However, there is a darker side to this fascination. As we build more homes in formerly rural areas, contact with wild animals increases. Much of this new interaction has unfortunate consequences for the wildlife. This is evident by the number of dead skunks, raccoons, and possums along the roadside.

But, we humans and our pets are also in danger in these wild interactions. Along with deer come blood-thirsty ticks and an array of bacterial diseases. Raccoons and skunks bring the terror of rabies to our backyard and even the humble mouse has the potential for spreading deadly Hantavirus. Is there any way that we can peacefully co-exist alongside wildlife?

Thankfully, the answer is yes! Knowing the risks and taking steps to avoid them can help keep the whole family safe.

First, as mentioned above, skunks and raccoons are two important reservoirs of rabies in North America. Prior to 1977, rabies was very rare along the mid-Atlantic states and New England area. But, a human managed relocation of raccoons from Florida to West Virginia in the late 1970s has unleashed a new epidemic of rabies in these areas. On the West Coast, the primary rabies reservoir is the native bat population. Bats are especially problematic, as they can live in our attics, or get down our chimneys (posing a risk to even "indoor only" animals).

Rabid raccoons often become nice and "approachable" and many people are tempted to take the animal into their yards or homes. Skunks, on the other hand, will become overly aggressive and actively attack humans and pets.

Raccoons also harbor a significant parasite known as the "raccoon roundworm" or Baylisascaris. These large worms are associated with severe or even fatal central nervous system disease in many mammals. The eggs are passed in the feces of the raccoon and then encountered by other animals, including children. The parasite can also mature in our dogs. This means that it is possible our pets are helping to contaminate larger areas with this potentially fatal worm.

They may be small, but many mice and rats can carry a killer virus. First discovered in the Four Corners region of the US, Hantavirus (or Sin Nombre virus) is now found in more than 30 states. Because of a long incubation period (one to five weeks), many people are unaware of a problem until too late. Thirty percent of affected individuals die. This disease is spread through rodent droppings, urine and saliva. It is possible to become infected after cleaning a house or barn where rodents have been in residence. Thankfully, our pets are not affected by this virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov, the white tailed deer population in North America is now approaching levels not seen in more than 200 years. Although beautiful to look at, many wild deer carry some unwanted passengers, like ticks.

Ticks are the primary vector for several serious bacterial diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and tularemia. As we have built new subdivisions in rural areas or reforested old agricultural lands, these diseases have shown significant increases, both in humans and our dogs.

Finally, a single celled organism known as Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite of people in North America. In fact, people comprise the main reservoir of this disease. But, wild animals, like beavers, muskrats and small rodents also make up an important additional source of infection. This parasite can cause severe diarrhea, anorexia, and weight loss in both people and pets.

Thanks to modern veterinary medicine and good common sense, it is possible to enjoy our wild neighbors and keep everyone safe.

First, avoiding contact with wildlife is the number one rule. Not only will it help prevent disease transmission, but it will also stop traumatic injuries from fights or chases through the woods.

Avoid the temptation to feed the local wildlife (with the exception of birds). Like our dogs and cats, wild animals become accustomed to regular feeding stations. Although well intentioned, this act will cause wild animals to linger in your yard and puts them in danger.

Similarly, don't adopt orphaned or injured animals unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Keeping these animals increases your risk of contracting one of the diseases or parasites mentioned above.

Watch for wildlife defecation areas, like communal raccoon latrines. Using proper protective equipment, remove and destroy the feces.

Vaccinations and preventive flea and tick medications are vital in keeping our pets safe from these dangers. Your veterinarian can help you determine your pets' risk factors and then guide you to choosing appropriate vaccines and flea/tick preventives. The Center for Disease Control also recommends all pets take a monthly deworming product, both for the health of the pet AND to prevent transmission of certain parasites to people around the pet.

To try and find an answer, veterinarians and nutritionists are looking at the evolutionary history of our cats. All of our felines, purebred and mixed, are descended from a Middle Eastern wild cat that goes by the simple name of Desert Cat.

As with most desert creatures, our cats' ancestors evolved to obtain most of their water from the food they ate. In the cat's case, the majority of their moisture came from hunting lizards, small rodents, birds and insects.

And, unlike their canine cousins, these cats didn't routinely eat plant material as a significant portion of their diet. Cats evolved to be obligate carnivores, meaning that all their nutritional needs can be met through eating animal tissue. In fact, some early commercial cat foods were deficient in certain amino acids found only in meats and animal fats. This caused heart and vision problems in numerous cats.

Today, almost all cat foods are complete and balanced. So, why the worry?

Some experts are concerned that most of our pet cats are eating dry cat food made with significant amounts of cereal grains. In a recent paper published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), author Dr. Deb Zoran speculates that the use of grains in our cats' diets as well as the routine use of a dry food has potentially predisposed a large percentage of cats to diabetes, obesity and several other issues, including blockages in the urinary tract.

