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When disaster strikes, having an emergency plan is essential. But as you plan for the worst (and hope for the best), don't forget about your pet's place in those plans. Thousands of animals were displaced by the storms and flooding that ravaged the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the recent floods in the Midwest have already forced thousands of residents—and their pets—out of their homes. Here are some tips to help you keep your pet safe in the event of a major emergency.

The first and most important step is to plan ahead. In the event of a hurricane, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster, you may be forced to evacuate your home. However, most disaster shelters, such as those maintained by the Red Cross, cannot accommodate pets, with the exception of service animals. Because of this, it's a good idea to work out some kind of emergency shelter plan for your pet. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area and find out if they allow pets, either in times of emergency or on a regular basis. Friends and relatives outside the affected area may also be able to care for your pet. Many veterinary hospitals and boarding kennels also provide shelter for animals in an emergency. Some hospitals, especially those in disaster-prone areas, have emergency plans in place for pets staying at the hospital. Whichever method you choose, keep a list of these "pet friendly" emergency accommodations on hand and make arrangements as far in advance as possible.

Whatever you do, do not leave your pet at home. Leaving a pet alone during an emergency is likely to result in your pet being injured, lost or even worse. If you are forced to evacuate and cannot make shelter arrangements for your pet, bring him or her with you and try to find shelter for them along the way. In the case of floods, hurricanes, major storms and other disasters for which warnings are often issued in advance, start making preparations immediately. Confirm emergency shelter arrangements, bring your pets inside, and be sure all of your animal companions are wearing some sort of ID tag. Microchipping your pet is also a good way to ensure that you are able to find your pet should he or she become lost during an evacuation.

Having a disaster supplies kit for your pet is also helpful. This kit should include medications, medical records and a first aid kit, leashes and harnesses, a supply of food and portable water, a photo of your pet (in case he or she is lost), and bedding and a toy or two to keep your pet comfortable, if easy to transport. Preparations for each pet depend on the species and age of the pet. For example, birds should be transported in a secure cage or carrier, while snakes can be transported temporarily in a pillowcase until more secure housing can be found. Farm owners or those caring for horses and other large animals must also make special arrangements for evacuating or sheltering their animals at home.

For more information and detailed examples of emergency plans, The Humane Society of the United States maintains a list of disaster preparedness resources for pet owners on their website. Additionally, the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have compiled a list of resources and tips for keeping animals safe during a disaster. Individual states may have their own disaster plans for animals. The American Veterinary Medical Association maintains a list of states with animal disaster plans.

Many people believe they cannot own a dog or cat if they have asthma or allergies, but not all people with these problems necessarily have a reaction to dogs or cats, and some people may be allergic to dogs and not cats, or vice versa.

Some people believe that there are dog and cat breeds that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in their owners but this is not always the case.

Most people who react to dogs and cats are allergic to the dander rather than the hair. Dander consists of dead skin cells shed by the animal. All breeds of dogs and cats shed dander.

Other people are allergic to a protein in the animal's saliva. This is more likely to cause problems to cat owners, as cats self-groom by licking their fur. A suggested remedy for this is to bathe the cat once a month. No soap is needed, merely soak the cat thoroughly. Done on a monthly basis, it may help to keep the saliva levels down to a tolerable level.

For those people who react to dog or cat hair, there are breeds which are non-shedding. Poodles, Bichon frise and Bedlington terriers have a wool-like coat which does not shed. Some of these non shedding dogs; however, have other requirements. These breeds need to be clipped on a regular basis and also require close human companionship. They are not suitable for owners who want a dog which will spend the majority of its time alone or outside.

Crossing the poodle, Bichon frise and Bedlington terrier with other breeds does not guarantee any puppies in the litter having a non-shedding coat. If you wish to be sure that the pup you purchase has the coat type you require, then it is best to buy a purebred.

The Cornish rex and Devon rex cat breeds also have a non-shedding coat but they need to be kept indoors.

There are some steps which you can take in order to minimize allergies to cats and dogs:

• Keep the pets out of the bedroom.
• Keep pets off the furniture.
• Clean and vacuum often.
• Groom and brush the pet (outside if possible) often so it sheds less around the house.
• Bathe the pet regularly.

Since some people are simply allergic to a new dog or cat, repeated exposure may diminish the allergic reaction. In other words, you may not be allergic to dogs or cats that you are exposed to regularly.

