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Pet Talk: The Origins Of The Shih-tzu
DEAR PET TALK: Why do Shih-tzus have a lot of hair? Yvette Restrepo, Mr. Wironen's 4th grade class, Reingold Elementary School, Fitchburg.
DEAR YVETTE: Great question – and yes, they have hair, not fur. We asked Shih Tzu fan Deb O'Hanlon what her thoughts were on this question and she responded: "I found a book on them one time. There are a few dog breeds from Tibet. All had a purpose for the Emperor. The Tibetan Mastiffs were the outside guard dogs. The Lhasa Apsos were the inside guard dogs (gave signal of intruders). The Shih Tzu's were used to warm the Emperor's feet under his clothing. Funny thing… my Shih Tzu's actually would come over and sit on my feet."
Their hair regularly needs to be cut, and if they "show dogs," one of the customs is to give them a "top-knot," which can have a ribbon added.
They are definitely a dog people like to fuss over, but they are sturdy and affectionate little pups with lively personalities and a great fondness for their people and families. If you have a Shih-tzu, keeping their hair trimmed is beneficial for health purposes, as it keeps the hair out of their eyes, nose and mouths, particularly when they are eating.
Shih-Tzus relish attention and kind leadership. They enjoy spending time with others, and can be a great therapy dog, as they are easily carried and often enjoy other environments. Some can be quite active, and like going on hikes and outdoor adventures. But at the end of the day, a Shih-Tzu will definitely enjoy cuddling up with you – and not just on your feet.
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions to bepawsitive01420@gmail.Com
Three-bedroom Family Home On Sale For £65,000 Is Covered In Bird Poo After Animals Move Into The Dilapidated Property
With living costs soaring, moving in with strangers is becoming an increasingly common choice, but one family could be in for the most unique house-share yet.
A three-bedroom family home in Blackpool has hit the market for £65,000, but alongside an already extensive DIY job, the next owners will have to start life by shooing away a flock of resident pigeons.
The bargain buy includes three bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a lounge, and a dining room.
Pictures of the semi-detached property show that the interior - much of which is rubbish which will need throwing out - is coated in a thick layer of bird poo.
Some of the images reveal the source of this unpleasant decor - a handful of pigeons perched on cabinets, a wardrobe and even some wallpaper as it peeled off the wall.
Young families might think this three-bed semi-detached house in Blackpool is a snip at £65,000 just looking at the outside, but there is a catch
The home's interior has been completely ruined by a combination of rubbish left by previous owners, and pigeon squatters who have drenched the place in their excrement
The birds were pictured perched on cabinets, a wardrobe and even some wallpaper as it peeled off the wall ahead of the house's sale
The bathroom boasts quite possibly the least tasteful bird bath in history
The house went viral on Reddit, where users had fun spotting the four birds hidden in various nooks and crannies throughout. One is seen mid-flight
The brazen birds' attitudes to being photographed do not bode well for whichever family ends up moving into the home, since they appear to have been unphased by whoever walked in on them previously.
This is a shame as from the outside, the property looks like a traditional, semi-detached family home with a front hedge allowing for added privacy from the road.
Along the kitchen surfaces and worktops, going into the bedrooms, living room and the bathroom, there is mould, debris and most notably - droppings.
That includes a remarkable amount in the bath tub - with the pigeons putting a new twist on the traditional bird bath.
There is also a hole in the living room ceiling - perhaps a small price to pay for a relatively excrement-free zone.
There is a hole in the living room ceiling but on the plus side, the damage appears to have put the birds off
A glacier of guano is seen covering the stairs
Whoever inherits the property will have difficulty knowing where to start out of the extensive belongings left by the previous owner and the infesting flock of birds
There is also mould throughout the property - not helped by the current occupants
The large back garden is an overgrown mess, with a picture showing signs of even more garbage lurking amongst the matted plants
The property is set to be sold via auction with Auction House Fulwood next week
The house went viral on Reddit, where users had fun spotting the four birds hidden in various nooks and crannies throughout.
And the work does not end there. The large back garden is an overgrown mess, with a picture showing signs of even more garbage lurking amongst the matted plants.
However, the size of the garden, and house, does offer the promise of becoming a family haven - if you can stomach it.
The property is set to be sold via auction with Auction House Fulwood next week, from June 11 until June 12.
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