This is a very common question from pet owners who are trying to make the safest and healthiest decision for their beloved animal companions. And, depending on who you ask, you can get many different answers.
Most private practice veterinarians won’t schedule a spay/neuter surgery until the animal is at least 6 months old. Meanwhile, common shelter practices involve spaying or neutering as early as 2-3 months of age.
While there may be a difference in opinion among veterinarians about the ideal age to alter an animal, the truth is that pediatric spay/neuter (or surgery performed on a pet younger than 5 months) has been safely performed for years. Pediatric spay/neuter is a common practice among animal welfare leaders like Animal Friends for a number of reasons.
First, it allows shelters to find adopters for their younger residents during a highly adoptable period of their lives. Before pediatric spay/neuter, shelters would adopt out unaltered young animals with the hope that their families would seek out spay/neuter options when their pet was a little older. But, as pet overpopulation continued to be a growing problem, organizations realized that the best option was to alter their animals before adoption.
Another benefit of pediatric spay/neuter is a faster recovery time following surgery. Often times, younger patients can actually be awake and playing within hours of their operation.
And, pets who are altered are at a lower risk of developing certain cancers.
While everyone can agree that kittens, puppies and baby bunnies are adorable, there is certainly no shortage of them in our region. Whether purebred, mixed breed or lovable mutt, offspring who are born – intentionally or unintentionally – contribute to the growing pet overpopulation facing our community.
Each year, millions of companion animals are euthanized in the United States. For decades, Animal Friends has strongly believed that euthanasia can never be the solution to pet overpopulation. Spay/neuter is safe, humane and – thanks to the low-cost services at our Howard Ash Animal Wellness Center – affordable.
If you have an unaltered pet at home (young or old!) contact our Clinic Services team at 412.847.7004 or SpayNeuter@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.orgto discuss spay/neuter options for your four-legged family member.
This handsome boy is Ronan! He is a very sweet, affectionate cat who is about 5 years old. He is neutered, very outgoing and gets along with other felines. Ronan has always been a friendly stray cat. He has been living outside, receiving care from a Good Samaritan, but has never had a home he could call his own.
At one point during his life, Ronan was hit by a car and his hind leg was broken in three different places. Since he had no family, the broken bones were never set properly and never properly healed. To ease his pain, a veterinarian decided to amputate his leg. He is recovering well from his surgery and is adjusting quite nicely to a life with three legs.
During his most recent visit to the veterinarian, Ronan was diagnosed with FIV. With regular visits to the veterinarian, though, cats with FIV can live long, happy lives! Ronan can go home to a family with other FIV positive felines or a home where he will be the only feline.
Ronan is looking for a home where he will be given all the love he deserves. He loves neck and belly scratches and lounging around with his human friends. If Ronan sounds like the perfect addition to your family, please contact Peggy at peggymckean@icloud.com.
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is our largest Accipiter, a group of short-winged, long-tailed raptors three species of which occur in North America and 46 around the world. The other two North American accipiters also occur here in New Brunswick, the Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Our Northern Goshawk is called 'Northern' because it has a southern relative, the (Southern) Pale Chanting Goshawk which occurs in eastern and southern Africa.
And while we are on names, the name, goshawk, is derived from goose hawk and is still pronounced in two syllables denoting the two original words, 'gos hawk'. There is no 'sh' sound in goshawk! Also interesting is its Latin name, Accipiter gentilis. In medieval times only nobles and the upper class were permitted to use goshawks for falconry. The nobility was known as the 'gentility', the 'gentle class'. Thus the goshawk became A. gentilis.
The Northern Goshawk is 53-66 cm long (21-26 in). Both adult males and females look alike but the females are usually larger. These are thick-bodied hawks with wide wings. The tail is long with light and dark gray intermittent bands. The adult is dark gray above and light gray below with faint barring and vertical stripes on the breast. There is a bold white or light-gray superciliary line (eyebrow), an important identifying feature. The eye is red. The juvenile is brown above with heavy mottling on its back. Underneath it is light whitish beige covered with heavy dark vertical streaks. The juvenile has dark and light brown alternating bands in its tail. In both the adult and the juvenile there is very little white on the tip of the tail. The juvenile has a yellow eye but also shows the identifying light-coloured superciliary line.
