| Taxidermists mount family companions
Christina Defibaugh remembers how Rusty, the familys orange tabby cat, sat on the hutch and watched over her family.
Rusty died Jan. 13 after undergoing surgery for a urinary tract blockage. Rustys death was hard on the New Enterprise family.
We didnt expect Rusty to leave us so soon. He was a good companion. He was not just a pet, he was part of the family, Defibaugh said of the 6-year-old cat.
The Defibaughs decided they wanted to preserve Rusty, and after a couple of phone calls to area taxidermists, found Charlie Nagle, owner of All-Pro Wildlife Taxidermy in Duncansville.
There are few taxidermists in Pennsylvania who preserve pets, said Paul Czarnecki, president of the Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association.
Czarnecki said to the best of his knowledge, Nagle is the only one in the Altoona area who works with family pets.
Courier News Online - BRIDGEWATER: House fire kills 4 pets
Fire severely damaged a split-level residence late Friday and killed four pets, but police were able to save one dog, authorities said. The tenants of 590 Bridgewater Ave., William and Lenise Mothner, were not home at the time of the fire, police said.
Authorities responded to the blaze at 11:05 p.m. Finderne Fire Department Chief David Mangino said the fire was brought under control approximately 45 minutes later.
For more on this story, see Sunday's Courier News.
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In Sun City, day care has gone to the dogs and the cats, the parrots and hedgehogs
Sun City Hilton Head residents have a love of pets, with several clubs and a park centered on their affinity for animals. That love has translated into steady business for local kennels and veterinarians who have tailored services to cater to the senior community. Brooke Fisher thought she had done just about everything possible in pet care as owner of Brooke's Bed and Biscuit, until a client brought her five hedgehogs for boarding. "And each of the five hedgehogs needed different medications," Fisher recalls, chuckling. While she accepts exotic pets such as hedgehogs and parrots, Fisher notes that most Sun City residents bring dogs or cats for short or long-term boarding. .
The Nor'wester
SPRINGDALE – One very large snake and numerous small children met face to face last week during a visit to local schools and the Family Resource Centres in Springdale and Robert's Arm.
Dean Goudie of St. John's brought his pet snakes and turtles for a visit to the area last week to show children the exotic animals they rarely get to see, except perhaps on television.
Mr. Goudie is a fisheries officer by day, and snake and reptile lover by night. He brought 15 snakes with him on this visit including a very large 15-foot Australian black-headed python named Cujo, which originally came from the Toronto zoo.
Mr. Goudie has a home-based breeding business which grew out of his own interest in the animals.
“I have had a life-long interest in these creatures," he said.
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