Dr. Zoran's argument is that as obligate carnivores, cats are unable to fully utilize carbohydrates as an immediate energy source and the excess carbs found in these cereals end up being stored as fat.

One solution proposed by experts is to use grain free, canned cat foods. Unfortunately, not all cat owners like this option as they feel it is wasteful (the canned food dries out quickly) and more expensive. Using a dry food offers the owner convenience and less of a mess to clean up.

There are even cats who refuse to eat canned diets. Moreover, some veterinarians feel that cats will over-eat canned diets just as easily as dry and the sticky wet foods promote more dental issues than the dry kibble. Finally, because canned diets of the meat and gravy variety are only complete and balanced if the pet eats the whole portion, cats who lick up the gravy and leave the meat are at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

So, is there an easy, or even a right answer to this debate?

First, cat owners should realize that millions of cats have eaten dry commercial diets for many years and done very well. So, there is no immediate need for panic. Although nutrition does play a part in diseases like diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and urinary obstruction, other factors, such as genetics and environmental issues, also influence the progression of these illnesses. So, a switch to canned diets may not prevent the development of these diseases.

Next, choose foods wisely. There are many commercial diets, canned and dry, prepared by companies who have invested years in developing nutritionally sound diets for pets. Don't be fooled by fancy label claims or celebrity endorsements. Your veterinarian is a great resource to help you find a quality food for your pet.

If you and your veterinarian decide that adding canned foods to your cat's diet is a good idea, remember to start slow. Sudden changes in diet can be hard on a cat's digestive system or could cause them to stop eating entirely.

Finally, remember to "count calories" with your cats. Leaving bowls full of dry kibble AND feeding canned diets can lead to overweight kitties and the problems mentioned above. Feed small meals frequently throughout the day to mimic a cat's natural "grazing" activity. Some owners even hide small amounts of kibble around the house for cats to "hunt."

Why should you adopt at this event?

More than 100 dogs and puppies of all different shapes, sizes, ages and breeds from nine animal rescue organizations will be onsite available for adoption. Puppies, adults, small dogs, purebred and mixed breeds will be available. No need to buy a dog from a breeder and then have to pay for shots and spay/neuter--with these dogs all of that has been done and is included in the adoption price. The only thing these dogs need is a new home to love and protect them for a lifetime.

Experienced shelter staff, volunteers and trainers will be on hand to help you find the right animal for your family. The trainers will be available to answer your questions about any dog you are thinking of adopting. Shelter staff has evaluated each dog's behavior and temperament. Adoption fees range from $150.00 to $250.00.

Need help picking out a dog or puppy?

Attend the Dog Ownership Basics Workshop with Trainer Robin Grannell

Saturday, October 10, 2009, 11 am to 1 pm at Canine Behavior Center, 7551 205th Ave NE Redmond, Wash.

Learn about options for acquiring a dog, how to select the right dog for your family and tips for successfully integrating the dog into your household. Workshop attendees earn early entry into the Barktoberfest adoption event. $20 per family.

For directions please visit http://www.caninebcenter.com/locations.nxg. The workshop is being held at the Redmond location.

Space is limited, so please RSVP to volunteers@pawsitivealliance.org or call 206.465.4116.

Participating animal adoption organizations include:

Barks R Us
Humane Society of Central Washington
Everett Animal Services
Grant County Animal Outreach
Homeward Pet Adoption Center
King County Animal Care and Control
PAWS
Yakima Valley Pet Rescue
Wenatchee Valley Humane Society

Food Drive - The Animals Need Your Help

Times are tough, especially for the shelters and rescues relying on donations. In conjunction with the adoption event, Barktoberfest is also a food drive. All food donations will be distributed to the shelters and rescues attending this event.

The Academy of Canine Behavior is located at 4705 240th St. SE, Bothell, Washington. For directions, click here.

Earlier today, I received a press release from Found Animals regarding a recent article in Science magazine. Essentially, the magazine takes an in-depth look at the silent epidemic of millions of healthy dogs and cats killed each year in the United States and worldwide in a feature story titled "A Cure For Euthanasia?".

Science writer/editor David Grimm reports that humane organizations throughout the United States can't surgically sterilize homeless cats and dogs fast enough to control their numbers and developing countries with dangerous feral dog populations - such as China and India - fare even worse (for those of us familiar with animal welfare issues, this is something we are fully aware of...). As a result, nearly four million dogs and cats are killed (euthanized) in United States' animal shelters each year - and millions more are put to death in less humane ways around the globe.

"The amount that municipalities in the U.S. spend to catch, house, and kill our pet cats and dogs is staggering," Found Animals Foundation founder, Gary Michelson, M.D., shared with Science. "Surely we should be able to come up with a more cost-effective and humane approach."

