Pet of May : Arracache, the Cute Kitty

Marylin? No, it's Arracache (All photos by M. Shirkavand)

By Anna Muggiati

Arracache was found meow-crying outside her human's home 3 years ago, when she was a tiny baby kitten. Shirkavand took her, fed her and made her an improvised bed. Since then she became his "beloved" pet _ or maybe he became her beloved human?  She is one of the amazing awwww-ed cats n Petzi's social network, and has more than 70 posts  _ just visit petzi.com to see her cute photos.

Lucky girl Arracache was named after a root which is used to season special dishes: "It is a traditional food I ate once in Costa Rica, known as Picadillo de Arracache", Shirkavand explains. In his own words she is very "stubborn and independent". Yet, she makes him work and do things that he would never do if it wasn't for her: "She always make me talk to her with a very pitched and loving voice". When they want to have fun, he plays with a laser toy to amuse her.

Isn't she lovely?

Wired? Yes! A lapcat I am!

Taking my job seriously: this mug won't be taken!

Now, with you, Arracache's mini-interview:

What is your favorite time of the day?

Evening, when my human arrives home and gives me tuna fish.

Treats or food?
I love canned food.

Where do you sleep? 

My human's bed is my favorite place.

Please describe your owner and his best personality traits.

He loves me and always buys me what I like.

Nap time! Bye bye!

The Adventures of Peppo: From a dog's life in Spain to a pooch's life in California (with a stop in Norway)

       By PetziBlogger Anna Muggiati and Ellen Kvam*

Grateful Peace:  (Photos by Petziblogger and Family Archive)

Little Peppo was found wandering in Gran Canaria, Spain, was sent to a shelter close to Oslo, Norway with 40 other puppies, and now lives safely and happily in San Jose, California. He has his own passport, travels in the cabin with his human, and is one of those dogs with a special talent to make you stop to pet him in the middle of the street. Who can resist to  his friendly looks and manners? We didn't. His human mom, jewelry designer Ellen Kvam, knows all about his magnetic powers, and was very happy to help Peppo with his interview. He is the inspiration for our special Talking Dogs new feature, where our barking buddies are special guests.

Aren't I so cute?

Ellen is crazy about her best canine friend  "He is very social, loyal and generous. Definitely not a drama person ", she says." The 3 years-old puppy also lives with Cesar, the 14 years old cat and has a long story to tell. When Ellen picked him he barely had any fur due to a skin condition, but in few weeks he was healthy and already healing.

Now those days are behind him. Peppo has a sweet life, and is surrounded by friends. And, of course, good food: Smoked salmon, sausage and smoked pig ears are his treats... But before that amazing snack,  here's Peppo's interview:

How did you meet your human mom?

 I met my human mom after a long and stressful ordeal. Someone left me and one more dog outside a shelter that is helping stray dogs get a safe home. The farm was in Gran Canaria in Spain. I was sitting outside  when the owners found us early morning. Me and my friend (he could have been my brother, I was told), were taken into this house. I remember they gave us food and water, and after few days a doctor came to the house. After a long nap, I felt a sharp pain. I woke up, I figured that something was missing: I was neutered! I waited for a while and the doctor came back again. I was given more injections and a real passport.   

         
Wow...,I was so scared. My friend disappeared, and I felt very lonely. The owners of the place were nice to me, and made sure I was no longer hungry. That was very nice. After two more days, a man I had never seen before came to the farm and put me into a box. I went on a plane. It was very scary. It was noisy, lonely and cold and I did not know anything about where I was going to go to or what was going to happen to me. 

         
When the plane landed in a place called Norway, a very nice lady named Marianne picked me up at the airport. She told me she was going to be my foster parent until she found a home for me. She brought me to a place called Solplassen, outside of Oslo. In English it would be called the "sunny place". But it was so horribly cold there! In Norway they had snow. What the.... I had never seen snow before and never even heard about it. I was freezing my paws off.

Relaxing!

Once upon a time in the snow (E.K)

         
I was sitting outside Marianne's house in the snow when Ellen and a man called Svein came to visit. They where out for a Sunday walk and stopped to look around. Ellen picked me up, and it felt sooooo good. She was so nice to me and she really wanted to hug and kiss me. I really felt that this women liked me a lot. I did not want to leave her arms. She had a big warm jacket on, and I put my nose inside her jacket to feel even more worm, and she just let me do it, even if she really did not know me to well. Marianne asked Ellen if she would like to try to have me in her house for a week or so, to see if we could get along.