Northern Goshawk Juvenile [Internet Photo]
The only other species that one might mistake the Northern Goshawk for here in NB would be the Cooper's Hawk. But the Cooper's has red barring on its breast and no 'eyebrow'. The juvenile Cooper's Hawk is brownish like the juvenile Northern Goshawk but it has a longer rounded tail with a noticeable white tip and no superciliary line on the head. It also has a larger-appearing head.
The Northern Goshawk loves the northern forest. It breeds in our deep coniferous and deciduous forests. It is an uncommon permanent resident here and also a migrant when northern birds move south in winter. The normal range of this species includes all of Canada from the treeline south. Its range extends into the US about to the mid-states (north to south) and more southward in mountainous areas.
Goshawks feed on birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates. They can take relatively large prey, for example, a pheasant or a dove. This species nests high up in a large tree. Its nest is made of sticks and twigs and is lined with bark, leaves, and conifer needles. Incubation is 36 to 41 days and is carried out by the female. Northern Goshawks are known for their fierce defence of their nests. They will attack humans if they come anywhere near the nest. They are very vocal around the nest, making a loud kek-kek-kek-kek sound. I have been near a nest and believe me, there is no doubt that you are in 'their' territory!
Northern Goshawks also inhabit Europe and Asia. Their world population is presently listed as stable. Fortunately they have survived the falconry insult levied on this species in earlier times! An interesting fact about this species is that an image of a goshawk was emblazoned on the helmet of Attila the Hun. He knew how to represent fierceness! For us, the Northern Goshawk is a species we should consider when we are trying to identify a large hawk in winter.
My father, John McCormac, speaking about his war experiences at a veteran's event on August 18, 2017. He was 90 at the time, but as always his thoughts were organized and his recall of those events of 70+ years earlier was phenomenal.
Dad passed away last Friday evening, February 1st, seven days before his 93rd birthday. He was a productive dynamo throughout his life, and his works touched a huge number of people over decades. Many readers here know him, or met him and my mother, Martha, somewhere along the line. Both were (mom, still is) keenly interested in birds and nature.
John W. McCormac, age 92, transitioned peacefully from this world surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 1, 2019. John lived life with gusto, was a Renaissance man, friend and mentor to many, loving husband and caring father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by many, including his wife of 66 years, Martha; sons, Jim and Mike, Mike's wife, Patrice and their children, Katie, Kevin, Luke, and Megan, and son John's (1960 - 2000) wife, Tammy and their children, Christa, Shawn, and Tara and many nieces and nephews.
John was born on February 8, 1926 in Zanesville, Ohio to the late Samuel and Phyllis McCormac. At age 17, John convinced his mother to sign a waiver allowing him to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He became an anti-aircraft gunner aboard the USS Thurston, a troop carrier that offloaded Higgins boats that transported marines onto the beaches. He was in the thick of battle at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Thurston at times besieged by Kamikaze aircraft and other threats.
Following the war, John embarked on a career in law, graduating with a law degree from Franklin University in 1960. His inaugural job was as a trial attorney, a post in which he won 24 of the 25 cases he tried. He later became dean of Franklin University's law school, eventually orchestrating its successful merger into Capital University, where he also served as dean. Among many accomplishments there, he began a successful paralegal program, and was a pioneer in actively recruiting females and African Americans to law school. In 1974, John was elected to the 10th District Court of Appeals, where he served three six-year terms. During the course of his legal career, John authored seven books on law and served the legal profession with distinction in many capacities, including president of the Ohio Bar Association.
A natural athlete, John participated in many athletic pursuits, and also refereed football and other sports. A crack table tennis wizard, his quirkiest sporting opportunity came in the 1950's when the Harlem Globetrotters offered him a contract to play exhibitions during halftimes. He declined, in order to pursue law school, a decision that always left him with mild regret. At age 53, John took up running, and went on to run 38 marathons, and was an Olympic Torch relay carrier in 1996.
He and Martha were long interested in nature. John faithfully volunteered for 25 years at Highbanks Metro Park, where his duties included monitoring bluebird nest boxes. His faith in God was vital to him, and John was a longtime member and deeply involved in Xenos Christian Fellowship. In spite of many serious duties and weighty responsibilities, John never lost his childlike curiosity for new subjects. He was always interested in other people, and wanted to learn what made them tick. When exposed to a new subject, his mind became a sponge. His intellectual thirst was insatiable, and that, coupled with an astonishing photographic memory, allowed him to become versed in an amazing array of topics. He was always willing to help anyone, or lend an ear.
