No, I’m not talking about the little virtual pets that kids used to get on key chains.  I’m talking about something a little more sophisticated!

I just love the idea of a key chain portrayal of a beloved animal !  There are some really great designs available, and more variety than you might expect.

I’ve seen a lot of animal jewelry out there, from the silly or generic, to some true artwork, but the idea of animal key chains is a relatively new one to me.  Could there be a better opportunity for carrying around a tiny version of your favorite pet?  It’s practical for men and women–anyone who loves animals!

I’ve met a number of lovely ladies who perform a great service to the only marsupial in North America- the Virginia Possum. They do possum rescue , which is a selfless act that often involves rescuing tiny babies from the pouch of a mother possum killed by traffic.

“I always keep a pair of rubber gloves in the car. If I discover a recently dead mother I pull out the babies and take them home.” This is what one possum rescuer told me recently. Wow.

Sometimes the babies are rehabilitated and let go in the “wild” and sometimes they make their permanent home with their savior. I think it’s a nice arrangement, and a good way to familiarize us humans with a little animal that is unfairly despised by many as looking “ratlike”. Sure they have sharp teeth, but that’s mostly for effect.

I hope all had a great holiday season. I’ve been thinking a lot about our planet these days- which of course includes all the marvelous animal life represented in jewelry and art .

I’ve often thought that animals are, as themselves a form of art. What could be more beautiful than the graceful form of a cheetah pursuing her prey? Or the hundreds of species of birds and bugs that streak their colorful forms through the air? We take their magnificence for granted. I remember the first time I saw a hummingbird, do you? How are those lovely iridescent colors even possible? (I don’t mean scientifically speaking)

At these times I’m certain of one thing- there had to be a Creator! And he or she was most certainly an artist as well.

Many people think guinea pigs are an ideal fist pet for a child. That well may be- they’re gentle creatures and not too difficult to take care of- but they do still need care. I really don’t believe any animal should be brought into a new home over the holidays.

The Humane Society has a wonderful article about guinea pig care that any potential owner should read before adopting one. When I was a child we had a hamster and all of us loved him dearly. Having a small pet can be a wonderful way to introduce a child to the demands and joys of pet ownership, but be sure you, the adult, are overseeing the process.

With proper care, small rodents like guinea pigs and rats can live for several years.

This doesn’t have to be a chore; finding gifts for animal lovers is simple, especially if you have a computer and some good recommendations.

I like to pass on some of my own ideas in Christmas shopping for people you’re close to. That is if you want to spend a little money. This year a lot of folks are just sending cards and cookies. I think that’s a great idea if you’re worried about the economy. And who isn’t? But at the same time it might be a good idea to get a few dollars flowing out there. You have to decide what’s right for yourself, of course.

Even if you just like to “window shop” online and get ideas, you can have fun if you have a little spare time. There are so many wonderful things you can give to your favorite pet lovers!

Over all, I don’t think it’s a great idea to give children puppies or kittens for holiday gifts. Think how disturbing it would be for a baby animal to come into the chaos of a Christmas morning! They’ve just been taken from the warmth and security of their mother, hardship enough for that little one.

Wait until the excitement of the holiday season has calmed down to introduce a new animal into your home. Even adult dogs and cats can become disoriented by the confusion and bluster that goes with this exciting time of year. And a child who is still enthralled by his newest electronic gadgets is less likely to pay attention to a new dog or cat.

So unless you want to be the prime caretaker and foster parent to a new dog or cat on top of entertaining, cooking and so forth, wait a couple months!

I love the holiday season. As an animal person, I can go a little crazy finding great gift items for pet lovers . Nothing wrong with that, as far as I’m concerned! I think of it as a treasure hunt.

To me, there are two categories of presents. Gifts for animals and gifts for humans that somehow involve animals. You wouldn’t believe the number or great gifts for animal lovers there are out there. It’s kind of comforting knowing there are so many pet loving people that an entire industry has built up with items geared towards them. Pretty cool!

Have a great time shopping- a lot of the things I’ve seen have been so clever that I have a big old smile plastered on my face for the rest of the day- just a side benefit!

If you live in a place where it actually gets chilly in the winter, it might be a good idea to check out some pet sweaters. You certainly don’t want your favorite little fellow getting a chill when he or she has to go outside to take care of business.

I found a site that has some great pet outerwear . Pretty creative stuff, great if you have a sense of humor! I doubt if your dog will care if he looks like a bumble bee, as long as he’s warm. I’m a little more conservative when it comes to dressing up my pets to confront the elements, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with making your neighbors smile on a dreary winter day.

Have you noticed how hard it is to find realistic animal jewelry ? Maybe it’s just me, but when I was looking for good bat jewelry the other day it was a real pain trying to find good ones. I don’t mean the goofy looking black rubber ones with the big white fangs- there are plenty of those around.

We animal lovers feel insulted by that kind of thing! Animals are beautiful, and the art (including jewelry) that represents them should be too. Not only that, but sometimes the designs can be downright ugly, or impossible to identify. Who would ever buy them? Plus once you’re past the age of 10, most females are looking for accessories a little more sophisticated than that.

I did a little research and found some I really like- I hope it helps you out as well!

Sometimes it seems like no matter what you do your birds just won’t produce viable eggs. Here are some things to watch out for:

•    Birds that lay a large clutch, then cover them and start a new clutch
•    Trying to breed birds that are too young
•    Trying to breed a female that is too old
•    A male and female that don’t “hit it off”

Oftentimes separating birds of optimum breeding age and re-pairing them with other mates might do the trick. How often do arranged marriages work out, after all?  By the way, it’s a good idea when breeding canaries and other birds to keep them separated by color so a yellow canary doesn’t get a chance to fall hopelessly in love with a white variation. You get the idea.