Minneapolis Pet News - Since I've Been Gone...

The last time I re-blogged my Minneapolis Pet News Examiner stories was more than 2 years ago. I've covered a lot of topics in that time, and I'd like to share them below. There's been a little bit of advice about dogs, cats and birds - three types of pets that I happen to know a lot about, because I share my home with one of each!

Dogs

Help pets cope with Minnesota's long, rough winter.
Though this winter is almost over, some dogs
(including mine!) are probably going a bit stir crazy right about now. These are some tips for keeping your dogs safe and satisfied in the cold season.

Keep Minnesota dogs safe from ticks this summer. On the flip side, the weather is warming up and sooner than you think, it will be time for bugs to emerge. Learn about tick prevention and treatment with these tips.

Dogs should never eat these fruits and vegetables. Summer is when consumption of fruits and veggies increase among humans. You may be tempted to share your food with your dog, but there are some they should never, ever eat.

Lost Dogs-MN helps reunite people with lost pets. The Facebook page Lost Dogs Minnesota, otherwise known as Lost Dogs-MN, has become a vital place for helping dogs get back home.

Cats

Pancreatitis symptoms and treatment for cats. My cat Krillin has had repeated bouts with pancreatitis.
Here, I pass on a bit of my own knowledge, as well as information researched through trusted veterinary sources.

At-home pet euthanasia in the Twin Cities Metro. Sadly, I had to use these services last year. My beloved Tweak, who lived to be at least 17 (it's hard to know, since he was first adopted as a stray), went to sleep on October 15, 2015.

Birds

Giardia infection and feather plucking in parrots. Feather plucking is a psychological issue of
boredom in parrots. Giardia is a parasitic infection that can occur in many animals. Sometimes, though, giardia is the reason a bird plucks and mutilates.

Giardia infection & feather plucking: A first-hand account. Unfortunately, I have experience this, too. Have pets long enough, you eventually have to deal with their illnesses. Read about my account of giardia with my parrot. I'm still dealing with feather plucking issues!

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook or subscribe to email alerts.

September Article Roundup: Minneapolis Pet News Examiner

I've sort-of adopted another blog for a while (more on that later) and still work as a freelancer on other people's blogs (probably not so much on that later), so poor True to Words has appeared to be abandoned. It's always in the back of my mind, though, and now the itch to clean out the tumble-weeds on this blog has struck. So here we go.

As much as I haven't been keeping up with this blog, I have been sort-of keeping up with my Examiner.com articles. I missed my June article roundup article, so there are more in this post than previously expected!

Exercising safely with your dog. When there's no snow on the ground during the spring, summer and fall months, Minnesotans engage in more outdoor exercise and many times that includes their dogs. It's good for pets to exercise, as up to 40 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, but just like people, there are some exercises that are better for them than others. Learn more about fun activities that both people and canines can do to stay fit while staying safe.

Minneapolis ranked a Top 10 dog-friendly city. Estately ranked the top 17 Best U.S. Cities for Dogs. Minneapolis ranked No. 10 for dog loving cities. The evaluation included several factors to determine the rankings, including weather, Walk Score, yard size, dog activities, Meetup groups, and the availability of dog sitters on Rover.com. Minneapolis scored well in several categories, with the only thing that seem to factor against Minneapolis being the harsh winters that keep people and their pups indoors for months on end.

Tips for keeping pets safe on the Fourth of July. This was written with the Fourth of July in mind but could also be considered for other gatherings and events. Many of the same dangers present for July 4th are present during other parties, minus the fireworks. That could include lots of guests, alcoholic beverages and too much food available. If you're having a party soon and you have pets, take a few minutes to peruse this article.

Minneapolis pups have Pride (Photos). The 41st annual Pride celebration in Minneapolis was held this year in Loring Park from June 28th to June 30th. I attended the festival and the annual Pride parade on Sunday afternoon, which marched down Hennepin Avenue through downtown Minneapolis. I snapped a bunch of pics of pups pimping their pride, but I'm disappointed that I missed on particular pooch who had been dyed into a rainbow of colors. Next year, my pretty, I'll get a picture of that little dog, too!

Stop the Bleeding: An open letter to police on the shooting of pets. It makes me sad that this article ever had to be written. It makes me even more sad to know that it's one of my most popular posts, knowing that its being shared in sadness and outrage at the callous killing of our best friends at the hands of people who are supposed to be keeping them safe. Click through to read about the excuses that are being made and the problems this is causing to our communities.

