Spider fears are fairly common in the world. This is largely due to myths that have found their way into our minds, and somehow become truth. Just like with snakes, spiders are pretty benign creatures. They are not out to get us, and they for the most part are harmless. Certainly there are spiders that you have to be careful with, and they can put a serious hurting on you. Here are some popular spider myths along with some truths that may shock you:

It Does Not Want to Eat You

Spiders Chase You – Myth or Reality?

Myth – The fact is, spiders will do anything in their power to avoid you. This myth has been around for as long as spiders have existed, and has been perpetuated in recent years by the camel spider. The camel spider will try to stay in the shade, so when you move and your shadow moves, they sometimes will follow. Many people think they are chasing after them. They are not.

Spiders Are All Poisonous – Myth or Reality?

Myth – No spider is actually poisonous. They are all venomous however. The difference is that poison is ingested or swallowed. Venom is injected. In the case of spiders, they use fangs to inject venom into prey so that the insides will turn into a soup like substance. They then eat (drink) their food. They also use this venom in self defense.

There Are Spiders That Can Kill Humans – Myth or Reality?

Reality – They are few and far between, but there are some spiders that are capable of killing humans. Some notables are the Sydney Funnel Web spider, the black widow (rarely) and the Brown recluse (rarely). There are others, but these are the most famous and well known. The vast majority of spiders in the world are harmless.

Choosing a Halloween costume for your pet can be a whole lot of fun. Not only will you be able to get a lot of complements from friends and take photographs, but you will also be able to dress your pet in a Halloween costume that you probably could have never worn yourself. Deciding on a costume can be a tough decision, however. Here are some Halloween costume ideas for pets.

Hot Dog

A great costume for a dog is a hot dog costume. It is a costume that looks like a bun. Your dog’s body will be the hot dog of the costume. There will generally be ketchup or mustard that looks like it is going down your dog’s back. This popular Halloween costume is generally worn by hot dogs, or Daschunds, but can be worn by any dog breed. Keep in mind that this dog Halloween costume is popular, so other pets on the block may have it as well though.

Pumpkin

A very cute Halloween costume for either a cat or dog is a pumpkin. Dress your pup or kitty in an orange outfit. Then, put an orange hat with a green stem on top of your pet’s head to complete the entire look of a pumpkin. This is one of the most traditional Halloween costume ideas, and will be a great choice for your animal!

Devil or Angel

One of these can be a very cute or suitable Halloween costume for your dog or cat. Put a red cloak or sweater on your pet if you want to dress the pet as a devil. Then, be sure to add a pair of horns. Dogs or cats that you are trying to dance in an angel costume should wear a white sweater or cloak with a halo. Both of these pet Halloween costumes can lead to great photographs.

Keep in mind that most of these cat or dog Halloween costumes can be purchased at a party store. Although you can generally find patterns online for these Halloween costumes for your pet, it is much easier to simply buy one. No matter what you decide to do, these costumes will all look very cute on the special cat or dog in your life!

When selecting a dog breed, there are many factors that you will want to take into consideration. Since this is not a decision which should be taken too lightly, it is important to do a lot of research prior to choosing the dog breed which seems the most suitable for you. Here are some factors to think about when selecting a dog breed that you may want to purchase from a breeder or adopt.

Size

The size of the dog breed which seems right for you will probably be determined by the size of your home. If you live in a home with a large yard for running, then a larger dog breed may be suitable. Those with small apartments will want to consider a small dog breed. Also determine whether you have children. A smaller dog won’t knock them down, but keep in mind that there are some larger dog breeds which are very gentle with kids. Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are good examples.

Personality

It is not easy to predict any dog’s personality. There is good and bad in every dog breed. However, there are some dog breeds which are known to be friendlier than others. Labs, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles are all breeds that are known to make great family pets. Some breeds are known to better with one owner because they are known to be territorial pets. German Shepherds and Akitas are two examples. Considering personality prior to selecting a dog breed is a good idea.

Shedding

Some dog breeds are known to shed more than others. A dog that sheds will require you to vacuum more often. Some examples of dogs that shed a lot include Golden Retrievers, Saint Bernards, Papillions, and many other long haired breeds. Poodles do not shed at all, which is why they are often said to be ideal for those who have allergies. Poodle hybrids, such as Cockapoos and Labradoodles, are another great option. Some dogs also shed, but only minimally. Examples include Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese. For a list of non-shedding dogs, visit this website.

These are just a few of the many, many factors that you should take into consideration when selecting a dog breed which seems suitable for you. It is important to make sure that you adopt the right dog so that he or she does not end up in the ASPCA in the future. Considering the dog’s personality, size, and shedding are all very important things to do.

If you are going to be watching someone else’s pet, it is important to keep etiquette in mind. Although it may seem very easy to watch someone else’s pet, there are certain things that a good pet sitter will never do. Here are some good pet sitter etiquette tips.

1. Never feed the pet table food without permission. Although your dog or cat may be used to eating food from the table, this does not mean that the other person’s pet is. The best thing that you can do is find out all about food requirements. The person may not feed their pet table food at all, while others may feed it to their pet on a regular basis. Knowing beforehand is important. It is especially important to avoid giving dogs food that will harm them.

2. Do not interrupt a dog’s schedule for doing business if possible. It can take awhile for a pet owner to housebreak their dog. By interrupting it at your home, you may make it more difficult for the dog to get back into the hang of things. The only time in which it can be acceptable to slightly interrupt the dog’s schedule is if you work long hours. Even then, it is important to walk the dog as close to the usual schedule as possible.

