An Update on My Pets

January 27, 2017

So many of you always comment on how much you love the updates on my pets - my dogs, cats, canaries, horses, donkeys, chickens, peafowl, and pigeons. I enjoy sharing photos of all of them.

Sharing a home with any pet is a huge responsibility - one I never take lightly. It requires time, knowledge, and commitment to ensure every pet gets the best possible care. I'm fortunate to have lots of help looking after these wonderful animals when I am not home - especially with my busy work and travel schedule. And, I am happy to report, all my pets are doing very well.

Here are snapshots of some of them enjoying a mild winter day at the farm. Enjoy.

: One of the focal points at my Bedford, New York home is my large canary cage, which contains a number of beautiful and melodious red and orange canaries.

: Here are some dining at their feeder. Named after its beautiful plumage, the red factor canary, Serinus canaria domestica, is one of the most popular canary breeds.

: Canaries are generally good-natured, social creatures. Healthy canaries will always have clear, bright eyes, clean, smooth feathers and curious, active dispositions.

: First bred in the early 1900s, this canary is the only color-bred variety with a “red factor” as part of its genetic makeup. They were originally developed by crossing a red siskin and a yellow canary.

: Red factor canaries need certain nutrients to maintain their bold, colorful plumage. Fresh foods containing beta-carotene, canthaxanthin and carotenoids along with greens and the appropriate canary seed make up a good well-balanced diet.

: I provide multiple feed bowls with a buffet of seeds along with all their fresh vegetables and fruits.

: A canary’s metabolism is very fast, so it’s important to be observant of their eating needs and habits.

: Their bold colors can range in shades of light peach and almost white to apricot, orange, and red.

: To keep my canary count under control, prevent inbreeding, and maintain healthy bloodlines, I give birds away from time to time, so others can enjoy them.

: If you choose to keep canaries, be sure to get the largest cage your budget allows, so they have ample room to exercise.

: Here’s a canary beginning to build her nest.

: I always provide natural cut branches in the canary cage for the birds to sit on – they love perching on them.

: These canaries are vibrant, sing all the time, and listen to classical music all day.

: Nearby, at the kitty buffet, is my beautiful cat, Princess Peony, one of two dominant calico Persians.

: She sat for just a brief moment, so I could capture a few quick photos.

: And then she was off to the basement, her favorite place.

: This is Empress Tang. Where are you going, sweet kitty?

: My cats are groomed every day. Here is Tang on the grooming table. Her long, beautiful coat doesn’t stay clean and tangle-free on its own. It must be gently but thoroughly combed and brushed regularly.

: Tang loves to lounge, and can often be found napping in her bed, on a chair or in my giant mortar and pestle bowl.

: Here she is lounging on a bed in my craft room.

: In the kitchen, my two young and playful Frenchies are ready for their walk.

: GK is always eager to go outside. He wants to walk with the girls too.

: Which way shall we go, girls? On a chilly day, I make sure the puppies wear something to keep their young bodies warm – Frenchies have a single short coat, so they get cold more often than double coated breeds.

: They stopped for a quick visit with the peafowl. They’ve learned to be very quiet, so they don’t scare them.

: Here is a happy GK on his daily stroll. GK is a champion show dog and has a perfect gait.

: Here’s Carlos-II running down the party field with them.

: And here are the active three – back in their enclosed courtyard. Like most other dogs breeds, French Bulldogs don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. This courtyard is right outside my kitchen, so there is always someone nearby to keep an eye on these inquisitive young canines.

: Creme Brulee loves to play and roll.

: Bete Noire and Creme Brûlée also love to wrestle each other – they have so much fun.

: And they always enjoy playing with their toys. Frenchies are very playful – in fact, they have been referred to as “clown dogs” for their fun loving and vivacious personalities.