Smart Cookies Petcare Book

By Sylvia Irwin

this book is a mine of information on petcare for each lifestage of many animals, domestic, farm or wild. each section is followed by stories about some of the animal characters that the author, a former vet's nurse, knew and loved, and who assisted her and her shelter helpers with animal welfare advocacy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvia Irwin
• Release date: Jul 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311999771

Sylvia Irwin

Sylvia started Safely Graze Animal Welfare Trust in 1984, after being on SPCA committees, and she advocates particulatly for the neutering of domestic pets.She started pet/people support services such as pet-feeding, wheelchair and pet taxi and grooming services then and also started pet therapy in hospitals and age-care homes. With her erstwhile helpers, she took pets to schools, publicity events and parades, to talk about petcare, and animal welfare issues.She has been writing down the stories of her animal friends for years, and has now finished illustrating her petcare book.One of her animal friends was "Dippy', a black cat with a balance problem, who got stuck up a telegraph pole after arrival at the sanctuary. He fortunately got himself down the pole, as Sylvia couldn't climb ladders, and helped raise money for vet fees for himself and other differently-abled animals, like "Whitey" the old white cat with cauliflower ears, who was adored by his new owner's toddler and brought home wildcat "Bluey" when she got lost.Sylvia completed a Diploma in Horticulture, an M.A. in Social Anthropology and a Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning and Teaching, (ESOL endorsment) at Massey University, New Zealand. She wrote her M.A. thesis on ME/Chronic Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, which she has, along with EDS/Marfans (tall people's hypermobility and heart) Syndrome.Sylvia started Alverno Retreat by the sea, (which is a charity that provides affordable, disability-friendly holidays, and has WHOOFERS/ESOL students come to stay), after studying rehabilitation counselling, pastoral care at St John's Theological College, CPE for hospital chaplaincy, and teacher-aiding. She enjoys singing in a choir and being a civil marriage celebrant.

Book preview

SMART COOKIES PET CARE BOOK

By Sylvia Irwin, M .A . Grad. Dip. Teaching

Safely Graze Animal Welfare Trust

Published at Smashwords

Foreword

We are truly indeed custodians of the lower kingdoms in nature, on this beautiful planet.

Residing in the country as a child, for me the animals were my only friends and playmates, and I was often soothed by a friendly lick when howling into my dog's comforting fur coat. I recall looking after a sick husband and taking the farm dogs indoors to see him. They were completely overjoyed, broke loose and joined him in bed. It did us all a power of good.

As an occupational therapist and nurse I appreciate the value of pets for the elderly and sick, and know how much they contribute to healing.

This delightful and informative little book, so easy to read, full of fun and clever sketches, which are a masterpiece - especially the defeathered peacock who learnt his lesson in pride the hard way - I am sure, will appeal readily to children and adults, both professional and non-professional, who are concerned with the welfare of animals. The love of all creatures shines through Sylvia Irwin's writing with the true spirit of Christian principles. The years she has devoted to caring for and rescuing abandoned, sick and unwanted pets, and the pleasure she has had in their way of appreciation to herself and others are described with sensitivity, humour and sadness in her many anecdotes. In her long experience and dedication to their wellbeing, she also gives much practical knowledge. It is very obvious Sylvia has researched her work widely and knows what she is recommending in feeding and day-to-day care.

Again I would recommend this book to parents and those who have a feeling and respect for all forms of life.

Gillian Weir,

Kapiti SPCA.

Catalogue of Care,

Dogalogue of Care,

Well-warrented Care,

Relieving Burdens,

Small Creatures

Wildlife

Farm Animals

Strandings

Extra Blessings for Animals

Photos and pictures by Sylvia Irwin. Farm picture from neighbour's children.

Cartoons by E. Downing.

Copyright Sylvia Irwin 2014

Catalogue of Care

Having a litter first doesn't make me nicer, but maybe dead

Beat the heat, use the animal pill, or -

Prevent unwanted litter and spay female cats now.

Tom-foolery for us can mean a holocaust for cats.

Not a fluffy toy to be dumped at Christmas

Catalogue of Care

Summer Sorrows

A butterfly is a flower with wings,

A kitten is a poem that sings.

Butterflies think not of tomorrow,

Kitten is another word for sorrow.

Butterflies have sun and rain ,

Kittens' lives can end in pain .

Death for neglected fluffy toys,

Brings an end to Summer's joys.

Sylvia Irwin, M.A. Grad. Dip. Teaching.

Kitten-dumping is a trivial pursuit.

Abandonment or neglect, the penalty is a prison sentence or a fine.

If you can't keep us all, don't let us be born.

Cats can breed from 3 months old and 3 times a year.

A cat can have 2000 descendents in 5 years.

Why not sponsor the neutering of a needy person's cat,

or start a pet-feeding service in your area?

Contents

Cats Important Life Stages.

Basic Cat Care with Extras, - Sick, white, orphan, old pets etc, Which type of pet? Pet population control, home made cat food, Jesus and the Cat.

Kapiti Catalogue, Character Cat Stories.

Pictures: front cover - Mottle chasing a toilet roll out the window, other photos – shelter pets, Spinnell, Kitt and Ginger, Hotlips and JJ, Cassata, Scylla with mouse. To Dapple and all the other shelter cats met over many years.

Cats - Important Life Stages

6 weeks- worming, monthly for 16 months - roundworms

8 weeks- earliest time to leave mother, later is better

3 months- vaccination - feline enteritis and snuffles

5 months- spay females - it doesn't help to have a litter first, it just brings more unwanted kittens into the world

6 months- neuter males, to prevent undesirable habits

15 months- booster vaccination, yearly if entering a cattery, (do not vaccinate a pregnant cat).

Cats also need: Fleapowder (without malathion), Calcium supplements, brushing, bed, travelling box, scratching post, cat door, dirt tray for the first week, (when you should keep your new pet inside).

Kittens need four meals up to four months, three meals up to nine months, and a varied diet of meat, fish, tinned food, vegetables, cereals.

Milk and tinned food can cause diarrhoea (see the vet urgently if vomiting and diarrhoea occur). Too much liver/kidneys