Sarah Levine watches her daughter’s bunny, Hobbs, as Sammy, one of her many cats, wanders through their living room in Auburn recently. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal) AUBURN — Sarah Levine used to be all-in on rats. Then rabbits caught her eye, again. It was a couple of years ago and she was running the Mainely Rat […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Animal Tales: Coming in from the cold
Dr. Jeff Mayerson plays with his 8-year-old Lab-shepherd mix Crikey as his yellow Lab Fidget, 5, chews on a shoe while playing in the basement of their Lewiston home on a recent cold afternoon. Over the past couple of weeks, Mayerson has instituted what he calls “nope” mornings for Fidget and Crikey, as in “Nope, you’re […]
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Animal Tales: Adults with disabilities feel at home on the farm
TURNER — On a cold December afternoon, Tommy the horse found himself the center of attention at Rising Stars Therapeutic Farm. And he loved it. As five people brushed his coat and combed out his mane, the black and white American paint horse let his head droop a little, let a rear leg go slack. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Animal Tales: Old turtles find new home in Lewiston
Beakster, a 45-year-old eastern box turtle, and five other members of his aging turtle family were taking in this summer by Drew Desjardins. Their previous caretaker had them for decades but recently had to move to a nursing home. LEWISTON — As elderly turtles go, Beakster is pretty spry. He eats. Swims. Sometimes he bullies […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Animal Tales: Tiny Lewiston charity quietly saving pets
LEWISTON — Denise Morin remembers every hard story. The three kittens who had been hidden in tall grass by their mother and were accidentally run over by a lawnmower. The three little dogs whose owners couldn’t keep up their care. The cat who was so ravaged by fleas that he was near death from the […]
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Animal Tales: Monthly free clinic puts pets first
Scout, a beagle-terrier mix cools off in an ice bath while he waits for care at the Androscoggin Humane Society tents at Kennedy Park on Wednesday. LEWISTON — Teila Reed, her grandmother and the family dog, a terrier-Chihuahua mix named Chewy — short for Chewbacca — arrived at Kennedy Park Wednesday morning and lingered in […]
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Animal Tales: So you think you want a hedgehog
Kersti Bayne holds her pet hedgehogs at her Lewiston apartment recently. LEWISTON — Kersti Bayne always wanted a pet hedgehog. The longing started so far back that she can’t really even remember why. “I always thought they were just so precious,” she said. “They’re fun. I don’t know, I love them.” Today, a pair of […]
Posted inPets
Grooming schedule
In addition to food, shelter and medical care, pets require grooming to keep them healthy. Small animals, such as hamsters and gerbils, may groom themselves to keep clean, but large pets often require more than tongue baths can offer. Grooming is an important process that keeps pets’coats, nails, skin and ears clean and healthy. Regular […]
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13 quirky facts about companion animals
Think you know everything there is to know about your favorite furry, finned or feathered friend? Chances are there are some interesting facts that even the most ardent animal-lover may be surprised to learn. 1. Tough tongue: Cats’ tongues are covered with little structures called “filiform papillae,” which are like tiny hooks pointing toward the […]
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Dogs and water safety
Dogs have solidified their places in many families. Nowadays, more and more dogs accompany their pet parents on trips to the store, vacations and various recreational pursuits — including trips to the beach or the backyard pool. Many people assume all dogs can swim and swim well. But WebMD advises that not all dogs are […]