Abstract: A brush for grooming, brushing, cleaning, fluffing, and combing the tail, limb, or paw of an animal. The grooming brush has a pair of opposing semi-circular brushes on a scissors-like hand operated device. The semicircular brushes are placed around the base of the tail, limb, or paw of an animal and closed together with the scissors-like device to form a circular brush around the tail, limb, or paw. The brush is then moved to the extremity of the tail, limb, or paw to fluff, brush, clean, groom, and comb the hair.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device designed to be used in horse riding, consisting of a pivoting base provided with female fixing means so as to be secured to the rider's foot through a male fixing means attached on the sole of his shoes. The use of a single stirrup branch enables rapid release of the foot outwards. Said branch includes damping means so as to absorb part of the forces exerted on the stirrup by the rider's weight and thus avoid accidental release of the attachment. The automatic stirrup provides greater safety in case the rider falls by preventing the foot from being jammed through the use of a single branch prevents the rider from losing his stirrups as a result of the horse's sudden movements or loss of balance through the fixing means and dampens the rider's movements, particularly when jumping over an obstacle through its damper.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing odors of livestock confinement operations which utilizes a V-shaped filter of wood chips disposed in front of exhaust fans from manure pits under a livestock confinement building and a method of cleaning the wood chips involving spraying them with a solution.

Abstract: A protective facemask for horses includes a panel of an open mesh material and an elastic headstall and an elastic throatlatch that are without fasteners. When the facemask is worn, an upper edge portion of the panel passes around a horse's forehead below the forelock and above the eyes and a lower edge portion of the panel passes over an upper region of a horse's muzzle forward of a horse's eyes and from this region to adjacent a throatlatch region of a horse's throat. When the facemask is worn, the headstall passes over the poll region of a horse's head and the throatlatch extends from the ends of the headstall under a throatlatch region of a horse's throat.

Abstract: A cat litter box includes a first litter box half with a first recess and a first lip. The litter box includes a second litter box half with a second recess and a second lip which engages with the first litter box half to create an enclosure. The first recess and the second recess align to form an entrance to the enclosure through the which the cat can enter or exit the enclosure. Each recess sloped to act as a pour spout. Each half has a sliding gate that moves up and down over the recess. The gate in a down and stored position while in use for the cat and in an up position for sifting the litter. A method for cleaning a cat litter box.

Abstract: A method of ornamenting conduits, cylindrical or otherwise, as well as other tubes, filters, narrow and cylindrical surfaces which can be found in an aquarium or terrarium whereby the tubes, conduits, and cylinders are provided with attachment members on their exteriors and ornaments are provided with attachment members so that the ornaments can be placed on the exteriors of the tubes, conduits, and cylinders enabling the texture or appearance of the exterior to be changed to produce a pleasing and aesthetic effect. The conduits and other aquarium equipment with attachment members on their narrow or cylindrical surfaces, as well as the ornaments with corresponding attachment members or regions are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying animal behavior when animal performs an undesirable behavior, wherein a user discharging an inert gas stream at an animal body from a distance via the use of inert gas spray canister whereby the animal behavior is modified.

Abstract: The present device is utilized by equestrian riders to maintain their horse's forehead vertical with the ground. It is made of plastic and readily attaches to the bridle on top of the horse's head, between the ears. A colored indicator is visible to the rider through an opening in the device and lets the rider know if the animal's head is vertical with the ground or if the nose is back or away from the animal's body. This device will aid the rider and horse to learn how to position and maintain the animals forehead vertical with the ground.

Abstract: A cat scratching post that includes a plurality of supports between which an outer covering is disposed. The supports are coupled with at least one joint that can comprise a spline that can be ribbed and that can form part of an end cap. In another preferred embodiment, the supports engage each other and form a post assembly that can be hollow. One preferred joint comprises a tongue and groove coupling. One preferred coupling includes a snap received in a receiver. One preferred post assembly is formed of a pair of supports of substantially identical construction. Each support preferably comprises a spar formed from a common extrusion producing spars of substantially identical cross-section. In assembly, one of the spars is reversed relative to the other so they mirror one another before being engaged to one another using a plurality of spaced apart joints integrally formed of the spars.

Abstract: The slipcover for dog collars is a fabric sleeve designed to slide onto the collar, covering the entire collar except the metal bracket and tongue of the buckle. A strip of fabric, slightly narrower than the sleeve and with an elastic loop at the end, is attached to and extends from the open end of the slipcover. The strip fits through the buckle and has a thin slot medially aligned for the tongue of the buckle to pass through. The loop at the end of the strip attaches to a button near the base of the strip on the open end of the slipcover, on the inner side. A plurality of openings are medially aligned near the closed end of the sleeve. The collar is fastened onto the dog's neck in the ordinary fashion, passing the tongue through any of the openings near the closed end of the slipcover.