The solution could be a program announced last October by Dr. Michelson's nonprofit foundation, Found Animals, the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology. The aim of the Program is to encourage researchers to develop a low cost, non-surgical sterilant, for both male and female, cats and dogs. Here's where it gets interesting: The Program offers $50 million in funding to approved researchers and a $25 million prize to the winning solution.

"There are a lot of very bright people out there who haven't applied their research direction to dogs and cats, in part because there's been no money," adds Found Animals director of scientific research, Shirley Johnston, Ph.D., D.V.M, a veterinarian and expert in animal reproduction.

Johnston, who oversees the Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, shared with Science "We've seen some very impressive ideas." Since last year's launch of the Program, Found Animals has received a tremendous response from the scientific community, including more than 80 letters of intent (LOIs) for Michelson Grants. Based on the high quality of these LOIs, the Foundation has invited more than 25 investigators to submit full grant applications.

To date, three Michelson Grant proposals have been approved for funding. The first approved investigator, Beverly L. Davidson, a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, has initiated work on a research project titled "Inducing Stable Infertility by RNA Interference - Proof of Principal Studies." Two additional applications have been approved for funding and more details will be released as work commences in the coming months.

Science also takes a look at how the idea of a low cost, non-surgical sterilant for dogs and cats could help reduce the number of deaths of unwanted animals not just in the United States, but globally where the statistics are even more grim and where the rate of human rabies cases from dog bites are high. India alone is home to up to 35 million street dogs which in 2004 caused the vast majority of the country's 20,000 human rabies cases, according to Andrew Rowan, chief scientific officer of the Humane Society of the United States and Found Animals Scientific Advisory Board member, in his interview with Science.

China has seen a spike in rabies cases and has responded with massive culling campaigns: City workers fan through towns, clubbing dogs to death by the thousands. There's little funding for sterilization programs internationally, added Rowan to Science, so "there's no way to take these dogs off the streets."

"We need to stop the carnage," said Rowan. "That's where the whole idea of a better contraceptive comes into play."

While researchers work on the long-term solution to this issue, Found Animals executive director, Aimee Gilbreath adds there are many ways the public can help now.

"People love their pets and we think they will be shocked to learn that nearly four million dogs and cats are dying every year in U.S. animal shelters. While we work with scientists on this issue, the public can make a difference too - by adopting their next pet from an animal shelter and making sure to spay and neuter," says Gilbreath. Here, here.

For a link to the Science article and more information on the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, visit www.foundanimals.org.

Most scientists believe that aging is due to damage in our cells caused by free radicals. The presences of molecules with an unpaired electron can create serious, cumulative damage in our cells leading to loss of function and ultimately, death.

Antioxidants are a popular answer to the free radical damage. These compounds, such as Vitamins A, C, and E or even melatonin or retinol, slow and prevent destructive changes to cells. Despite some proven benefits, antioxidants are still regarded with skepticism. Experts state that diet alone is not capable of providing enough antioxidants without serious consequences, such as obesity.

Maintaining a lean body weight, or caloric restriction, is another means to slow aging. Studies have shown in many species that reducing the intake of calories can lengthen life span.

Overall, pet owners should consider proactive disease prevention and prompt intervention to help their pet's live longer. These actions, combined with a good diet, exercise and regular veterinary visits are the cornerstones of your pet's good health. Talk with your veterinarian about supplements mentioned above, and dietary modifications for your senior pet!

I know some people have their cats trained not to sit on furniture, but not us. Don't judge. Though I do love any chance to get some use out of our Miele vacuum cleaner, I don't always feel like dragging it out for a quick cat hair run. Could this new product from Pledge be my savior?

Surprisingly I must admit that the Pledge Fabric Sweeper actually works great and is super easy to use. The construction is fairly simple. It's just two textured rollers next to each other, attached to a clear plastic dome that catches and holds the hair. A swift side to side motion is all you need to make it work. I wouldn't use it for my main mode of pet hair removal, but for a quick pass before company comes, it's definitely worth $5.

My only gripe is that I am supposed to throw it away when it's full. Full, according to the box, is when "it picks up no more hair." Most likely I will ignore the warning on the box telling me not to try to empty the sweeper and reuse it. Otherwise I'd probably need to get a new one every few weeks.

Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pets gets 3/5 paws for convenience and ease of use; paws deducted for the throw-away nature of the product

An empty box? Not for long. He seems to enjoy just being in new places, occupying Cooper-shaped space he has never previously occupied. I emptied a box in the study and when I looked up there he was, comfortable, being Cooper, sitting in a box, just watching me at the desk.

He's not demanding, not a "scratch and look at me" kind of cat. In fact his stretches of lap-time usually don't last more than 10 minutes or so. He just wants to be there and check things out. Then he'll move on. And be back again a little later.

And of course Gracie is his nap-pal. You can't tell in this picture but Coopie has both paws wrapped around Gracie's foreleg, a firm grip on a fellow rescued soul.