Abstract: A bird launcher for hunt training with a door through which a bird is placed in a guide belt in an interior of a housing substantially eliminates injury to the bird. An elastic spring mounted at one end of an operating rod substantially eliminates inadvertent movement of an operating rod thereby preventing a premature launch, thus improving the safety of the operator and the bird. A fixing member is centered on the bird launcher's longitudinal center line and extends to at least one-half of a length of guide rods. The fixing member places pressure in the approximate center of the guide rods thereby preventing the guide rods from opening at the ends and additionally creating a balanced release point when the bird launcher is activated. The balance release point ensures a more stabilized launch so that the bird is released in a desired direction.

Abstract: A bird feeder has a containment housing and a convertible feed port assembly mounted through a housing opening. The feed port assembly includes a feed port having a port plate and a support frame which extends into the housing through the port opening. The port plate defines a port opening aligned with the housing opening to enable access to the bird feed within the housing. The feed port assembly also includes a door slidably and rotatably mounted in the feed port. In a retracted position, the door is supported by the support frame in the housing and leaves the port open to provide access to seed within the interior of the housing. The retracted door cooperates with the support frame to form a roof or baffle to prevent seeds from falling out of the port opening. The door is slidable outwardly from the housing interior and rotatable to overlie and close off the door opening. The door has a relatively small aperture for access to small bird seed when the door is closed.

Abstract: A horse browband having a plurality of decorative components adhesively attached to a flexible band with lengths of thread extending through the decorative components from one end of the flexible band to the opposite end of the flexible band to provide added protection against the decorative components falling off the flexible band when, for example, the adhesive fails.

Abstract: A wall mounted aquarium, is constructed from a structural material frame and a glass aquarium mounted within the frame. Preferably, the structural material is a metal that can be welded, such as steel. Structural polymeric materials and composites now known and hereafter developed, can be used. The structural material frame has a front side and a rear side. Preferably, it is formed from a pair of vertically oriented “U” shaped channel members. A horizontal “U” shaped channel member and the pair of vertical “U” shaped channel members are bonded together to form a “U” shaped frame unit. The “U” shaped channel members open inwardly. A glass aquarium having five sides and an open top end is mounted within the frame. One of the sides is a front side, one of the sides is a bottom side, one of the sides is a rear side and two of the sides are ends. The channel members can be tubular or have an open “U” configuration.

Abstract: A door suspended bird perch includes an overhang over a door. An optional clamp tightens the bird support perch bar in any desirable position. The perch is positioned parallel to, the door, so that the door surface is at the bird's back, which is less confirming visually to the bird. The perch can be moved adjustably outward away from the door. The angle of the perch away from the door can be adjustable as well. A gripping surface is provided upon which the bird can cling or sharpen its claws. Optionally, the perch can be folded flat against the door when stored and not used. In further options the bird perch may have optional food and bowls and/or a litter catch.

Abstract: A milking parlor has a holding gate and a parallel spaced individually loaded-occupied-unloaded milking stall with an operator pit located intermediate the holding gate and the milking stall. The operator pit can be recessed from the holding gate and the milking stall, wherein a bridge or a bridge cart selectively connects a holding gate to an unoccupied milking stall. A robotic or human operator can function from the operator pit to implement the milking process.

Abstract: Provided is a floating dock for use in an aquarium. In one particular configuration, the dock rides along one or more rails that extend into the aquarium, thereby confining the movement of the dock within the aquarium. Such a dock may be used by aquatic life in the aquarium, e.g., for basking and/or for resting.

Abstract: A cat litter box is provided, comprising four side walls connected in a rectangular shape, a rounded top edge, two hinged bottom trap doors, and protective edges connected to the bottom trap doors to keep litter from emptying when the doors are closed. The cat litter box has particular utility in connection with quickly and completely emptying all litter contents from the box through the bottom trap doors when the cat litter box is lifted.

Abstract: A saddle correcting device consisting of 4 protective shields placed over the shoulders and loins of an equine to protect areas of movement often damaged by the rigid structure of a saddle. The shields are placed upon, or within, a pair of connected aprons, under the saddle against the horse. The shields are molded to the general shape of the equine anatomy they are to protect and slotted to induce flexing in areas necessary to utilize the upward bending actions of the shoulders and downward and inward pressures of the saddletree bars. By harnessing these opposing forces, the shields act to keep the corrector device in place, while concurrently holding the saddle rearward of the rotating scapulas. The area of weight distribution is increased under the shields only in the areas of most damage to the musculature of the animal by the typical saddletree. The closeness of the rider to the horse is enhanced because little padding is needed under the saddle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage biofilter reactor system for removing nitrogenous compounds from a recirculating aquaculture system. The system includes a aerobic nitrification unit and a downstream anaerobic denitrification unit, wherein both units have a mobile bed of suspended media whereon bacteria can grow and reduce nitrate and/or ammonia levels in the recirculating aquaculture system. Use of the two-stage system has the advantage of reducing the water exchange rates and consumption of salt when maintaining a saline effluent.