Abstract: A method is provided for raising poultry, such as chickens, for food production. In a first preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, exposing an interior of the facility to natural light cycles of an outside environment for a first period and regulating light cycles of the interior for a second period, thereby mimicking daylight duration variation representative of seasonal changes for stimulating sexual development of the poultry. In a second preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a facility for housing the poultry, providing at least one light-absorbing ventilation fan associated with the facility for ventilating the facility, limiting exposure of an interior of the facility to light to produce a brown-out effect therein for enhancing physical development of the poultry.

Abstract: An animal insecticide applicator is presented. The applicator includes a bag for holding a quantity of insecticide, the bag having a top, two sides and a bottom. The bag is formed of a first layer of coarse mesh material through which powder insecticide can pass. A rigid tubular support is coupled with and extends across the top of the bag. A first tie rope is secured to and extends at least partially across a first side of the bag and then through the tubular support in a first direction. This tie rope terminates in a length which is hanging free at a second side of the bag. The second tie rope is secured to and extends at least partially along the second side of the bag. This tie rope is passed through the tubular support in the opposite direction of the first tie rope and includes the length hanging free at the first side of the bag. In one embodiment the applicator also includes couplers for joining two identical bags together.

Abstract: Precut, production blank components can be folded manually to form a birdhouse without the need for tools or other aids in assembly, even where the blank components are manufactured from metal, rigid plastic or the like. The precut blank components include a one-piece main panel and a detached panel. The one-piece panel includes a rear section, a base section, first and second side sections, and a top section. Each section includes precut slots, tabs and hinges that act as folding guides, allowing the blank to easily fold into a structure defining an enclosure like the birdhouse. The detached panel then is mounted to the so constructed main panel to cover the enclosure and thereby complete the birdhouse.

Abstract: A pet transporter that can be towed behind a wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The pet transporter comprises a carrier member, a frame adapted to receive the carrier member, a pair of side bows attached to the side walls of the carrier and to the frame, a pair of wheel assemblies attached to the frame on opposite sides of the carrier, and an attachment arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be attached to the frame proximate the front wall of the carrier and the second end is adapted to releasably attach to a rear axle of a wheeled vehicle. The pet transporter has a low center of gravity, making tipping of the pet transporter more difficult. In addition, few tools are required to assemble and disassemble the pet transporter.

Abstract: A retractable dog leash system is designed to attach to the collar of a pet and be permanently worn in this manner is small and lightweight, and comprises an ergonomic handle that fits neatly against the case when the leash is in a retracted condition. Advantageously, the leash system comprises a leash retraction biasing mechanism that is free on one end permitting an unwinding of the biasing mechanism and not merely a tightening of it.

Abstract: A birdcage is disclosed that includes a collapsible cage having an opening adapted to be coupled to a support wherein the support is adapted to support at least one of a feeder and a waterer so that a bird in the cage may be provided at least one of food and water while being blocked from exiting the cage via the opening. The birdcage also includes a base adapted to receive and support the cage, wherein the base includes side walls that extend out beyond a perimeter of the cage and are flared upwardly and outwardly relative to the cage so as to be disposed to catch debris expelled from within the cage.

Abstract: A pet bowl assembly which provides protection for the food from birds by means of a swinging cover and protection from crawling insects by means of a water channel surrounding the food bowl. A pet watering dish, which provides fresh drinking water from the water channel. The water dish is sufficiently sized to allow the pets lapping to clean the bowl during each use. A combination of the food bowl and watering dish which provides protection form birds, crawling insects and contaminated drinking water. Means are provided to allow for internal cleaning of the assembly, means for use in larger constructions, means for lifting the food from the ground and means for providing food and water for extended periods of time.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a method of reducing ungulate pressure on burned sub-areas within a mosaic burn area. The method comprises identifying an unburned sub-area within the mosaic burn area and providing at least one highly palatable, portable, self-limiting, animal feed supplement in the first unburned sub-area. The highly palatable, portable, self-limiting, animal feed supplement attracts the ungulates to the first unburned sub-area and increases the length of the ungulates' stay in the first unburned sub-area. The ungulates are attracted to the first unburned sub-area by the supplement in preference to the burned sub-area with new growth.

Abstract: The invention refers to an arrangement and a method for milking of animals. The arrangement includes a number of milking stations (1). Each milking station includes a set of teatcups to be attached to the animal to be milked, a local milk-collecting unit, a local milk discharge conduit (10) and a local feeding member. At least a first main milk conduit (31) is arranged to connect each local milk discharge conduit (10) to a central milk-receiving unit (30) for the transport of milk from each milking station (1) to the central milk-receiving unit. Each local feeding member is arranged to feed the milk by pressure from the local milk-collecting unit to the central milk-connecting unit via the local milk discharge conduit (10) and the first main milk conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving grazing distribution and an animal feed supplement for use therein. The method comprises the steps of identifying a plurality of underutilized rangeland areas and providing an animal feed supplement in a first underutilized rangeland area. The animal feed supplement attracts the livestock to the first underutilized rangeland area and encourages the livestock to graze once there.