6 Natural Ways to Keep Your Pet Calm on the Fourth of July | One Green Planet

6 Natural Ways to Keep Your Pet Calm on the Fourth of July

Julianne Pierce
July 4, 2017 

Independence Day is a time of celebration, but the Fourth of July firework displays can be extremely stressful for pets. The crackling booms in the sky make dogs and cats anxious and many will pace, whimper, hide or even become aggressive from the stress.
Here are six natural remedies to keep your pet calm on Independence Day:

1. Exercise Early

Activity is a great way to manage stress, as it reduces tension and pumps up endorphins (mood enhancers). Exercising your pet a few hours before the fireworks begin can help to settle them down at night. While the amount of exercise a dog needs will vary with age and breed, a brisk walk around the neighborhood will benefit most pooches. For added intensity, try active games like fetch, tug or Frisbee. Cats need exercise too, and interactive toys like “Da Bird” (feathers tied to a pole with string) can provide a nice workout. Most cats also love to pounce on toys filled with catnip or chase a laser light around the room.

1. Try a ThunderShirt
   Based on the idea of swaddling an infant to provide comfort, the ThunderShirt is a unique fabric wrap that applies a gentle, constant pressure on a pet’s torso. Available in a variety of sizes for both dogs and cats, the ThunderShirt has been shown to reduce anxiety in approximately 80 percent of pets who wear it. You can find the product in most pet stores throughout the United States and Canada.
2. Pheromones

Pheromones are natural chemicals that animals secrete, that make them feel safe and relaxed. Comfort Zone with D.A.P. for dogs and Feliway for cats are products containing synthetic pheromones designed to mimic these soothing scents. Found in most pet supply stores as a spray, scented collar or a diffuser that can be plugged into a wall outlet, these synthetic pheromones are reported to be safe and have no effect on humans.
4. Music

A national BARD research study showed that classical music with a slow tempo (50-60 beats per minute) and very simple arrangements, such as a solo piano piece, significantly lowered stress levels in animals. There are many CDs and downloadable music collections created specifically to relax pets, such as the “Through A Dog’s Ear” music series.
 

1. Herbs and Flower Essences

Many pet stores carry supplements containing herbs that reduce anxiety, such as Lavender, Valerian Root, Passion Flower and Chamomile. Flower essences are diluted extracts from plants thought to have calming properties. One of the more common brands, Rescue Remedy for Pets, is available at many pet and health food stores. A few drops can be added to the water bowl to help relax a nervous dog or cat, always be sure to check with your veterinarian before administering these remedies to ensure it’s okay for your individual pet.

1. Keep Yourself Calm

Animals pick up on our moods, so if you’re tense, your pet could be too. A recent behavioral study concluded that human emotions can be contagious to dogs, and a dog’s behavior could be influenced by their humans’ stress level. So if you stay cool, it will help relax your pet as well.

Lowering your pet’s stress level during the firework display will mean a happier and more peaceful holiday for you too!

If you’re traveling this Easter weekend… I hope it goes smooth… with no delays

Puppy Sleeps In Nativity Scene Becoming A Christmas Miracle

In 2008, the town of Circuma in Brazil set up there  nativity scene.

During the holiday season, we find ourselves looking for small miracles to get us in the Christmas spirit. It doesn’t have to be anything big — just something to remind us and reassure us that the spirit of the season is with us, especially when we may be feeling lonely.
One Christmas, a nativity scene went up. There was Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. But this one year, there was an extra addition to the scene. It was something people didn’t know they needed, but once they saw it, it encouraged them to be more compassionate and loving during Christmas and every other day of the year.
When people gathered around, they noticed something sleeping in the manger.

Right next to the baby Jesus was a sleeping German Shepherd puppy.

But every visitor was overcome with joy and love when they saw him snuggled up.

Wishing you all joy and love this holiday season…. 

🎄 Cats Having Fun with Christmas Trees 🎄

🎆 🗽 🎆 🇺🇸 🎆 🗽 🎆 🇺🇸 🎆 🗽 🎆 🇺🇸 🎆

10 Amazing Dads From The Animal Kingdom | Care2 Causes

Not all non-human animal dads are cut out for family life, but there are a number of species who have become known for their role as fathers who deserve a salute, from giant water bugs who carry dozens of eggs on their backs to males who actually get pregnant and dads who operate solo as single parents. This Father’s Day, it’s time to celebrate some of the amazing dads from the animal kingdom who go above and beyond when it comes raising and protecting their young.

