Hey, did you make it to Bark in the Park last year? If not, you missed an incredible amount of fun. I was there along with more than 15,000 other humans and at least 3,700 dogs. We had a Great Dane of a time. (Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that one.)
So here’s your chance to do it this year. Bark in the Park San Jose is Saturday at Williams Street Park. It starts at 10 a.m. and it’s a people-watching and dog-watching paradise. There are so many activities during the day … costume contests, tricks, games for kids, good food and music and dogs, dogs, dogs. Bring yours and enjoy the fun. A donation of $5 per dog is requested at the gate. People are free! For more info, visit wwwbarksanjose.org.
And now on to something much more serious.
Hantavirus infection has made headlines lately. At least eight cases have been reported in people visiting Yosemite Park this year. Three people have died. By now you’ve probably heard that this virus is passed in the urine, saliva or droppings of mice. And all the news reports have been about cases originating in Yosemite. But it’s important to note that this virus can appear anywhere, not just in that high sierra location.
Hantavirus is not common at all. But it’s out there and it is deadly. More than 60 cases have been reported in California since 1993. And it has infected people in other states as well.
So if you ever have to handle any rodents (alive or dead), be absolutely sure to thoroughly wash your hands immediately afterwards. And if your home or cabin is infested with rodents, get the help of a professional exterminator.
Q:
I heard about a giant rat that someone has for a pet. Supposedly this thing is a monster rat that weighs 100 pounds. Have you heard of this animal? Is it in this country?
A:
You must be referring to a capybara, a large rodent closely related to guinea pigs and chinchillas. These are, by rodent standards, enormous; they weigh as much as 150 to 160 pounds and their 4-foot-long body can be 2 feet tall at the shoulders. They’re native to South America and live mainly in semi-aquatic regions. They’re excellent swimmers and they sound almost dog-like when they bark.
I don’t know of anyone that has one of these giants for a pet. But guess what? A few have been seen in Florida. Hey, there was supposedly one spotted in the Central Coast of California last year, but I’m not sure if that sighting was confirmed. Could one of these make a good pet? Why would anyone want to try? Capybaras are one of those critters that would best be visited in a zoo.
Q:
I saw a picture of a pet hedgehog the other day and decided I want to get one for a pet. They look like a lot of fun. My father says I should stick with kittens and puppies. Do hedgies make good pets?
A:
Follow your father’s advice here. First of all, it’s illegal to own a hedgehog in California and several other states. This is partly due to their ability to carry disease, including the organism that causes infectious hoof and mouth disease.
In addition, hedgies can be skittish and often bite the hand that feeds them. This isn’t to say they can’t be tamed. But taming one takes a lot of patience and even with this effort, some are defensive biters.
Proper care is important because they can easily become obese and develop related health issues including liver and heart disease. The size of their enclosure (pen) is important as is the ambient temperature.
All in all, this is not an animal I would ever recommend to anyone. It takes a special, dedicated person to properly care for and raise hedgehogs.
