We have a 11 y.o. lab mix that we actually found on the chatlist.  She has always suffered from allergies and skin issues and honestly, she smells, even after a bath. BUT, we love her and tried every vet starting at Cole Park, then Carrboro, Dogwood, and Hope Crossing.  Because of the fluke of our 3 legged kitty and the chatlisters suggesting Dr. Tysor for that amputation, we decided to take Addie there also.

We now have a totally different dog.  She has stopped biting constantly, doesn’t smell (oh miracle of miracles) and most of all she is happy and has her spirit back.  No one ever told us the things that Dr. Tysor did, about her coat and the flea situation.  I feel badly that we allowed our pooch to be so miserable so long, but it wasn’t for lack of trying or money spent.  We will take ALL our animals to Dr. Tysor in the future and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Meg

In response to a request for referrals, our Lab has had wonderful experiences at Companion Camp in Pittsboro over many years.  Check out their web-site, it really is a little like a doggy dream vacation.

http://www.companioncamp.net/

Good luck!
Debbie Grimes, L.Ac.
929-2999

Hello.
Although I cannot personally speak about dog boarding, I can tell you a little about Companion Camp, located on Castle Rock Road, Pittsboro.

Each time I have been to this facility, it was immaculate, and there was someone feeding dogs and walking dogs.

I don’t board my dogs, simply because I stay home with them, but I have used the groomer that was at Companion Camp.

Both Suzanne and Tom are great animal lovers, and from what I have seen, your animals would be in excellent hands if they were boarded there.

Phyllis

Registration details for this workshop are on the Growing Small Farms website calendar at http://bit.ly/19Y7lt

If you have questions about this workshop please contact Poultry Agent Dan Campeau at 919-548-9895 or dan_campeau@ncsu.edu<mailto:dan_campeau@ncsu.edu>.

January 19, 2012: Small Flock Poultry Workshop from 9:30 am-3:30 pm at the Harnett County Cooperative Extension office in Lillington, NC. Conducted by North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Agenda:

9:30 am Registration

10:15 am Forage Species, Management – Dan Campeau, NCSU

11:00 am Alternative Poultry Species – Jeannette Beranger, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

Noon Lunch

1:00 pm Multi-species Farming Systems – Steve Moize, Farmer & Poultry Producer

1:45 pm Egg Rules, Private Labeling – Richard Hoyle, NCDA

2:15 pm Processing Concerns, Inspection Process, Expected Yields – Abdul Chaudhry, Chaudhry Halal Processing

2:45 pm Center for Environmental Farming Systems Ongoing Research – Lisa Forehand, NCSU

3:00 pm Questions and Answers

3:30 pm Adjourn

Registration details for this workshop are on the Growing Small Farms website calendar at http://bit.ly/19Y7lt

Debbie Roos
Agricultural Extension Agent
Chatham County Center

North Carolina Cooperative Extension
919.542.8202
debbie_roos@ncsu.edu>
www.growingsmallfarms.org
www.facebook.com/debbie.roos.nc
www.twitter.com/GrowSmallFarms

We (Tick-borne Infections Council of NC) have had reports of several people being bitten by “black-looking” ticks in the last few weeks.  Please note:

1. These are likely the black-legged tick (used to be called deer tick) that carries Lyme disease and several other serious infections.

2.  Adults of this species are active in the winter and have spread into NC over the last decade or so.

3.  If you are bitten, watch for any rashes and/or flu-like symptoms for 30 days.  Many people do not get a rash from an infection.

4.  PLEASE KEEP THE TICK and let us know.  This is important for yourself, in the event you become ill.  It is helpful to show the tick to your doctor.  Tick-borne Infections Council of NC needs to know about bites from these ticks.  The conventional stance is that these ticks only rarely bite people in the south, and never in the winter.  We need to see the ticks from any winter bites you may have to identify to tick and make a report to state public health.  The easiest way to kill and keep the tick is to tape in on an index card.  Note the date and place on your body. (You should do this in the summer as well with all ticks.)

Please notify us at info@tic-nc.org or the phone number below.  Also, visit our website to learn the proper way to remove a tick and more. www.tic-nc.org
Lastly, become a member.  There is no charge, though we do appreciate donations.

Please feel free to call with any questions.  Thank you.

I’m Valerie Broadway and new to the Chatlist.  Have been in Chatham since 1979.  Brought here kicking and screaming as a HS senior from Va. by my parents.  Graduated from Northwood HS and then the Vet Med Tech program at CCCC in Sanford.  Fell in love with NC and can’t imagine living anywhere else. 
 