Red Fox

 

Male red foxes aren’t just loving mates, but excited and protective fathers. They take on the task of providing food for their mates every few hours for about a month after she gives birth. Then they take on the role of teacher – but teachers who like to take time out to play. Even when it’s time to get serious and teach their young how to start finding their own food, fox dads help them out and make sure they don’t really go hungry by hiding it near their dens.

Red Fox Family
Emperor Penguin

After females lay a single precious egg, Emperor penguin dads take over the responsibility of incubating it by balancing it precariously on their feet and keeping it warm under their feathers in the frigid Antarctic weather while mothers go off to feed. Dads can go for about two months without eating until the egg hatches, at which point he will feed it before mother’s return to give them a break from baby-duty.

Emperor Penguin Protecting Offspring from the Cold

Sea Horse

Seahorses, who are also known to mate for life, have reverse roles; the females compete for males, and the males don’t just play a role in pregnancy, but actually get pregnant. Females deposit their eggs in the male’s pouch, where he fertilizes and carries them until tiny baby seahorses emerge fully developed. According to Science Daily, the process of male pregnancy is unique to the fish family Syngnathidae, which also includes pipefish and sea dragons.
Love This? Never Miss Another Story.

Black seahorse among seaweed

Spotted Sandpiper

It doesn’t happen every time, but sandpipers have been found to reverse roles where female sandpipers establish and defend territory, while taking on multiple male partners. After luring a male to mate with and laying her eggs, she takes off to find another mate. Dad meanwhile stays to incubate the eggs and becomes the primary caregiver for the young for the first few weeks of their lives.

Spotted Sandpiper

Gray Wolf

Despite the myths surrounding wolves that make them out to be villains, alpha male are loving, loyal and protective mates, fathers and leaders. Also known to mate for life, males who breed will guard their partners and pups while they’re in the den and take on the responsibility of finding everyone food. Even as pups grow older, dads will take on the role of teacher, helping them learn their role in the pack and the world.

Mother and Son

Great Horned Owl

Great horned owl dads are the stereotypical breadwinners in their families. After finding the perfect home with their mates, male great horned owls take on the role of provider by hunting enough to feed himself and his mate, who is bigger than he is, before taking on the added responsibility of hunting for their young when they hatch.

Grumpy Owl

North American Beaver

Beaver dads are devoted family men, handymen and providers in the animal world. They mate for life and take on a co-parenting role in raising their young until they’re about 2-years-old, while helping care for them and teaching them how to become successful ecosystem engineers before they go off and start families of their own.

In 2012, a beaver in Martinez, Calif., known as “Dad” raised fears about what would happen to his young after his mate died from an infection, but he showed us he could do it all as a single father of three.

Beaver Wearing Leaf

Titi Monkey

Male titi monkeys, who are known for monogamous relationships, are also known for the strong bond they build with their young as primary caregivers. Except for time spent with mom nursing, babies spend the rest of their time being carried around, cared for and protected by their fathers for the first few months of their lives.

Titi Monkey

Rhea

As members of a polygamous species, male rheas have a lot of partners, but when it comes to child-rearing these dads pull their weight and then some. Males can have up to a dozen or so female partners who all lay eggs in a nest he builds before they leave. Males then take on the role of incubating and guarding what can be more than 50 eggs for close to two months before taking on the role of a single parent after they hatch. Males have also been known to adopt orphaned chicks who have been separated from their brood.

Nandu Greater Rhea

Darwin‘s Frog

Darwin’s frog dads, who are native to South America, have come up with a neat and bizarre way to protect their offspring from predators. While they breed like other amphibians, where females lay eggs in the water that are fertilized by males, the males of this species take the fertilized eggs into their mouths, store them in their vocal sacs and keep them there until they’re fully developed frogs — at which point he throws them up.

