HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Dennice@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu (Dennice)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: ****REPOST*****ROTTWEILER 4-SALE***
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:29:18 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets
Organization: Slac

ROTTWEILER

10 Month old Male

***PURE BREED***

$850.00 or Best Offer

Has papers and Everything.

Must Sell Moving homes, and can't take him with us. (SAD)

Call Brian at (510) 237-7272.  Evenings!
From: mehrl4986@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Help. Hamster Escape Artist
Date: 22 Jul 92 13:29:20 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

        I am currently hamster sitting for a hamster affectionately known as
"the great houdini".  This hamster has been able to regularly break out of a
whole series of cages by chewing, twisting, pushing, etc.  Houdini has escaped
twice while I've been hamster sitting.

Can anyone tell me if there is a cheap, yet effect way of closing the three
doors on this hamsters cage?  Ties from garbage bags are chewed through, pins
might hurt the hamster.  Please share some wisdom on a way I can return this
ingenius escape artist in one piece to my small niece.
                                
                                                Hamster Warden
From: christin@cae.wisc.edu (Christine Haas)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: FERRETS & CAMPING
Date: 27 Jul 92 21:54:54 GMT
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering

Hello all,

I like the phrase "carpet sharks" and ferrets have also
given new meaning to the phrase "rug rats".

I took my ferrets camping, and just to let you know,
they *hated* it.  I thought they'd like it, I have taken
them outside numerous times and they enjoy playing in the
grass and around trees and so forth.  I guess they just
didn't enjoy being away from home for that long.  We were
their two and a half days.  It didn't help any that the 
grass was wet either.  They stayed outside during the day
and in the tent at night.

When I took them home, I was amazed.  I have never seen 2
ferrets so happy in my life.  They ferret danced, and bounced
off walls, and play nipped at me, tugging on my sweatshirt,
pulling me around the room (and of course I let them).

So, I guess that means they won't be going camping anymore.

Just wanted to let you know in case you are considering it.

Chris.

%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%

Chris Haas			christin@cae.wisc.edu
Training/ Consulting Staff 	Room 283
Computer Aided Engineering	265-2636

%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%	

A few words of wisdom from the smaller creatures in my life:

	^?{

	C0o*-*-

	Bop^?0o 

And there you have it, from two wonderful ferrets;
Scooter and Nina.
-- 


%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%
From: njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: housebreaking rabbits
Summary: This is a common misunderstanding re: litter training
Date: 30 Jul 92 18:53:53 GMT
Organization: AT&T, Denver, CO

In article <mjc.712205533@NL.CS.CMU.EDU>, mjc+@cs.cmu.edu (Monica Cellio) writes:
> Ok, I've sent for the House Rabbit Society book, after finding out that
> the best bookstore in Pittsburgh doesn't carry it (tsk!)

Ask them to start carrying it!

> then put a small litter box there.  Most, but not all, of the pellets do
> land there, due to its location.  When I take the bunny out of his cage,
> though, he ignores the box, even though I move the cage so as to put the 
> box exactly where it had been before (except for the cage factor).  He's

It is important to understand the following:

	Rabbits use some of their pills to mark the territory they consider
	their own.  House training involves teaching them to distinguish
	between THEIR OWN territory (their "cage" or "home") and YOUR
	territory (the rest of the house not occupied by the bunny's home).

	You do this by putting their litter box, food, water, toys, etc. in
	the cage and leaving the bunny in it for several days or
	weeks--until they use the litter box faithfully for urine and most
	of their pills.  But most importantly, don't violate THEIR space by
	reaching in and pulling them out or doing anything else they object
	to (with the obvious exception of having to clean and they refuse
	to budge.
	
	Their first excursions out of the cage should be in a fairly small
	area when you are free to watch like a hawk (pardon the expression,
	bunnies) for any inclination to establish a new corner for urine.

> He just drops pellets all over the bathroom; he doesn't seem to have a
> favorite spot.

He's interpreting the bathroom as being as much his as his cage is,
partly because you have to reach in for him.

> By the way, the cage is one of those wire ones that only opens at the 
> top...  How much of a problem is this likely to be?

As you can see, it's part of the problem.  Can you remove one whole end of
the cage and use circles of wire to hold one side of that end to one side
of the cage (like hinges) and rig something to fasten the other side
(wooden clothespins, bits of wire, etc)?

Also if you can't put the litter box inside the cage, cut a hole in one
end of the cage and fasten a covered litter box to it so the bunny can get
in to it through the hole.  You really need an area that the bunny can live
in for awhile to establish his sense of ownership.


> new cage if I don't have to -- and once he's housebroken, I'm planning
> to remove the cage except for the tray on the bottom and filling the tray
> with bedding.

It might actually be better to leave the cage with one end missing and the
other end attached to the litter box so you don't change anything once he's
decided that's his home.