John is preceded in death by his mother Phyllis and father Samuel, and his three brothers Bill, Don, and Scott, and his son John. Visiting hours are Wednesday, February 6 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Schoedinger Worthington Chapel, 6699 N. High St., Worthington, OH 43085. Funeral service is Thursday, February 7 at 1 pm at Xenos Christian Fellowship Main Campus, 1390 Community Park Drive, Columbus, OH 43229. Burial at Kingwood Memorial Park, 8230 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035 immediately following services. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the John M. McCormac Scholarship at the Columbus State Foundation. Gifts can be made online at foundation.cscc.edu or mail to Columbus State Foundation 550 East Spring St., Columbus, Ohio 43205. Visit www.schoedinger.com to send online condolences to the family.
The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) is a rare migrant and winter resident to New Brunswick.
'Birds of New Brunswick: An Annotated List' says that it is so rare that the sighting of half a dozen of them in one season constitutes a flight year. Most reports are in December and January. There have been a few breeding reports from the province over the years, from Tabusintac, Grand Manan, Point Lepreau, and near Fundy National Park.
The Northern Hawk Owl is a circumpolar species. It is diurnal which is common for most northern species. Its pointed wings and long tail make it very hawk-like, hence its name. Its flight is swift and it often hovers. It can be seen perched on top of a conifer or other structure from which it watches for voles or other rodents.
Being a northern species, Northern Hawk Owls have learned to catch all available food when it can. Since owls do not have crops (an enlargement of the esophagus) they have to store excess food elsewhere. Northern Hawk Owls store their extra food in snow drifts, woodpecker holes in trees, in decaying stumps or they just tuck it into the boughs of coniferous trees.
Northern Hawk Owl
The normal range of this species is from Newfoundland and Labrador across northern Canada to Yukon and Northwest Territories with occasional incursions to the south. It is a medium-sized (41 cm/ 16 in long) slender owl with brown upper parts spotted with white and with brown horizontal stripes on a light gray breast. Its eyes are yellow. The long tail is very noticeable. The only species an amateur birder might confuse with the Northern Hawk Owl is the Boreal Owl which is much smaller and also rare here. It is only 25 cm (10 in) long.
Male owls court females by circling and gliding on stiff wings. The nest is normally built in a woodpecker hole, a hollow stump or an abandoned raptor nest. Three to thirteen white eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 25-30 days. The young fledge after 25-35 days.
The Northern Hawk Owl vocalizes mainly at night. Females and juveniles make a screeching sound or a whistle. Courtship sounds are a series of rising 'popopopo' sounds lasting about 6 seconds. This sounds much like the Boreal Owl call which most birders are familiar with. The female sometimes sings along with the male.
The Northern Hawk Owl is also known as the Canadian Owl or the Hudsonian Hawk Owl. It has the unusual feature (for an owl) of stiff feathers which are not silent in flight like the soft feathers of most owls. Apparently this is not an important feature for a diurnal northern owl. The population size for this species is healthy and is listed as 'least concern'.
A long abandoned farmstead haunts the Pickaway Plains, a former swath of prairie that covered parts of Pickaway and Ross counties in central Ohio. A meeting today took me to southern Ohio's Adams County, which meant driving right by this place. I couldn't resist a stop in the early morning light for photos. And a quick drive through of the adjoining 1,000 acre conservation reserve program grassland. Didn't see much in the morning due to limited time, but I'd stop by here again on my way home, in late afternoon.
The afternoon visit was much more productive for birds. At least four northern harriers, like the male above, were hunting the grasslands. Harriers are often quite wary of people, and will veer off before getting into effective camera range. This one gave me one pass and I tried to make the most of it.
An immature bald eagle flew overhead, and a lone light-morph rough-legged hawk worked the grasslands. It was later harassed by a peregrine falcon that seemingly materialized out of nowhere. Am American kestrel or two perched on wires, and I saw at least thirty ring-necked pheasants. They reproduce well at this site and are quite wary. It was a productive hour or so, but by the time I left at dusk the mercury was plunging into the high teens.
A reminder: If you want to take lots of birds photos and learn lots of techniques, Debbie DiCarlo and I are leading a trip to a MUCH warmer place: South Florida in late February. A good time to escape frigid northern climes. All the details are RIGHT HERE.