Moscato Lemonade Recipe

Moscato Lemonade
posted by Katie on May 5, 2015 2 comments »

This post brought to you by Gallo Family Vineyards. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Katie’s Cucina.
Moscato Lemonade using @GalloFamily Moscato! #MoscatoDay
Get ready for your new go-to summer drink. Seriously I’m in love with this easy recipe for Moscato Lemonade! It’s not too sweet and not too tart and in my opinion just perfect! Light and refreshing and perfect for sipping on a hot summers day. I sliced a lemon and rinsed some fresh raspberries to go in the lemonade. If you wanted to get crazy you could muddle the raspberries and make a raspberry moscato lemonade.

Moscato Lemonade using @GalloFamily Moscato! #MoscatoDay
Gallo Family invited me to host a Moscato tasting party in honor of National Moscato day. Four years ago, they established the holiday to celebrate the deliciously sweet wine varietal that has everyone talking. Bursting with sweet flavors of peach, honey, and ripe citrus, Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato is a deliciously sweet wine that you’re sure to love. We invited a few of our friends over to enjoy the three different varieties of moscato they produce. As well as enjoy my delicious recipe for Moscato Lemonade. I also served up a few appetizers to balance out the tasting!
Gallo Family Moscatos #MoscatoDay
Let’s talk about the three different types of Moscato.
undefined

1. WHITE MOSCATO BURSTS WITH FRUIT FLAVORS– Delightfully sweet, this white wine is often simply referred to as “Moscato”. Hints of peach, honey, and ripe citrus make this a refreshing sunny day beverage. We suggest serving chilled to bring out the grape’s full taste. Consider a spring lemonade mix when hosting a pool party or backyard barbecue. For dinner, pair with spicy Asian takeout or Mexican dishes. If dessert is your family’s style you cannot go wrong with this vino. 2. SPICE UP THE NIGHT WITH A GLASS OF RED MOSCATO– If you’re looking for a medium bodied red, never fear. Red Moscato maintains peach and citrus elements with a bright berry finish. We think of this as our “cheese and wine” pairing, and if you are on the same page as us definitely try it with a Gorgonzola. Just like its sister varieties, Red Moscato is great for spicy foods and is best served chilled. 3. PINK MOSCATO WILL ROSE TINT ANY MEAL- There’s always someone who’s a little different in every family. Our Pink Moscato is just that – a bit different. It share’s the fruit flavors of white and red, but adds a hint of berry and orange. For when you’re feeling fun and fancy free, this rose-colored wine is best served cool. Pair it with your favorite ice cream sundae for a delicious and sweet treat.
   Moscato Lemonade 3
   The Gallo Family Vineyards collection of wines offers a variety of fruit-forward, approachable styles at affordable prices, including: Moscato, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pink Moscato, White Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Red Moscato, White Merlot, Sweet Red, Hearty Burgundy, Sweet White Blend and Riesling. (Suggested retail price: $4.99 for 750-ml bottles, $8.99 for 1.5-liter bottles, $5.99 for 187-mL four-pack.) Use Store Locator Tool the to find Gallo Family Vineyards collection near you!
   Moscato Lemonade 4
   Everyone had a great time at our Moscato tasting and enjoyed the Moscato Lemonade. I hope you’ll consider hosting your own Moscato party on Moscato Day with Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato as your beverage of choice! Or of course make my refreshing Moscato Lemonade recipe.
   Moscato Lemonade 2

Print Recipe
Moscato Lemonade

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:

1 bottle Gallo Family Moscato
3 cups Simply Lemonade
1 lemon, sliced
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
Ice for serving

Directions:

In a large pitcher combine Gallo Family Moscato with 3 cups simply lemonade. Add in half the sliced lemons and raspberries. Mix well.
Place ice in glasses. Pour moscato lemonade in each glass and garnish with lemon and raspberries. Enjoy immediately.

Katie Original Recipe

🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟

🌟 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟. 🇺🇸. 🌟.

God Bless You And The U.S.A.

✴ Peace On Earth ✴

 

Warmest Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday

Peace Love and Rhinos

Fight for Rhinos

  Bring the beauty of the rhino home this holiday with our exclusive rhino ornaments.

We proudly offer these sustainable maple ornaments, made in the USA, to our rhino loving supporters for only  $12.50 (shipping and handling included). In order to make them so affordable we can only offer them to residents in the US (excluding HI or AK). 

Support our rhinos, showcase this natural and beautiful rhino on your tree or give it as a gift. Each ornament is unique as shades vary slightly. Available while supplies last.

Buy Now!

View original post