To my luck - Ellen agreed and so did Svein. They where both very excited to have me there in their house, and they bought a bed for me and nice food and my very own bowl to eat from. I remember that Ellen called to the Sunny Place the very next day and told them that she did not need to think about anything for a week. Peppo is mine - she said - and I felt like the happiest dog ever. 

What's your favorite time of the day?

Yes, I do have a Passport!

I think my favorite time of the day must be early afternoon. It is not too hot outside, and I am always meeting other dogs outside to play with. It's when I have my longest walk of the day. I usually meet between 4-10 of my dogs that I have befriended in the Park, and I know them all very well. Nutella is my sweetheart girlfriend and she looks almost just like me. A bit smaller, but she must basically be the same mix, if that is at all possible. It was love at first sight. When I meet Nutella in the park, it is pure fur heaven. We are jumping, sniffing and running around and we can not get any closer to fur heaven. I am so excited that I sometimes run in huge circles around the park, just because i do not know what else to do. My little tail is waiving and I am having so much fun and letting out all my energy. And I have a lot of it. 

Co-sleeping? "In your dreams" (says Cesar the cat) (E.K)

Any special fear?

       

I can not stand fireworks. 

What's your favorite smell? 

Enjoying the ride!

My favorite smell must be the smell of my girlfriend Nutella when she has not had a bath for at least a week, or perhaps the beach home in Oslo, where there are lots of dogs, birds and people making their dinner on the beach BBQ. 

I love my mom

What is love?

Love to me is to share the fun and the sorrow and to be together and to belong together. Love to me is to belong to my Ellen and to her family and friends, and to always share with them their lives and to be a big part of everything they do as a family member naturally is. I love to love and be loved.




* Our guest blogger message: "Hei, I am a Norwegian Peppo lover and jewelry designer born north of the Arctic Circle in the wonderful city - also called the Paris of the North - Tromsø. Read all about me on my web site www.ellenkvam.com and please visit and like my face book page Ellen Kvam jewelry. Have a wonderful dog loving day! "

Air Sign: May 21 - June 21

By Pet-o-Sirius*

“I always wish my pets could talk, but then I remember all the things I have said and done in front of them.” – Nikhil Saluja

Gemini pet, you are the sign that meets yourself coming and going! Your symbol is The Twins. Like the drama mask of the ancient Greek Muses, you are both comedy and tragedy: you are a pet that is quick-witted, curious and affectionate as well as high strung, longing to be all over the place at the same time, with a short attention span.

For you everything is the great reveal, you are keen to know the future. You love puppies, and kitties, and cygnets, and ponies, and a baby macaw parrot that loves to imitate puppies. You have examined your values and have found that although you are emotionally intense, you have learned to express your emotions to your pet parent. You save it for when they are on important phone calls.

If you are canine a good time is when they are trying to leave for work. You hug their leg and hang on for dear life. They love that. They are your BFF and that satisfies your pet soul. You nurturer you! The first half of July is your cat’s meow – a great time to take your pet parent on a trip to, for example, the Canadian Forces Base in PETawawa, Canada or PETerculter in Scotland, or St. PETersburg in the U.S.A. and Russia. This will definitely lift your spirits. Be ready for new opportunity because you might meet your soulmate with a similar “petigree” there.

Gemini, you are a forward thinker. If you are a cockatiel that wants to be up on social media, learn to Tweet. If you have a dogged look you may want to take charming selfies and share on Instagram. Angel fish you have each other’s backs. Post your inspirational bestie’s video on Vimeo. You will never be green with envy because green is your color – it is so good it is bad!

Your least favorite movie is Home Alone. Your favorite songs are How Much Is That Doggy In The Window? and Who Let The Dogs Out?  B-I-N-G-O and Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?Your top band is Pet Symmetry. Your gem stone is agate, your Ruling Planet Mercury. 

Gemini feline, you must lead by example and attempt lofty goals. The top of just about anywhere is your comfort zone. Whenever anyone walks by tune into their vibe, hiss, growl deep in your throat and let them know that you are bold, intrepid, fearless, not afraid to communicate, a guru to be praised.  Leap off and then surprise them with an open pawed swipe. You will instantly become the hero you are in your own mind.

*Our guest writer's work can be seen at http://valeriekent.com

Pet Presents for their Human Moms

By Anna Muggiati


A down pillow? A brand new couch? A new house? Staycations to spend more time with them? Because I just feel that our pets know us so much... and motherhood can be experienced by most of pets moms, I believe that they if they could, pets would choose a perfect Mother's Day present. So what would your pet choose?