An allergy specialist can test you for allergies and then give you periodic injections to help you develop an appropriate immunity to them. Be sure to find a specialist familiar with dog and cat allergies as some doctors may simply recommend you get rid of pets.

The companionship of a dog or cat has many benefits for both children and adults and it is sad to deny ourselves these benefits without considering all the options. However, if you suspect a family member may have an allergy to a pet, it is best to seek medical advice before bringing one home. It can be heartbreaking to have to part with a loved pet because of a family member's allergies.

Stretching out, jumping up on two legs, rolling over for a belly rub - at first glance, those are all natural dog behaviors. But are they yoga poses, too? Some people and their canine companions think so. Yoga for dogs - also known as doga (pronounced DOH-ga) - is popping up everywhere, with yoga centers and fitness clubs across the United States and even in Japan offering yoga classes for people and their pooches.

The first doga class started in New York City in 2002. Yoga instructor Suzi Teitelman started incorporating her dog Coali into her regular yoga routine.

"As a yoga instructor and practitioner, I was often on my yoga mat, and Coali started to join me," Teitelman said. "Before long we were doing the poses together, and I was creating a new class. Coali and I started teaching Doga all over New York City in 2002, and now it is all over the world."

Teitelman now teaches doga in Florida and maintains a website to help spread the word about yoga for dogs. Since then, classes have sprung up from California and Texas to Maryland and New York. There's even a doga association in Japan.

Suzi Teitelman and Coali practice doga.

Dogs and yoga might seem at first an unlikely combination, but the two are a natural fit, in a way. One of the most basic yoga poses is "downward facing dog", after all. In doga, owners and their canine companions practice together; sometimes, an owner will help his or her pet get into a pose, while other times, the dog will become part of the owner's pose. For example, in the "chair pose", the dog stands on his or her hind legs with the front paws in the air while the owner supports the dog. In the "savasana relaxation" pose, a dog lies on his or her back and has his or her belly rubbed.

Okay, so that last one isn't very different than the usual tummy rub your dog gets while lying on the living room floor. But some doga classes also include light massage and acupressure for dogs, and the overall result is a lot of direct human-to-dog contact. Doga practitioners say it is more about bonding with your pet than exercising and increasing flexibility (though those are plusses). Sessions typically start with owner and dog sitting together, perfectly still, and breathing together. Doga teachers and practitioners have reported that a good doga session calms down hyper pets and greatly relaxes both pets and their people. Other benefits for dogs include better sleep and stronger muscles.

"You will find that both you and your pet become more peaceful, more loving, more connected to each other," Teitelman said. "The more you practice doga, the more you find that you need it and want to stretch and relax, and bond together with your pet. I find that many dogs become better behaved and listen more to their owners."

Suzi Teitelman and her dog Roxy bond through doga.

For novice dog yogis (dogis, perhaps?), Teitelman recommends starting out with a pose called the "sacred kneel." Teitelman describes it like this: "Sitting on your heels, have your dog sit and face you. Take a moment to connect with your dog through massage, positive words, and get into your long deep inhales and exhales. Allow the dog to feel you breathe and feel your calming energy. The dog picks up on your energy through your touch and breath, so stay peaceful through all the poses. Carefully move deeper into the pose by gently and lovingly lifting the paws of the dog into the air. Either hold their paws to help them balance, or place the dog's paws on your shoulders. Hold and breathe for 5-10 breaths."

Doga hasn't made to every yoga studio in the country yet, but for budding dogis and their people, there's the book "Doga: Yoga for Dogs", a handy introduction to dog yoga. Of course, you could always just watch what your dog does and follow his or her lead - they've been doing their own sort of yoga for years.

Mammary tumors are among the most common tumors in the cat. The average age of diagnosis is 10-12 years though it can be seen in cats of any age. Most affected cats are intact females, however, the disease is occasionally seen in spayed females and, rarely, in male cats. Almost 90 percent of feline mammary tumors are malignant, meaning they have the potential to spread to other portions of the body. Since malignant tumors tend to metastasize rapidly, containing the spread can be difficult and requires immediate attention.

To date, surgical excision at the earliest possible opportunity is the most effective therapy for any mammary tumor. If the tumor is benign, complete surgical excision is curative. If the tumor is malignant, post-surgical treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy may be warranted. With conservative surgery, more than half of the cats have a recurrence at the surgical site. The most significant predictive factors affecting recurrence and survival times for cats with malignant mammary tumors are tumor size, extent of surgery, and the grade of the tumor.

