pets being banned, usually on a city/county wide
level.
Even though there are already many positive laws on the books that “should” make pet owners responsible for the
humane caring of their pets and laws to keep others safe from potential “dangerous” pets, these are rarely enforced as
written. Instead new, stricter laws are passed to make up for the lack of enforcement of the laws already on the books.
Sometimes enforcement of these “new” laws are given to non-governmental agencies who do not necessarily have to
follow “due process” when confiscating animals or entering private property.
The current climate (so to speak) and images portrayed in the media of pet owners is that most are stupid, inhumane,
ignorant, unable to financially care for their pets, or just down right cruel. Some owners of certain types of pets are
commonly linked in media stories to criminals or criminal behavior. How does this climate and image tend to influence
legislators (many non-pet knowledgeable) and the upcoming legislative season, especially given the abundance of
Animal Rights lobbying and the many bills and laws that they sponsor each year?
Bringing awareness to the legislative season and what bills, laws, and ordinances that are being put forward is currently
part of planning, much like how we have to plan for inclement or extreme weather and other seasonal hazards. In
addition to awareness we may have to take political action on behalf of our pets and our right to responsibly own them.
No longer can we just sit aside and hope for the best, anymore than someone who lives in a sub-freezing climate can
hope that the sun will come out and melt the water in their outdoor Pixie-Bob’s enclosure when it is 12 degrees F.
outside or that their cat just might generate enough body heat to avoid frostbite or death without a warm, weather
secure shelter.
bringing us extremely cold temperatures and more snow. This has been the coldest last couple of months compared to
the same months of the last few years. The region I live in has changing cycles of warmer or cooler/wetter or dryer
seasons. We often see a series of years with drought, followed by a series of years with enough moisture or perhaps
flooding. The last cycles have brought drought, with fairly mild winters (comparatively speaking).
Seasons and weather affect our pets. People who live in places where it gets below freezing and have outdoor
enclosures need to be sure that their Pixies have access to warm shelter and unfrozen water. In my area this is a
concern, though I do not worry because my cats live strictly indoors. Other regions, where it may not freeze, may
experience extreme summer heat. This means that cooling protocols must be put in place for outdoor dwelling cats.
Here, where I live, we can have extreme cold in the winter and extreme heat in the summer.
Planning and foresight are important tools to bring to bear when keeping our Pixie-Bobs safe, comfortable, and
healthy. Holidays bring their special circumstances and risks that must be considered and planned for. Much has been
written about holiday hazards, including toxic plants, ingesting foreign objects, visitors in and out of the house, and over
indulgence at holiday meals or eating inappropriate human foods. It is good to look ahead and navigate the possible
hazards that each season brings.
Another/other season/s to be considered are the “legislative” seasons. These seasons often bring changes in national,
state, county, and/or city laws/ordinances that may negatively impact the responsible care of our Pixie-Bobs, the right
to make choices about responsible breeding or at what ages to neuter/spay, what breeds we may or may not have, or
the number of animals we are allowed to legally have in our area. How does this affect the health and/or well being of
our pet Pixie-Bobs?
If you live in an area that once allowed you to have the number of cats that you could responsibly and willingly care for,
as long as it did not negatively impact your neighbors, and your area passes a law that allows for only 2 cats or bans
your breed, then if you have 3 cats or your breed (Pixie-Bobs) are banned, you will have to move, place your pet in
another home outside the affected area, surrender them to the authorities, or euthanize one or more of your pets. Do
you see how this might impact your cat’s health and well being, not to mention your own?
Many reasonable individuals believe that laws that support the above negative scenarios won’t be passed, yet it is
already happening on many (if not all) levels all around the United States. BSL – breed specific legislation is being
mandated in many cities and even states. There are places that you cannot own certain breeds of domestic dogs and
cats or their mixes. Often enforcement is a nightmare, because how in a place where domestic Bengal cats are banned
(for example) can you differentiate between them and the many other types/breeds of spotted tabby cats. The same
can be said about Pit Bulls and their mixes and many other breeds of pets being banned, usually on a city/county wide
level.
Even though there are already many positive laws on the books that “should” make pet owners responsible for the
humane caring of their pets and laws to keep others safe from potential “dangerous” pets, these are rarely enforced as
written. Instead new, stricter laws are passed to make up for the lack of enforcement of the laws already on the books.
Sometimes enforcement of these “new” laws are given to non-governmental agencies who do not necessarily have to
follow “due process” when confiscating animals or entering private property.
The current climate (so to speak) and images portrayed in the media of pet owners is that most are stupid, inhumane,
ignorant, unable to financially care for their pets, or just down right cruel. Some owners of certain types of pets are
commonly linked in media stories to criminals or criminal behavior. How does this climate and image tend to influence
legislators (many non-pet knowledgeable) and the upcoming legislative season, especially given the abundance of
Animal Rights lobbying and the many bills and laws that they sponsor each year?
Bringing awareness to the legislative season and what bills, laws, and ordinances that are being put forward is currently
part of planning, much like how we have to plan for inclement or extreme weather and other seasonal hazards. In
addition to awareness we may have to take political action on behalf of our pets and our right to responsibly own them.
No longer can we just sit aside and hope for the best, anymore than someone who lives in a sub-freezing climate can
hope that the sun will come out and melt the water in their outdoor Pixie-Bob’s enclosure when it is 12 degrees F.
outside or that their cat just might generate enough body heat to avoid frostbite or death without a warm, weather
secure shelter.
| Pixie Musings |
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| Winter 07' By Raven Simons |
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| Letter From The Editor |
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| © Wild At Heart: The International Journal of the Pixie-Bob. All Rights Reserved |