Maggie and Nicole (Photo from http://blog.maggieandnicole.com/)

Nicole Ellis, our very special friend and Hollywood pet trainer says that Maggie would pick something very delicious (and unique): "Maggie would probably get me a ginormous wheel of cheese from here.  That way she know that if she steals her weight in cheese, 15 pounds, I probably wouldn't even notice", she tells.


"It should be a fabulous Mother's Day",  comments Jenni C. Her adopted dogs would give her creative presents: "Shelby wants to buy me the winning Florida Lottery ticket so I don't have to go to work and can stay home everyday! Kasie will buy me a XL-King-Size Sleep Number mattress so there is more room and comfort for me and all dogs on the bed. And Jaks will order Chinese take-out for me with enough to share all around." An imitation goose pillow would probably come from Molly. Guess why? She destroyed one many years ago.

Jenni's furry fab four

Pumpkin will give Carol a catio

Pumpkin's mom Carol B. thinks the kitty would be really generous, and give something that would benefit both: "The first thing that comes to mind is a custom made catio for the back porch area _ where she can enjoy the outdoors safely without having to meow for me to open the front door for her to peek out every couple of hours as she does now. " And she explains: "Looks like she would consider this a nice gift for me since she it would mean fewer disruptions for her mom who she dotes on. I was away for a night this past weekend and when I came home it was as if I had died and come back to life _ from all the excited meows, head-butts and chirping noises I received".

Chanel, high fashion kitty

Chanel, my mom's 13 years old cat would buy her another mirror, as she loves to stare when mom is doing her make up. "She is very feminine and adores to look at herself at the mirror, so that would be her choice", say mom, who up to now raised 4 humans and cared for 8 cats (currently 4).

Dadá, my best feline friend 

My white fluffy Dada, the senior Turkish Angora, would give me a new down and goose pillow, as one of his favorite pastime is to nap besides my head purring when I go to sleep. Probably my three grand-kittens, Panda, Pantera and Tigre would also take the opportunity to buy me something big: a whole certification project so to make sure they have lots of fun while being indoor cats!

Juju, the princess ,waiting to be brushed

                                                                                                                                                                       Juju, who I adopted when she was a tiny little something, back in 2004, is the dark brown little cat princess of the house (psst don't tell her she thinks she's black) would certainly buy me a new hair brush, as she loves to watch me combing my hair and just melts when I brush her coat.

Earth Sign April 21 – May 21

By Pet-o-Sirius*

“To err is human, to forgive, canine.”  Anonymous
“To err is human, to purr, feline.”  Robert Byrne

You lucky Taurus you! You are in the second sign of the Zodiac, the bull, resolute, dependable, faithful. Your ruling planet is Venus. This is the year to start something new, perhaps a self-help course. Most of you pets will respond well to something active and upbeat. Think about Toe Tapping for Taureans or Juggling for Gerbils.  If you are more of a social activist, perhaps join Puppies For Guppies. They can always use a paw, leg, feather or fin.

Your fondness for Saturdays is legendary. Perhaps you even mark each one off with a paw print on your calendar. This is the day for you to head out with your friends, whether you are at the end of a leash or flying around overhead. Look for adventure and you might just find romance! Express your sensual nature. It could happen at the dog park, the kitty corner, or at the local feathers in flight fundraiser.

Taurus is traditional. As a Taurus macaw, dog or cat, for example, you would seldom go against your destiny, but choosing a new direction occasionally is still very acceptable. Cultivate your relationship with your pet parent. Dart here and there when they are trying to get you to do something.
When the sun and moon are in Taurus in April and May, risk, take a chance because this is definitely your time.

Keep the love light in your eyes for July and August, although it may feel a little rocky. Keep your pet peeps around you like a cloak of gems: diamonds, quartz crystal, aquamarine, lapis lazuli, maybe emerald and cautiously venture into affairs of the heart.

As a Taurus fish you will find you are not impulsive, much more practical then some, yet pleasant and energetic. If you are a gecko you could find yourself being thought of as obstinate, bossy and full of advice. Ignore it because you know in your heart that you are a hard worker and should take it a little easy. Taureans, you know creativity is your strength. Live it up. Lie in a new spot on the floor.

*Our guest writer's work can be seen at http://valeriekent.com