Pet Memorial Day event to be held in Minneapolis. More pets these days are considered part of the family. When a loved pet dies, the loss felt by human companions is comparable to the death of a family member. Attending a pet memorial is a healthy way for humans to cope with the deaths of companion animals. Two organizations that work closely with pets and their human companions created the Twin Cities area’s first-ever Pet Memorial Day event on National Pet Memorial Day, September 8th. I didn't attend it, this was more of an announcement so other people who wanted to could.

The next article roundup will be in December, but my next blog post will most decidedly be sooner.

Article Roundup: Minneapolis Pet News Examiner

Couldn't let March squeak by without a blog post after I had been doing so well! I forgive myself, as I have been searching for a new job. But now that I have steady work, it's time to get back into a schedule, from Sam Can Shoot to True to Words to the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner.

Speaking of, I've written a new article for Minneapolis Pet News Examiner every month. Here are the most recent articles. Unless I start writing more than one per month, I think I'll do these little roundup posts quarterly. End of the first quarter!

Molting birds need extra care and love. My house is full of life in the form of fur, fins and feathers - the latter of which I've been finding an inordinate number lately. My parrot, Harry, has been molting pretty hard since January and the poor guy is so uncomfortable. Makes me feel just a twinge of guilt for using his pain as fodder for an article.

Hedgehogs linked to outbreak of rare salmonella infections. Hedgehogs are pets that I haven't had before. Though I'm not sure of their appeal beyond their adorable cuteness (you can't really pet them, can you?), to each their own: Everyone likes pets for their own reasons. But these little guys have actually been tied to a rare strait of salmonella infection cases, several of which occurred in Minnesota.

Minnesota dog, cat ownership has declined. The rate of pet ownership in Minnesota ranks among the lowest in the nation, according to survey data released from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Could the recession be to blame?

Keep pets safe on New Year's Eve with these tips. Though this article was written with New Year's Eve in mind, these tips could apply to any gathering of people that may be occurring in a household with pets. I'd say that the very first tip is one of the most important.

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook or subscribe to email alerts.

Take a look at the previous Minneapolis Pet News Roundup.

Recent Article Roundup: Minneapolis Pet News Examiner

From fostering pets to keeping them safe during the Thanksgiving holiday, here is a short list of my most recent articles for the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner.

Share the gift of love on Black Friday: Adopt a pet!
Today is Black Friday! While many shoppers have been flooding into the mall, trying to get deals on gadgets, clothing and toys, a few discerning people will be getting something more worthwhile and meaningful for their lives. The Animal Human Society locations in the Twin Cities are having a Black Friday sale.

A pet-proof Thanksgiving (Or "A pet-proof Christmas - the same ideas apply!)
The holidays are awesome. The food, the family, the festivities: What’s not to love? But for dog or cat owners, there are a few other things to consider. Special attention should be taken to ensure that dogs and cats are kept safe during large family gatherings.

Twin Cities’ Second Annual Frankie's Friends Fun Run/Walk
Frankie's Friends, a charity that helps Minnesota families pay for lifesaving specialty veterinary care for sick or injured pets, held a 5k run/walk in Saint Paul during October. The fun run might be over, but donations to help pets and families are welcome and accepted at any time.

Save lives by becoming a foster pet parent
Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in the United States. Becoming a foster “parent” for a pet until it can find a permanent adoptive home saves the lives of animals that would otherwise be euthanized for no other reason than a lack of shelter space. People who become foster pet parents save two lives when they open their homes: The dog or cat they take in, and the next pet to take its place at the shelter.

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
Ha! This one is an old one, but it doesn't have to be "Adopt a Shelter Cat Month" for you to adopt a cat or kitten. June is just a specific time of year when spring is in the air, and thousands of cats and kittens begin pouring into animal shelters throughout the U.S. at a higher rate.

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook or subscribe to email alerts.

Guest Blog Posts at TopRank

Dusting off the True to Words blog and getting it restarted... again. I've been having a hard time trying to figure out what to write, so thought maybe I could aggregate some links to TopRank Blog guest posts I wrote over the summer and fall. Baby steps, right? Besides, it seems appropriate, considering these posts absorbed the creative writing energy that otherwise would have been applied here at TTW and Sam Can Shoot.