Tumor size is the single most important factor. Cats with tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter have an average survival time of four to six months, whereas cats with tumors 2-3 cm in diameter have an average survival time of about two years. Cats with tumors less than 2 cm in diameter have an average survival time of over three years. Thus, since the size of the tumor clearly affects the survival time of the cat, early diagnosis and treatment is vital in cats with mammary tumors.

There are various treatment options for a cat diagnosed with a malignant mammary tumor. However, since size and grade of mammary tumors vary, some treatments may not be an option. Consult your veterinarian to find the best treatment for your cat.

Periodontal disease is classified under two categories; gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the more mild form of periodontal disease. With effective and timely teeth cleaning, gingivitis can be completely reversed.

Early Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a condition that may be controlled but not cured. It is often seen in pets that are over five years old. Most animals with periodontitis have bad breath, tooth mobility and bleeding gums. Severe inflammation of the gums, gum recession, alveolar bone loss (the bone that supports the tooth is "eaten away"), and pustular discharge are common signs of periodontitis.

Moderate-Advanced Periodontitis

Periodontitis is more serious than gingivitis and involves the loss of tooth support with permanent damage. At best, lesions of periodontitis are only partially reversible. Special (oral) surgical procedures are necessary in order to limit the progression of periodontitis.

Advanced Periodontitis

Advanced Periodontitis

Proper home dental care, along with regular veterinary dental checkups, will reduce the risk of periodontitis in your pets.

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

The ant can lift 50 times its own weight, can pull 30 times its own weight and always falls over on its right side when intoxicated. (Did the government pay for this research??)

Ants Are Incredibly Strong

Polar bears are left-handed.

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.

A cockroach can live nine days without it's head - before it starves to death.

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump. (This is a GOOD thing.)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than it’s brain.

Wow! Does This Mean An Ostrich Is Not Intelligent?

Not all pets are cute and cuddly and sit in your lap, but pet owners love them just the same. Snakes, iguanas, birds, hamsters, fish and others are all popular pet choices, even though they can't go for a walk in the park or come when you call. However, exotic pets may soon be scarce in the United States if Congress passes a proposed piece of legislation that would prevent "non-native" species from coming in to the U.S. and ban the sale, breeding and transporting of exotic pets in the country.

Many species of birds are considered non-native and will be affected by HR 669.

The bill, HR 669, is called the "Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Protection Act." According to the text of the bill, its aim is to "prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species' or human health, and for other purposes." The overall goal of the bill is noble enough: stopping irresponsible pet owners from keeping dangerous pets and preventing non-native species from taking over local ecosystems. However, the language of the bill is vague, and this means that traditional pets like hamsters, aquarium fish, most species of birds, and reptiles could potentially be banned under the bill. As part of the bill, substantial scientific proof would have to be provided before a non-native animal could be imported into the U.S., bred or transported across state lines.

Under the current laws in place, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must demonstrate that a species can cause harm to humans, local ecosystems and the welfare of other wildlife resources in the U.S. If HR 669 is passed, the Fish and Wildlife Service would be required to create two lists - an "approved list," for species judged as harmless, and an "unapproved list," for species judged harmful. When examining the potential "negative impact" a species might pose, HR 669 judges the animal in the context of the whole country. For instance, a reptile species that might negatively impact the local ecosystem in southern Florida but nowhere else would nonetheless be banned throughout the country. Cats, dogs, farm animals and some rabbits are included in the list of species grandfathered in under the provisions of the bill. Other species would be required to undergo a rigorous screening process in order to prove they could not potentially have any sort of negative impact on their surroundings. Pet owners already caring for exotic pets would not have to give up their pets; however, the pets could not be sold or transported across state lines.

Pets such as dragons and iguanas could be banned under HR 669.

If passed, the bill will have a far-reaching impact on pet owners, breeders, veterinarians, pet supply retailers, and a number of other groups, including the New England Aquarium. Already, pet owners, have started to band together in opposition to HR 669. The website http://nohr669.com declared April 20 as "National NO HR 669 Call-In Day" and encouraged all animal lovers to call their Congressperson and declare opposition to the bill. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), a trade organization comprised of retailers, distributors, manufacturers, hobby groups and other animal-related businesses, has also mounted a strong opposition to HR 669.