Animal rescue in Chatham Co. has been a major part of my life.  Over the years I have learned a lot about dogs with behavior issues.  A few years ago I started  Canine Coaching Services LLC.  (Check out my website for more information about me and the business.) 
 
It is a thrill for me when dogs are able stay in their homes as a result of my help.  Many times the solution is very simple.  My specialty is dog-to-dog aggression, but I work with dogs with all kinds of issues.
 
Canine Coaching Services LLC provides dog behavior help and basic obedience training for the family pet. 
 
Choose from private in-your-home sessions, or send your dog to me for vacation training.
 
This is a Chatham-based business serving Chatham and the surrounding counties.
For the remainder of 2011 take advantage of a 25% discount on all services. 
Get your dog under control before holiday company arrives!

Valerie Broadway
Canine Coaching Services LLC
919-542-4726
www.caninecoachingservices.com
 
Canine Coaching Services LLC helps people and their pets live together better.

In response to the post about keeping cats from digging up mulch, I have a couple of low-tech solutions that have worked for me.

I tried lots of things, including keeping a pile of sand behind the shrubs in hopes they’d use that instead of digging up my plants. Didn’t work.

What DID work was gathering a bunch of sticks and simply sticking them sturdily in the ground about 8 inches apart. The sticks don’t need to be tall – just a few inches taller than the mulch – but it is enough to send the cats elsewhere. From a distance they blend in with the mulch.

Another solution is placing bird netting over the mulch and tacking it down with small inexpensive stakes. This requires some ongoing maintenance but cats don’t like getting their claws hung up in it.

Hope this is helpful.

Asian lady beetles begin their search for safe winter harbor with cooling fall weather.  To them the sunny side of light-colored buildings seems ideal, although dark colors as well as brick or stone will do.  Scientists speculate that some chemical cues (such as the scent of last year’s visiting lady beetles) may lure them to sites previously used.

From the exterior, lady beetles tend to find cracks or crevices including faulty weather-stripping around windows and doors or around fireplaces and chimneys.  They tend to hibernate in wall voids but on warm days may move around and toward light that may be in the interior such as around light fixtures.  They normally don’t survive long in the heated interior of your home, but that is of little consolation if they are in your infant’s crib or falling on the dinner table.

Unfortunately there are few practical strategies for stopping them.  It’s easy to suggest you repair or replace all your weather stripping, but much more challenging to find all the gaps around chimneys or utility lines.  Nevertheless, these are the most effective long-term strategies.  Pesticides have limited effectiveness:  it’s difficult to get them to the places where lady beetles are; and besides, they only last a few days to weeks at best.  Foggers may kill many of them but the fog will not reach many places where they may be hiding such as under the insulation or inside the walls.

Indoors, vacuuming can be tedious but effective at collecting the beetles present today.  Repeat as necessary.  It may be easier if you insert a bit of hosiery inside the vacuum tube and tape or rubber band it on the outside.  Then when you have done the vacuuming you can quickly release the trapped insects in your garden or wherever you prefer them to be.  Don’t leave them to die in the vacuum; you will learn to detest the odor of dead lady bugs the next time you use it.

There are also black light traps that any electrical engineer can assemble.  And biological control options that every entomologist understands.  For more information about these options and more than you ever wanted to know about Asian lady beetles, check out the insect note at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Other/goodpest/note107.html

alcooke

Al Cooke
Extension Agent, Horticulture
Chatham County Center, N.C. Cooperative Extension

PO Box 279, Pittsboro, NC  27312
919.542-8202; Fax 919.542.8246

In response to Tommy Edwards post referring to Steve Smiths’ post. This morning I saw first hand what leaves them befuddled about nothing.

 A 50 cal., 250 grain slug from a muzzle loader seems to solve the problem just fine. Unfortunately, this one was not made by ACME.

Steve Smith? suggestion to get rid of coyotes by giving them contraptions made by the ACME company is a great one. But while that may produce good results, it seems that no matter how battered, bruised, burned, or befuddled the coyote is, he always returns to make mischief again.

Howdy Neighbors!
 
Its that time again!
 
Rabies Clinic 11/12/2011-11/19/2011.  No exam required, appoinment needed..  Give us a call, rabies vaccines $5 each.

3 year vaccines given only with proof of prior vaccination (tags NOT enough, you MUST have your certificate, or validation from previous vet.)
 
Give us a call, get your pets up to date!
 
Amy

Hope Crossing Animal Hospital
58 East Cotton Rd Pittsboro
(919)542-1975
VOTED BEST VET IN CHATHAM 2009
www.hopecrossing.com
Intersection of E. Cotton Rd and Hamlet Chapel Rd at 15-501, between Allen & Sons BBQ and Fearrington Village.