Read the summaries and click to learn more about each topic.

5 B2C Pinteresting Marketing Lessons From Top Online Retailers
With over 100 million monthly visitors, Pinterest is now the 3rd largest social network after Facebook and Twitter, and drives more traffic than Yahoo search. For retailers marketing to consumers online, it’s an essential social marketing and engagement channel - and here are five top Pinteresters from which to learn.

6 Lessons Marketers Can Learn from 2012 “Back to School” Marketing Campaigns
In the buildup to kids, teens and young adults reentering the classroom, retailers were drawing in customers and adding up cash from back-to-school sales. Ready go to to social media school? Here are six back-to-school social media campaigns that made the grade this year.

5 Types of B2B Content Marketing Blunders That Offer Teachable Moments 
Though nobody likes to make mistakes, the beauty of an error is that you can learn from the experience. It’s even better if you can learn from someone else’s blunder. The B2B content marketing stories in this post are true and the mistakes are all too common - but they can be remedied!

Writing these posts was fun and gave me the opportunity to do some in-depth research on topics that I really enjoy: Creating content and using social media. This isn't the only writing work I've done writing lately. Check back soon for an update on articles recently written for the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner.

Minneapolis Pet News Roundup ~ July 2011

I didn't write much for Examiner.com in July. Had to take a little time off to make sure I could accommodate a new client. The one article I did write, though, could apply to other events throughout the summer, not just the Fourth of July, so if you take your dog to picnics, camping or other warm-weather activity, it might be worth checking out. 

Pet safety tips for the Fourth of July

Missing the Minneapolis Pet News? In the meantime, you can also read Minneapolis Pet News Roundup ~ June 2011 and Minneapolis Pet News Roundup ~ May 2011.

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, please follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook.

Minneapolis Pet News Roundup ~ June 2011

A listing of all the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner articles published in June. This time there was some good advice about keeping pets safe and happy.

• Pet Appreciation Week 2011
• Adopt a Cat in June
• World Pet Memorial Day 2011
• Pet Project helping pets, people affected by Minneapolis tornado
• Minneapolis ranked fourth among top pet-friendly cities
• 5 steps to good canine dental health
• 5 steps to good feline dental health
• Animal Rights Awareness Week 2011
• Protect cats from High-Rise Syndrome
• Plan for pets in case disaster strikes

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, please follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook.

Minneapolis Pet News Roundup ~ May 2011

A listing of all the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner articles published in May. Lots of events and observances.

Be Kind to Animals Week 2011
National Specially-abled Pets Day 2011
National Hug Your Cat Day 2011
National Dog Bite Prevention Week
Minneapolis ranks high for dog attacks on postal workers
Help for displaced, lost pets after Twin Cities tornado

Donations to help North Minneapolis residents and pets are still needed! Check out the Resource Sheet for North Minneapolis Post-Tornado Relief Efforts to discover how you can help.

If you would like to receive Minneapolis and Twin Cities pet articles, including news, events and advice, please follow the Minneapolis Pet News Examiner on Facebook.

Minneapolis Pet News Examiner

Lately, I've been looking for new ways to explore my interests through writing. As someone who shares a life with 3 cats, 2 dogs and a parrot, I am excited to be the new Minneapolis Pet News Examiner!

Like some sort of special present, my first article was published on Friday - my birthday! I've tried to hit the ground running, having published five articles already. Please check them out:

• Poison control: Top five toxins ingested by cats in 2010
• Statewide rabies rule proposed for Minnesota
• Controversy surrounds proposed dog park in Minneapolis
• Twin Cities Puppy Bowl 2011 
• Exotic birds in need of homes in the Twin Cities

I also plan to write some advice-style articles based on my personal experiences owning or caring for animals as fragile as fish and hermit crabs to as robust as dogs and horses. Twin Cities area readers, please let me know about local pet news and events you think are newsworthy by via e-mail, Twitter or posting a comment. Any kinds of pets: Dogs, cats, parrots, horses, ferrets, pot-bellied pigs, llamas, whatever! I am ready to write about everything pet-related in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities!

Crow River Christmas

The first weekend of the first-ever Crow River Christmas seemed to be a hit, at least from this observer's point of view. The second weekend won't have quite as many events, but hopefully it will be as well attended.

