Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

"Pet Minder Minute & Miscellaneous Pet News and Facts"

-Be sure and tune in to our local WKSX 92.7 (FM) radio station in Johnston for the “Pet Minder Minute”. Denise Holcomb, Founder of All God’s Creatures, gives helpful pet tips. It runs daily, Monday through Friday, at 1:20 pm and randomly throughout the week.

-If you have never tuned into the Animal Planet (TV) Network program “Meercat Manor”, you need to do so. Watching these animals and their similarities to human behavior is better than any “soap opera”. This program has a huge following and can become addictive. It’s so very fascinating to see how they live in the harsh desert conditions. Each meercat has circles around its eyes to protect and serve as miniature sunglasses.

-Makai, a 9-month -old golden retriever, is new to the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project. She has been taught and is an expert at finding turtle eggs. She saves the volunteers a lot of time, work and a lot of broken eggs. Source: The State

-Florida’s Key West city commission ruled in July that the Ernest Hemmingway Home and Museum is exempt from a law prohibiting more than 4 domestic animals per household. There are approximately 50 cats there who are descended from a 6 toed cat given to Hemmingway in 1935, and they attract visitors from around the world. Visit the website at www.hemingwayhome.com. Source: Cat Fancy

-The American Humane Association made film history this year by monitoring the most species ever used in a film - “Evan Almighty”. Filming took place in Hollywood and Virginia and the cast included lions, tigers, camels, baboons, reindeer, raccoons, dogs and of course, cats. FYI - it received an outstanding rating, which means that safety representatives were on the set throughout the entire production. Source: Cat Fancy

-In case you need a special gift for a friend or family member who loves animals, think about a subscription to wonderful magazines like Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy, Horse Illustrated and Bird Talk.

-TAKE NOTICE -- Walmart has pulled from their shelves the dogs treats, Chicken Jerky and Chicken Jerky Strips. Pet Vac Express, Inc., has been ordered to close. State regulators suspect them of operating and vaccinating animals illegally. Source: The State (8-19-07).

-All God’s Creatures wants to thank Don Shealy of Johnston for the special pet food in the Bi Lo Bin and the “unknown” party who left the wonderful pet collars. Since pet food prices have risen recently, we say an extra thank you to our donors!