Abstract: A feed trough is provided for use in cultivation containers for growing frogs and other amphibians. The feed trough is comprised of a sloped floor. In some embodiments the floor slopes downward to an opening from which, during operation, airflows. The opening is covered by a perforated cover that retains the feed particles collected from the sloped floor and provides sufficient opening for airflow that propels the feed particles from the perforated cover into the airspace of the cultivation container. During operation, airflow passes through the opening with sufficient force to suspend in the air feed particles that have rolled along the sloped floor, or fallen, onto the perforated cover covering the opening. The movement of the feed particles in the air stimulates feeding by the frogs or other amphibians. Feed that is not consumed falls onto the sloped floor, rolls onto the screen or wire mesh covering the opening, and is resuspended by the airflow.

Abstract: A stirrup extending device includes a frame slidable in a housing and having a stirrup attachment bar outside of the housing. The frame can be slid partially into the housing to move the stirrup attachment bar toward the housing to a retracted position and partially out of the housing to move the stirrup attachment bar away from the housing to an extended position. The housing is mounted in the normal saddle stirrup strap loop with the stirrup attachment bar extending below the stirrup strap loop. A stirrup is mounted to the stirrup attachment bar with appropriate mounting brackets to provide a nonrotatable connection, a partially rotatable connection, or a fully rotatable connection not available in prior art stirrup extenders, where the stirrup is free to rotate with respect to the stirrup attachment bar. The frame can be made as a single piece and assembled as a single piece into the housing as two housing sections are brought together to form the housing.

Abstract: A hand held training device capable of producing discreet clicks when operated by a user, having a control by which the user can vary the volume and/or tone of the clicks produced.

Abstract: An animal confinement pen flooring system, particularly adapted for swine farrowing operations, includes at least first and third rows of spaced-apart molded plastic foraminous flooring panels and an intermediate row of cast iron foraminous flooring panels, all of the panels being supported on spaced-apart elongated support rails in a stand off position above a subfloor. The plastic and cast iron panels each include opposed sets of hooked-shaped flanges for engagement with support rails, respectively, for supporting the panels thereon. The cast iron panels each include a boss and an opposed recess disposed on opposite sides thereof for interconnecting adjacent panels by cooperating hook portions formed on the boss and in the recess of the adjacent panel, respectively. The combination of the cast iron and molded plastic flooring panels provides enhanced comfort for swine in farrowing operations.

Abstract: A nationwide, web-based pet registration, search and retrieval system. The system is implemented with a host computer (10) that may be accessed by users operating user computers (12) via a communications network (14) such as the Internet. Pet owners may register their pets with the host computer and finders of lost pets may search the host computer in an attempt to locate the owners of lost pets.

Abstract: A unisex protective garment worn by both male and female animals, particularly dogs, the garment having a first forward harness portion and a rear genitalia protection portion. The rear portion includes a woven vinyl mesh material covering both the male genitalia and the female genitalia, in the same unisex garment, which would allow fluid flow, such as urine therethrough, but would prevent contact between male and female genitalia. This garment, when worn by either a male of female dog, would allow the dog to urinate and defecate, but would not allow the dog to copulate with the opposite sex.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a litter box and a method for dealing with cat litter. The litter box comprises a first litter box half with a first recess and a second litter box half with a second recess. The second litter box half engages with the first litter box half to form an enclosure such that the first recess aligns with the second recess to form an entrance to the enclosure through which an animal can enter the enclosure. Additionally, the litter box comprises a screen which fits into either the first litter box half or the second litter box half. The screen has panels so the screen can be lifted from either the first litter box half or the second litter box half.

Abstract: A hoof boot for the hoof of hoofed animals, the hoof boot comprising a ground engaging sole portion, a hoof bell and a means for retaining the hoof boot to the hoof, the hoof bell generally encircling the hoof, the means for retaining associated with the hoof bell wherein the hoof bell is initially separate from the sole portion, the means for retaining is carried by the sole portion and wherein the hoof bell is affixed to the sole portion by the means for retaining and the hoof bell and the sole portion are made fast to the hoof by the means for retaining.

Abstract: A pet chew toy for holding consumable treats comprises a body member having a plurality or ribs and a plurality of interstitial spaces formed between the ribs. The ribs and spaces cooperatively act to impinge a treat or treats inserted therein. The ribs and spaces may be disposed substantially parallel to the direction of the bore and a central axis, or may be disposed helically about the bore. The bore may be enclosed at one or both ends by threaded caps, heat bonded caps, or a combination thereof. A sound module may be provided within the bore for emitting a prerecorded or mechanically generated sound upon activation of the sound module.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a method of using a plurality of domestic ungulates to precondition a foraging area to enhance the attractiveness of the foraging area to a plurality of wild ungulates. The method comprises selecting the foraging area to be preconditioned, selecting a target period, selecting a preconditioning period, and providing at least one highly palatable, portable, self-limiting, animal feed supplement in the foraging area during the preconditioning period. The target period is when the plurality of wild ungulates uses the foraging area once it has been preconditioned. The preconditioning period is when the plurality of domesticated ungulates preconditions (i.e., forages) the foraging area for use by the wild ungulates during the target period.