On December 4, the first Saturday of the Crow River Christmas included a variety of activities suitable for all ages. There was a Medallion Hunt, pancake breakfast, Cookie Walk, Chili Contest, and a ceremony to Light Up the Park. Starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 7:00 p.m., there was something happening nearly every moment of the day.

This weekend on December 11, the festivities will be a little bit more subdued. There will be a Girl Scout Holiday Craft & Bake Sale with a varying admission policy starting at 9:00 a.m., but which will be officially open to the public at 10:30 until noon. Pictures with Santa will beheld from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Rockford Fire Station (bring a new toy, they'll be holding a toy drive to benefit local families!). And my personal favorite, the Ames Florida Stork House will be open for tours and decorated for Christmas in a turn-of-the-century style with offerings of hot chocolate and cookies.

The Stork House will also hold its traditional, low-key Victorian-Style Christmas Tea on Sunday, December 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

More photos of Crow River Christmas in Rockford, MN.

First Taste of Buffalo an Appetizing Affair

I wrote another article recently for the Wright County Drummer! This time instead of a new park, it's a new local community event. The very first Taste of Buffalo was a huge success and I am glad to have had the chance to cover it:

Nearly 300 people descended upon the first annual Taste of Buffalo, held on September 24th, 2009, at the Buffalo Civic Center. Organized by the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Bankwest, Coborn's and McDonald's of Buffalo, the name might be a little misleading. Restaurants, caterers, bar and grills, even grocery stores and gas stations from throughout Wright County and beyond were there to share their culinary creations with the public.

The Taste of Buffalo was born out of a desire to promote the 280 local businesses involved with the Chamber. At other big events that happen in Wright County, like the fair and the Arts & Crafts Festival, area businesses can get overshadowed by vendors that come from all over the Midwest region. This was a chance to highlight products and services offered by organizations located here in the community.

For three hours, the civic center's main room was a grand dining hall. Booths bedecked in maroon and white lined the length of the walls, each one offering attendees everything from bruschetta and Reubens to brownies and cheesecake. At the center of the hall, people could sit down to eat at dozens of tables adorned with linen tablecloths and floral centerpieces. Musicians took stage at the center and far end of the room, supplying diners with entertainment while they ate. White holiday lights were strung across the ceiling, providing some twinkling mood lighting for the occasion.

This story has been removed from The Drummer's website now, but the rest of it can be read here.

A New Regional Park, One Portion at a Time

I had the opportunity to write another feature article for the Wright County Drummer! I was particularly excited about this one, because I got to cover something very important to me: a local park. A new regional park, even. So new, it doesn't totally exist yet. I'm talking about the proposed Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park that is being developed outside of Monticello, Minnesota.

Wright County of Minnesota and the City of Monticello are in the process of purchasing 1,200 acres of land from the Monticello YMCA. In 2008, the two entities were able to purchase 319 acres. With some of the park in place for the first time since it was first discussed in 2005, it was time to throw a party to build some enthusiasm for it. The result was the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Family Fun Day, held on June 13th, 2009.

Here you can read about the proposed Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park, the Family Fun Day event, and what's happened so far in the story of bringing this recreational goldmine to public use. If you want to see some interesting photos that didn't make the final cut, including a questionable Boy Scout rope tying demonstration, check out the Bertram chain of Lakes photo set on my Flickr page.

The Ghost of Christmas Celebrations Past

No, you haven't stepped backwards in time. This blog post is just to announce the re-publishing of my most recent Drummer article. It's the last feature article I'll be publishing to my site until I finish writing one of the 2-3 stories I've been toying with. Really, I'm just waiting for a nice day to go take pictures. Today is not it.

The Ghost of Christmas Celebrations Past was a combination article. It was about a "Victorian Tea" event and a time in the Victorian period of history. Its point was to explore how Christmas celebrations had changed over the last 100 years, but really, how much it had stayed the same. It was a lot of fun to write and especially research, since I got to "play" with real historical artifacts. And I got to know some of the great people at the Rockford Area Historical Society. I hope to donate some of my time and energy there in the near future as the building and activities there thaw out for the winter.