Good luck!

Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
att!drutx!njl
Newsgroups: rec.pets,ne.forsale
From: leylandr@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: MA Lop-Eared Bunny Seeks Home !!!
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 04:18:01 GMT

Healthy, full-grown, dark-grey lop-eared Rabbit needs good, stable home
(verified). Owner is moving to apartment and would like to place her beloved
bunny with a caring person who can provide lots of love and room to excercise...
rabbit is tame, yet energetic.

Interested parties please call Debbie at (508)692-2258 in Westford, MA.

                       or call Bob at (508)686-6254 in N. Andover, MA.

Call Today !
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: forman@ide.com (Bonnie Forman)
Subject: Re: Help. Hamster Escape Artist
Organization: IDE, San Francisco
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 92 14:40:19 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.132920.5732@iscsvax.uni.edu> mehrl4986@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
>        I am currently hamster sitting for a hamster affectionately known as
>"the great houdini".  This hamster has been able to regularly break out of a
>whole series of cages by chewing, twisting, pushing, etc.  Houdini has escaped
>twice while I've been hamster sitting.
>
>Can anyone tell me if there is a cheap, yet effect way of closing the three
>doors on this hamsters cage?  Ties from garbage bags are chewed through, pins
>might hurt the hamster.  Please share some wisdom on a way I can return this
>ingenius escape artist in one piece to my small niece.
>                                
>                                                Hamster Warden 
>

  When our hamster was just a baby, he too, used to escape his
  cage at night. What I finally did was put his cage into 
  a large (fairly high sides) carton at night (open at the top,
  of course).  This way, if he did climb out, he was stuck in
  the carton instead of running around the house at night.

  He finally outgrew this childish behavior (actually, he got
  too big to squeeze through the wire).

		Bonnie
--
********************************************************************
 forman@ide.com   * ``Things that are Real are given and received  *
 !sun!ide!forman  *            in Silence''      M.B.              *
********************************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: lmiller@lucy.claremont.edu
Subject: Zebra tailed lizard
Organization: Harvey Mudd College
Date: 20 Jul 92 23:16:13 PDT

I can't get my Zebra taile lizard to eat.  What should I do?

Let him go?

Tanya
Xref: sparky rec.pets:2718 alt.folklore.urban:20265 alt.sex:25577
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.folklore.urban,alt.sex
Subject: Re: Jackelope
From: longneck@nova.cs.uni.edu ( John Longnecker )
Date: 31 Jul 92 14:23:29 -0500
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Michigan State University

This is a much belated reply to a jackalope comment that I had concern that
people did not understand. This is related to the mating habits of 
jackalope.

Jackalope mating does need a lightning storm and a cloudless night but
there also has to be at least a half moon. That's because the lightning
is needed to get him up and she is in heat only at night; he needs the
moonlight with no clouds to find her.

When I was hunting them in Idaho near Pocatello, (they were more
abundant further north and a little east) I'd drive a fire truck with
a powerful generator mounted on it. When I'd spot jackalope droppings,
I'd stop the truck and start the generator. The generator would power the 
spotlight (if no moon) and the laser to emulate lightning. I'd then get
the pumps going to spray the water. I'd then don my pants with the female
jackalope bottom painted on the seat and get down on all fours next to
one of the sage bushes. The male would be aroused by the fake lightning,
see the female bottom presented and go for it. When he jumped me, I'd
quickly grab him. (You learn to grab him *quickly* or face the 
consequences.)

If you have further questions about jackalopes, do not hesitate to 
post them.

BTW, I understand Elf!!! just has Omaha paint the fake female jackalope on 
his bare butt. Don't know for sure, just a rumor.

8^#)#
From: njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: The "House Rabbit Handbook" (was Re: bunny questions)
Summary: Not just pet stores, but book stores, schools, libraries, etc.
Date: 23 Jul 92 18:20:32 GMT
Organization: AT&T, Denver, CO

In article <1992Jul22.042604.29065@bmerh85.bnr.ca>, myhui@bnr.ca (Michael Hui) writes:
> 
> I urge all bunny lovers everywhere to promote this book ["House Rabbit
> Handbook"] to their local pet stores.

Great idea, Michael!  If everyone on the net interested in bunnies got the
pet stores, book stores, libraries, schools, etc. in their area to get this
book, there would be many fewer perplexed bunny owners, and many happier,
healthier, house rabbits!

Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
att!drutx!njl
From: clinard@cs.utk.edu (Michelle Clinard)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Egyptian spiny mouse
Date: 21 Jul 92 16:18:09 GMT
Organization: University of Tennessee, Knoxville - CS Department


Saw this cute critter in a (dare I say it) pet store the other day, and
was sorely tempted to risk its $5 purchase price.  It has the body of
a short-bodied mouse, is a bit larger than a hamster, has a pointed nose,
rounded ears, and rather large eyes.  The hair on its back has thick
shafts, thus giving it a "spiny" appearance.  It and its mate were both
cinnamon-brown in color.  Does anybody know anything about these
critters?


Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: mjc+@cs.cmu.edu (Monica Cellio)
Subject: housebreaking rabbits
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 02:52:13 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

Ok, I've sent for the House Rabbit Society book, after finding out that
the best bookstore in Pittsburgh doesn't carry it (tsk!).  It'll probably
take a week or two to show up, though, so I was wondering if anyone could
offer any advice on housebreaking a mature (2 years old) rabbit that has
been cage-kept until now.

I waited for him to stake out a corner of the cage for such purposes and 
then put a small litter box there.  Most, but not all, of the pellets do
land there, due to its location.  When I take the bunny out of his cage,
though, he ignores the box, even though I move the cage so as to put the 
box exactly where it had been before (except for the cage factor).  He's
pretty skittish about my picking him up; when I pick him up and put him
in the box he just jumps right back out.  He just drops pellets all over
the bathroom; he doesn't seem to have a favorite spot.

Any suggestions?  The sooner I can train him the sooner I can give him
his freedom, but he just doesn't seem to understnad when I try to explain
it to him. :-)

By the way, the cage is one of those wire ones that only opens at the 
top, meaning that I can't just leave the doore open and let him come and
go.  (He hasn't yet hopped the side when I leave the lid open.)  How much
of a problem is this likely to be?  I really don't want to invest in a 
new cage if I don't have to -- and once he's housebroken, I'm planning
to remove the cage except for the tray on the bottom and filling the tray
with bedding.

Monica

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: cansoori@athena.mit.edu (Christina Ansoorian)
Subject: Re: Rabbit infested with mites
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 03:21:44 GMT

>My rabbit has a major infestation of mites. Flea powder does nothing.
>I have bathed him several times with flea shampoo, which helps only 
>marginally. I am afraid the mites are probably lurking in the house.
>
>Since  I refuse to flea-bomb the house, does anyone have any non-toxic
>alternatives? I though of using borax, but I don't know if that is toxic
>to rabbits. Also, I have a lot of hardwood floors and I assume you can't
>use borax on bare wood.
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>-- 
>******************************************************************************
>Robert Greenstein           What the fool cannot learn he laughs at, thinking
>green@island.com            that by his laughter he shows superiority instead


My bunny was diagnosed by the vet as having mites about a week ago.
I was told to remove all dust from the areas that he was allowed in, and
to clean up after him regularly, since the mites spend most of their time
in the surrounding areas, and only go on the animal to feed.  I was also
told that I could use a kitten flea powder in the surrounding areas (not on
him).

I have been keeping him temporarily contained in the floor area under my
desk (he always seemed to like it there).  I put the bottom half of his 
carrier in there with a towel in it, and his litter box with an old t-shirt
in it.  There is also a little patch of floor available, which is nice
and cool.  He has his water bottle, food dish, and salt lick.  I have
been washing (in the washing machine, hot water) the towel and t-shirt every
night, and washing out the carrier bottom and litter box, and vacuuming the
area under the desk.  It is too hard to keep the entire room dust-free, as
a building is being constructed next door to my dorm.  I have not yet tried
the flea powder, as I keep forgetting to buy some, but he seems to be getting
better without it.  

Oh, when I was at the vet, they gave him a shot for the mites.  They also
told me to come in again three weeks later for another shot.  

I also have no rugs, just linoleum-tile floor.

I hope your bunny gets better.  I would also appreciate any other advice
anyone else has.
From: crb@doc.ic.ac.uk (Ruth)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Not just *any* kittens!
Date: 21 Jul 92 12:28:55 GMT
Organization: Imperial College London

In article <tertium.711308407@milton>, tertium@milton.u.washington.edu (l boyd) writes:
 
> 
> They're all terrific cats, and the fact that their mom is a people will most
> likely make them exceptional pets.
> 
> Responsible parties only.
> 
> Please call if interested: 	(206)632-2253 
> 
Why oh why are you in the USA!!!!!!!!!!!  I dearly want a new kitten to
add to my brood of three (I lost my fourth on moving day last September, 
and have never quite got over it).  I never mind what a new kitten looks
like or what temperament, it just makes them more individual, but yours
sound great - what a pity I'm in another country......sigh

Ruthie
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 16:23:32 -0400 
From: "Denise D. Novak" <dn22+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Spots on Kitty's Chin??- HELP!!

My cat, Spooky, has had acne since he was a kitten.  My other "cat"
friends suggested using only glass or metal dishes for food and water,
instead of plastic.  This has helped a great deal and now he gets zits
infrequently.
I don't know if this is what your kitty has but it sort of sounds the same.