How HR 669 will fare in Congress remains to be seen. The bill is under review by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife and a hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 23. You can track the progress of the bill by clicking here.

Flying first class is about to get a whole lot furrier. Starting in July, Pet Airways will offer pets-only flights for companion animals traveling between five major cities: New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. The first flight is slated to take off on July 14, and Pet Airways hopes to quickly expand its services to other "pawsengers" in other major cities.

About 76 million cats and dogs travel with their people each year, according to the American Animal Hospital Association, though relatively few travel by air. That's because air travel is often uncomfortable and stressful for pets, according to Dan Wiesel, the president and CEO of Pet Airways.

"Currently, most pets traveling by air are transported in the cargo hold and are handled as baggage," Wiesel said. "The experience is frightening to the pets and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death." Cargo holds in airplanes are often subject to extreme variations in temperature, according to Wiesel, and pets don't always receive the gentlest handling from airline workers.

How does a pet airline work? Pet Airways uses the Beach 1900 turbo-prop plane to transport pets. Normally able to seat 19 passengers, the Beach 1900 planes used by Pet Airways have specially-modified interiors where pets are safely secured in their carriers using a proprietary restraint system. The cabin is fully-lit and climate controlled, with plenty of fresh air circulating for pets. Pet passengers lounge in a temperature-controlled environment and are monitored throughout the flight by a specially-trained attendant. Once the plane lands, pets are taken to a special "pet lounge" where they wait for pickup.

Wiesel and his wife, Alysa Binder, got Pet Airways off the ground in part because of Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier. Binder and Wiesel always wanted to bring Zoe with them on vacation, but they knew Zoe wasn't comfortable flying in the cargo hold of an airplane. Making other travel arrangements were logistically challenging, and the couple decided to find a way to make air travel for pets safe and comfortable.

Airfare for pets is about $150, about the same price as flying a pet on a major airline. Flights occur once a week, and reservations can be made on the Pet Airways website, and pet owners can track their pet's travel progress using Pet Airway's Track Your Pet feature. As Pet Airways expands, you may soon find your pet flying through the air with the greatest of ease!

A Nevada company and the couple that owns it has pleaded guilty to distributing the tainted ingredient that lead to the 2007 nation-wide pet food recall that killed or injured thousands of pets across the country.

On June 17, Sally Qing Miller and her husband, Stephen S. Miller pleaded guilty before a federal judge to one count of selling adulterated food and one count of selling mis-branded food. The Millers own ChemNutra, Inc., which imports food ingredients from China and resells them to food manufacturers. The Millers and ChemNutra were named as co-defendants in the case.

ChemNutra and the Millers were indicted in February 2008, along with Chinese companies Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company (XAC); Suzhou Textiles, Silk, Light Industrial Products, Arts and Crafts (a Chinese export broker), for their role in distributing the tainted wheat gluten. According to the Associated Press, Chinese officials shut down XAC in 2007 following the pet food recall.

With the guilty plea, the Millers face up to two years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $200,000, and must pay restitution for victims of the recall, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. ChemNutra must pay a fine up to $400,000, as well as restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.

"Millions of pet owners were impacted by the pet food recall in 2007," said Matt J. Whitworth, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. "The conduct of these defendants in violating federal health and safety standards caused the deaths and illness of thousands of family pets, as well as anxiety among dog and cat owners across the country and economic harm to many pet food manufacturers."

According to the Justice Department, ChemNutra imported more than 800 metric tons of wheat gluten from China. The wheat gluten was tainted with melamine, an unsafe food additive often used to increase the protein count in food components. As part of the guilty plea, the Millers and ChemNutra "admitted that melamine was substituted wholly or in part for the protein requirement of the wheat gluten so as to make it appear the wheat gluten was better or of greater value than it was ... (and) The labeling was also false and misleading because melamine was not listed on the label as an ingredient."

The wheat gluten was then sold to pet food manufacturers and used as an ingredient of hundreds of different varieties of pet foods. Canada-based pet food manufacturer Menu Foods produced most of the 60 million units of recalled pet food. In 2008, Menu Foods agreed to contribute money to a $24 million settlement fund for pet owners whose pets were sickened or killed because of the tainted food.

The melamine-tainted food caused kidney failure in dogs and cats. During the recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received more than 17,000 complaints from pet owners. The Veterinary Information Network estimated between 2,000 and 7,000 pets died because of the contaminated food and tallied health care costs for the recall at between $2 million and $20 million.