On December 7th of this year, the Rockford Area Historical Society held its 19th annual Christmas Tea at the Ames-Florida-Stork House, where visitors could experience how Christmas was celebrated in Wright County at the turn of the 20th century. It might seem hard to imagine, but with all the advances in technology and changes in lifestyle that have occurred in the past few years, many Christmas customs have been unchanged for over a century. Most of these traditions can trace their roots to the period known as the Victorian Era, between 1837 and 1901. In many aspects, Christmas is celebrated much the same way now as it was back then.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Ames-Florida-Stork House located at 8131 Bridge Street in Rockford, it is a museum that contains 150 years worth of preserved rural Minnesota history. George Ames, who helped to found Rockford around 1855, began construction on the home in 1860. It belonged to the Ames family until the home was sold after George’s death in 1875 to his friend, Joel Florida. It was passed among members of the Florida family for almost 60 years until it was purchased in 1936 by Clinton and Meda Stork. Realizing how special it was, the house was lovingly restored and maintained by the Storks and its treasures shared with the community. In 1985, the house was purchased anonymously and donated to the city. The Rockford Area Historical Society (RAHS) was created in 1986 to help the city preserve and manage it ever since.

Continue reading The Ghost of Christmas Celebrations Past

Third Annual Minnesota Garlic Festival

This was one of my favorite articles to research and write ever for the Wright County Drummer! I didn't know that Minnesota had a Garlic Festival until I was trying to find ideas on what to write about. This is one of my new favorite 1-day events. As expected, there is garlic everywhere, but there are other things too. My particular favorite were these jars of jams and jellies we bought that were fruit mixed with hot peppers. The flavors I think were Strawbanero, Raspbanero, and Bluebanero and they were awesome with cream cheese and crackers. The whole event was a feast for the senses.

On August 16th of this year, thousands of people attended the Third Annual Minnesota Garlic Festival at the Wright County Fair Grounds in Howard Lake. The Garlic Festival is a family friendly and fun-filled event for garlic lovers of all ages. Hosted by the Crow River Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, this fragrant and flavorful festival promotes gourmet garlic farming within the state.

The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota supports the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through innovation, demonstration, education, and farmer-to-farmer networking. Founded by Jerry Ford, the Crow River Chapter president, the Minnesota Garlic Festival itself was started in support of vital rural communities, sustainable farms, local food, and a healthy environment. It’s also a fun and entertaining way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Continue reading Third Annual Minnesota Garlic Festical

National Night Out Across the USA

National Night Out across the USA was the second article I wrote for the Wright County Drummer. This one wasn't quite as much fun to write because I was writing it as an informational piece before the event. I briefly attended NNO events nearby, but had a lot of work to do at the time, so I couldn't linger. Not too long after National Night Out happened, Minnesota decided that it wouldn't do it anymore and instead would to Night to Unite. Anyways, hers is the first paragraph of the article:

On August 5th, thousands of families across the country will gather together in their respective communities to participate in this year's National Night Out. This national-but-local event provides an opportunity for people to meet and mingle with their neighbors, laying the groundwork for a more close-knit community. It’s also a night during which residents can foster a relationship with the badge-wearing members of society that keep their neighborhoods safe. Wright County will be no different, as thousands of residents in local cities and communities will be holding their own National Night Out festivities.

Continue reading National Night Out Across the USA

Great Parks in Wright County

Great Parks in Wright County was the very first article I wrote for the Wright County Drummer. Before the research I wasn't aware there was such a variety of parks available there. Camping and swimming galore! And tramping through the woods to get pictures was a lot of fun.

It was the first time I really exposed myself to writing a story outside my typical environment behind a desk and with a book in my hand. It has set off a desire to escape indoors as often as possible, because the outside world fosters such creativity. Something about the fresh air, sunlight, and light breezes really cleans out your senses.

Re-posting this article right now is very appropriate, too. The weather gets more mild with each passing day. It reminds me of how nice it was outside when I was doing my, ahem, research (tramping through the woods). The first paragraph really says it all:

Though it is easy to get caught up in the fast pace of modern life, it is important to take a step back and relax – probably more often than many of us do. Add to this the fact that this is Minnesota, where cold temperatures, snow, and ice dominate the landscape for about half of each year. The result is that when summertime rolls around, Minnesotan’s tend to spend many warm days outside at parks, swimming at beaches, and tooling around 10,000 lakes in all manner of watercraft.

Continue reading Great Parks in Wright County.