3. Avoid physically punishing another person’s pet. You might hit your pet as a form of punishment, but this does not mean that it is okay to hit another person’s dog or cat. If you are walking the dog and he will not come into the house, it is not a good idea to drag him to the point of choking. Physically abusing animals is not only illegal, but it is simply something that a good pet sitter would never do to a friend or family member’s cat or dog.

4. Keep the pets separated from your own pets if necessary. If the pets that you are watching do not seem too comfortable with your pets, you may want to think about saying no to pet sitting in the first place. In the event that you do still need to pet sit, it is best to keep your own pets secluded to one another of the house if possible. Controlling your animals if the other pets do not feel comfortable is an essential key to pet sitting etiquette.

5. If you can’t pet sit, just be honest about it. There is no reason to pet sit a dog or cat just because you feel guilty about having to say no. It is a bad idea to agree to pet sitting if you know that you are not going to be home or able to care for the dog or cat. Although the person who is asking to pet sit may not necessarily feel comfortable with the idea of leaving their pet at a kennel, they can at least feel rest assured to know that their pet will be well taken care of there.

Pet sitting is a huge responsibility. Many people do not give any thought to how well they care for their friend or family member’s animals. Whether you are watching someone’s cat or dog for a weekend or for an entire month, it is best to keep pet sitting etiquette in mind.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia user Danleo

The black mamba…Even the name strikes fear into the hearts of those that have heard the legends.  The black mamba is a snake that is better known for the myths than the truth.  This is a shame considering that the truth is more than impressive enough to stand alone.  Still, the intereting myths that surround the black mamba are interesting, and are worth looking at for humor if nothing else.  This article will explain the common black mamba misconceptions that exist throughout the world, and what the real truth is about this African snake.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia user Danleo

The black mamba…Even the name strikes fear into the hearts of those that have heard the legends.  The black mamba is a snake that is better known for the myths than the truth.  This is a shame considering that the truth is more than impressive enough to stand alone.  Still, the intereting myths that surround the black mamba are interesting, and are worth looking at for humor if nothing else.  This article will explain the common black mamba misconceptions that exist throughout the world, and what the real truth is about this African snake.

Black mambas have always been touted for their aggressive nature.  The myths have said that the black mamba will chase you down, bite you, and kill you for not other reason than malice.  This is preposterous on many levels, and should be dismissed as ignorance.  While the black mamba is quite aggressive, they still want nothing to do with us humans.  We are not food, and we are certainly not considered to be as much by the mamba.  When the black mamba hears us coming, which they often do far in advance, they get out of dodge.  We are a threat to them at best, and they will avoid us given the chance.

Where the problem comes in is when the black mamba has no route of escape.  There have been stories over the years of a black mamba wiping out an entire family within their homes.  While it is not substantiated, the story could have some truth.  If the black mamba was within a home, and had no route of escape, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that it might bite everyone in the house trying to escape.  When a black mamba is unable to escape, they are among the more aggressive and deadly creatures on the planet.

When a black mamba is backed into a corner, it will change into an offensive snake.  While some snakes will  roll over and play dead, or some will sit still and rattle, the black mamba will instead go on the offensive.  They are armed with one of the deadliest snake venoms in the world, and they can strike over and over again.  Each bite from a black mamba is absolutely deadly, and requires immediate treatment.

This leads us to another common black mamba misconception.  Many people think that a black mamba bite is fatal every single time.  The truth is, it used to be.  Before the invention of an antivenom, the black mamba bite was nearly 100 percent fatal.  Now, the antivenom is saving lives…sometimes.  If you go without medical care, you are almost certain to die unless the snake delivered a dry bite.  (did not inject venom)  This is rare in black mamba snake bites.

The black mamba is a snake that needs absolutely no embellishment.  They are magnificent creatures that are plenty deadly enough without exaggeration.

Animals are no different from us humans in they way that they survive. They hunt, and gather food in any way they can. We do the same. Scary animals are those that consider us a food source. Though the vast majority of animals do not look upon us as food, there are some animals on earth that do, on occasion, eat humans. Here are the five scariest animals that meet that criteria:

5. The Bear - Perhaps no other North American land animal scares us like the grizzly bears and black bears of the Country. We are constantly bombarded with tales of killer grizzlies and other bear related horror stories. The truth is, bears are not generally interested in us as food. They want to be left alone, and the trouble starts when we begin feeding them. In spite of this fact, bears do kill and eat people. It happens, and that is scary enough for their inclusion on this list of scary animals.

4. The Tiger – The tiger is one of the few animals that actually will hunt humans as a food source.  Though we were not originally on the menu, we have put ourselves there by eliminating their natural food sources.  In certain places in the world, the tiger hunts, kills, and eats human beings when they get the chance.  That is a scary animal for sure!

3. The Lion – Once again, we are looking at an animal that has adjusted to the hand dealt to them by society.  The lion does not want to waste time eating a puny human when they could have a huge buffalo instead.  Still, when there is no buffalo to hunt, people begin to look more appetizing.  Lions will kill and eat you if the situation is right.  Scary animal?  You bet.

2. The Shark - The shark is an interesting entry onto this list.  They do not see humans as a natural food source, but that is because we are not natural in the water.  Most sharks, including the great white and the tiger shark, are attacking us because they think we are seals, or other common food sources.  Still, the sharks of the world do kill and eat us, and are therefore scary to a great many people.
1. The Saltwater Crocodile - Now the saltwater crocodile is at number one for one reason.  They view every mammal as a food source, and that includes people.  This means that if we go in the water where there are salt water crocodiles, we are likely to be eaten.  We are food to them, period.  That makes the salt water crocodile the scariest animal on earth to me.

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