Denise Novak
dn22@andrew.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: angela allen <angie@moose.cs.indiana.edu>
Subject: lumps on paws
Organization: Computer Science, Indiana University
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 10:22:00 -0500

Here's an idle question:

Ever since Cerebus was about 6 months, he has been getting these
growths on his paw pads. They are hard, horn-shaped protrusions, about 1mm,
 that
have the texture and color of dry skin (paw-pad skin, that is...).
They don't seem to hurt or cause problems, and they just stay there for a few
weeks then separate from the pad and fall off. The skin underneath is
not sore or tender. He has had one or two at a time pretty consistently
since age 6mo (he's 2 now).

When I asked the vet about it (I was quite concerned, being a new mom
and worried about all sorts of things), she checked them and said that
no one knows what they are, but some cats just get them sometimes.
And, of course, warned me to not worry unless they seem painful or
infected.

Does anyone know what this might be, or have a kitty with the same
trait? 

--angie
& John (hubby)
& Cerebus (buddy)
& Jaka (sweetie)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ehp@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU ("Didi Pancake")
Subject: Re: Are all tricolor cats female?
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 15:11:06 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.180843.18909@rsg1.er.usgs.gov> ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder) writes:
>Which reminds me of an interesting question. Do male calicos need to
>be neutered/spayed (or whatever you do to an XXY cat)? In otherwords,
>would an unneutered male spray? Also, is there such a thing as an XYY 
>cat?
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>        Steve Snyder            | This space for rent, inquire within. 

Yes, I believe that there can be triploids that are XYY. I would have any
male cat neutered just 'cause you never know until it's too late. Or if
you are really into "support your local vet," you could have the cat's
sperm checked for viability before neutering it (although I suspect that
neutering is the cheaper of the two procedures).
--
|  Didi Pancake         |     ESTJs know the answer...                   |
|  ehp@virginia.edu     |              ...the question is irrelevant.    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  All the usual disclaimers about the origins of these opinions apply.  |
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lis@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Elisabeth Riba)
Subject: Re: what do you think?
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 13:54:14 GMT

K_LEPA@unhh.unh.edu (Kristen   Lepa) writes:
>In <mk8ooB1w164w@ailanth.UUCP> ailsa%ailanth.uucp@wang.com writes:
>> sbiles@nmsu.edu (Susannah E Biles) writes:
>> > You know that cute little thing that kitty's do with their paws -n-
>> > claws when they are content? Well, I was just curoius as to what 
>> > everyone else called it. I have refered to it (since a little girl)
>> > as "makin' muffin's", and I have heard it called, "kneading bread"
>> > and "that-happy-cat-thing". Any others?
>> p.s. i always just called it "kneading," but i like 'starfish paws' much 
>> better..
>I've always called it "making the bed" because my cats do it when they are
>trying to make in indentation in puffy blankets to sleep in.
My family always referred to it as "milking"  
-- 
--------------->Elisabeth Anne Riba * lis@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu<---------------
"I want to be Robin to Bush's Batman."  Dan Quayle
Quick!  Notify DC.  I think it's time for another 900 number poll.
"We are enjoying a sluggish economy & not enjoying it very much."  --Bush
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: janet@indetech.com (Janet Christian)
Subject: Re: Help! Need advice on adopting a cat
Organization: Independence Technologies, Inc. Fremont, CA
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 22:38:48 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.130016.17951@cci632.cci.com> agc@cci632.cci.com (Anupama Chathampally - co-op) writes:
>
>I love cats and want to adopt one from the humane society.  I am
>interested in getting an older cat.  My main concern is for the lonliness
>of the cat.  I live in an apt and the cat would be alone all day while I am
>at work.  I don't have room for two cats in the apt.  I thought an older cat
>could maybe adjust better to being alone all day but I'm not sure.  Should I
>just forget it?  I need advice!!!! Thanks.
>       
>
>                                          Anu ( cat-deprived )

Take two, they're small!  :-)

Seriously, you might consider two cats, if they get along well. They can sleep together,
bathe each other, and generally keep each other company. They can also keep each
other more "perky", which might help them both live longer.

Janet
-- 
   Janet Christian             jchristian@indetech.com

My boss agrees with everything I say - well, actually, he thinks I'm working.  
"Never argue with a Scorpio - it's frustrating and you'll lose, anyway..."
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: krissie@locus.com (Krissie Griffiths)
Subject: Re: Are all tricolor cats female?
Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Los Angeles, California
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 18:26:24 GMT

>
>I've heard that if you find a male calico that you have a goldmine  
>. . . whatever that means.
>
recently here in l.a. there was an item on the news about a male calico and
along in the piece i believe they said it is not uncommon if you do find a
calico or blue cream male that it is sterile.

so that would pretty much blow the goldmine, eh?

kg