Happy Halloween (...but keep the chocolate away from Fido or Fifi!)

Halloween is a time of ghosts, goblins, and all things spooky. It's also a time where we can eat as much free chocolate as we want without needing to feel guilty! However, Halloween can quickly turn into a nightmare for you and your pet if they ingest chocolate.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats, and most other pets. It contains a chemical called theobromine which, in large enough quantities, is toxic and even fatal to pets. Before you let your dog or cat convince you to offer up a taste of your Snickers bar, make sure you read up on chocolate toxicity to get all the facts. Here are some great articles to get you started.

• Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs
• Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
• Chocolate Poisoning in Cats
• Theobromine Poisoning
• Chocolate Toxicity in Pets
• Chocolate Toxicity in Birds

Trick-or-Treat with the big cats this Saturday!

Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue will be open for trick-or-treating this Saturday, October 31 from 3:00pm-6:00pm. All 27 big cats will be "handing out" candy to visitors. There is no admission fee, though donations of any size are appreciated.

Where: Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue, 305 Pine St, Rock Springs WI

When: Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 3:00pm-6:00pm

For more info: Visit WI Big Cat Rescue online

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Attention Kids: 2nd Annual APPA National Children’s Pet Poetry Contest!

For the second year, The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is holding a pet poetry contest for gradeschool children grades 3-5. Participants are invited to write a poem about their favorite pet and why they love them. Entries can be submitted online or by mail to Pets Add Life, 45 Winter Street, Reno, NV 89503. All entries must be received by January 15, 2010.

Two winners from each grade level will be selected to receive a supply of pet products. Their classroom will also receive a $1000 scholarship to help further pet-related education.

The clock is ticking, so kids....happy writing! Check out the website for all the contest details.

Help the Dane County Humane Society win big!

We all know how much the Dane County Humane Society does to help homeless pets in the greater Madison area. Now, help give back by making them a winner in the Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter Challenge!

You may vote once per day until December 20, 2009. Make sure to tell all your friends to vote (retweet this if you can!) and bookmark this post so you can remember to vote every single day. Through the Shelter Challenge, the Dane County Humane Society has a chance to win up to a $20,000 grand prize; weekly awards of $1000 can also be won.

Please help support your local Humane Society by voting every day! It's quick, easy, and will help infinitely to care for homeless pets in our area.

Click the banner to vote!

Jury trial scheduled in Madison cockfighting case

A final pre-trial is scheduled for tomorrow, October 15, 2009, in the matter of a Madison man accused of holding cockfights. Jorge L. Iglesias was charged on June 26, 2009 with 13 felony counts of instigating animal fights.

Jorge Iglesias entered a plea of not guilty on all charges during his June initial appearance hearing. A jury trial is scheduled for November 3, 2009 in the Dane County Circuit Court.

Related story: Hearing scheduled for tomorrow in alleged case of Madison cockfighting (detailed story)

Wisconsin Dog Fair coming to Madison on November 8

If you have a dog (or just plain love dogs!), you'll feel right at home at the Wisconsin Dog Fair. Held on November 8, 2009 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, the event features vendors, exhibitors, raffles and more. Over 150 different dog breeds will also be available for viewing.

Where: Alliant Energy Center, Madison WI

When: Sunday, November 8, 2009 from 10:00am-5:00pm

For More Info: Visit the websites for Alliant Energy Center or Badger Kennel Club

Laika's angry mass.

On Saturday night I took my hedgehog Laika out of her cage for her evening playtime. I noticed that she had a very strange lump on her back leg right at the quill line. It hadn't been there the day before, so I had my husband rush Laika and I to the emergency vet at about 8:00 at night.

The vet's first impression was the same as mine: it's probably an ingrown, infected quill. He decided to aspirate the lump. If it was filled with liquid, it should shrink quite easily. Unfortunately, the aspiration proved it was not filled with liquid but rather solid tissue.

The veterinarian viewed a sample of the lump under a microscope and found that the tissue appears to be made up of "round cells", which indicate a tumor. I decided to send the sample to the university for testing. A tumor like this can either be a benign mass that is easily removed or a sign of a serious cancer like lymphoma (unfortunately hedgehogs are prone to some cancers.)

I should find out the university's results later today. For now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my sweet little hedgie girl will only have a minor removal surgery to endure.