Crazy Antics of our Shop Cat!

Crazy Antics of our Shop Cat!

Quite recently our shop cat has created some excitement. Over the weekend she happened to give birth in our shuttle to some baby kittens.

On Monday morning a customer by the name of Jennifer O’Neill was getting a ride in our shuttle van when she hear a strange noise in the back of the shuttle. Quickly after asking the driver to pull over she found 3 brand new baby kittens. To Jennifer's dismay the mama cat was nowhere to be found (as it had escaped when the shuttle was first used on Monday); she gathered up the kittens and took them into her vet to make sure that they were healthy and find out what to do to keep them alive.

After spending the day at the vet, the babies were sent home with Jennifer. She was taught how to nurse the babies with formula and instructed to try to find the momma asap as this would give the babies a far better chance to survive. Later that evening she returned with the kittens in hopes of finding the momma cat. With the help of Jeremy Koch and Brad Burgeson they spotted the momma cat. After many failed attempts to catch her they decided to leave the babies in the shop over night where the momma could nurse them.

The next morning Jennifer came in and shop staff notified her that the momma had been spotted with the babies but would likely not be back until later that evening when the shop.  Jennifer took the kittens to the vet again to ensure their health and safety. She then proceeded to try and find a cat cage, after being told that only the representatives of the company could rent one from the humane society, she then drove around Edmonton trying to track one down finally finding one.  Jeremy Koch, Brad Burgeson and Jennifer set up the cage with an assortment of food (including some tuna). A short while later, SUCCESS!!  

Jennifer was gracious enough to lend her home to kittens and mother, once arriving she let out the cat in a private room so that they would be able to nurse, but alas the shop cat was absolutely distraught over the situation and the new location that she could not feed the kittens so the bottle feeding continued through the night. The next morning the vet advised that the babies and the mother should come in and that they would try to coax the mother to start feeding. Unfortunately momma cat had a different idea of how the day’s events would turn out. The momma cat escaped in a frenzy hiding herself in the floor joists of Jennifer’s basement ceiling. Crazy enough though, Jennifer caught her once again and brought her into the vet to be with her babies.

Mar 31st- The cat is now at the vets in order to be spayed-therefore avoiding this situation again. The vet is also hoping to coax her to feed her babies.

April 1st- The Momma kitty does not want anything to do with them but we did find out that she has a nasty infection in her mamory gland which is causing her alot of pain and a fever, they have been treating her with antibiotics for it. They were unable to go ahead with the spay yesterday because of the infection though. They are going to wait till next week and see if the infection has healed at all. One of the kittens has taken a bit of a turn to the worse. Let’s hope it makes it.

April 2nd- One of the babies passed away last night. Jennifer will update which one after she goes to visit the vet.

April 4th- Momma cat will be coming home today after being spayed. Also, the remaining kitten was given to a surrogate mother to nurse!

April 5th- Momma cat was released back into the shop. She is adjusting quite well

Stay tuned to hear all the latest updates and possibly some pictures!

You Should Know! Tips on Car Safety for Dogs!

Everyone knows that dogs love car rides. Ask a dog if he wants to go for a ride in the car and he's likely to jump for joy. If you're going to travel in the car with your dog, you should heed these safety tips to make sure your dog's car ride is a safe and happy experience.

Traveling with your dog offers an opportunity for him to run away:

-    Always make sure that your dog's leash is on and someone is holding it firmly before you open the car door.

-    Your dog should always have a collar with an ID tag. Maybe on the tag put your phone number so that you can be contacted directly if your pup is lost.

-    If you're going to be away for any length of time, consider getting a second ID tag with your local address.

-    Microchips are another way to make sure your dog will find his way back to you if he's lost.

-    Keep a current photo of your dog in your glove compartment that you can photocopy or on your phone that you can easily print. This will allow you to show it to others or post if need be.

Dogs shouldn't be allowed to ride in the front seat because they can jump or climb on you while you're driving. This could distract you and cause an accident. Like people, dogs riding in cars have to be secured.

-    One option is to use a pet carrier. Keep in mind that if you use a pet carrier, it must be secured to the car or it could fly forward in a collision, injuring the dog or people in the front of the car.

-    Instead of a pet carrier, you can use a restraining harness that connects to your car's seat belts. The harness has the advantage of giving the dog freedom to move around, while at the same time keeping him safe in case of an accident.

Just like people, dogs can get car sick. Car sickness in dogs can be possibly due to stress and not the actual motion of the car.

-    Don't feed your dog a heavy meal just before embarking on a car tip. A light meal a couple of hours before the trip would be best.

-    Take water and a bowl along and schedule breaks every hour or two to let your dog walk around and do his business.

-    Take along cleaning wipes and some air freshener to deal with any accidents that may happen inside the car.

Don't leave your dog inside a hot car with the windows rolled up. You shouldn't leave your dog alone in the car at all, but if you must, make sure it's not for a long period, try to park in the shade if it's a warm day, and crack the windows enough to let air circulate.

Major Vehicle Trends

Ah, the good ol’ days of 10 years ago, when the number of cupholders in a vehicle was actually a selling point. However, what drives consumers today is technology capable of keeping them safer on the road, providing impressive fuel economy and allowing for hands-free mobile communication.

Infotainment: 10 years ago: In Dash CD Players and cruise control systems were a luxury and are now standard. The days of packing a clumsy binder CDs are gone. For instance, satellite radio was not available in cars. Now Ford vehicles come equipped with SYNC which can stream Internet radio like Pandora or can play music from USB plugged-in digital music players or memory sticks.

The desire to have access at information at any point in time and has helped to spawn new technologies such as voice-activated controls, real-time traffic and Wi-Fi mobile hot spots.

Taking out the guesswork: New Curve Control, available on the 2011 Explorer, monitors a driver’s speed entering fast, sharp corners then corrects the vehicle. Other examples: collision warning systems, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and cross-traffic alert.

Today’s vehicles are equipped with new technologies that make driving easier, including self-parallel parking, rear back-up cameras and rain sensing wipers. Terrain management lets the driver select the type of terrain the vehicle is driving through, whether it is sand, snow or pavement. The vehicle then adjusts wheel spin, throttle inputs and other inputs accordingly.

Fuel economy: It used to be that bigger was better. Now consumers are looking more for fuel efficiency now more than ever. Hybrids, EVs, Electric have really shown us what the future might hold.

Creature comforts: Consumers today enjoy a more comfortable ride: better interior materials, sleeker interior designs, heated and cooled seats, memory seats, remote start and more storage capacity. Even a hands-free power lift gate that opens with the wave of a foot underneath the rear bumper can be found on Ford’s new C-MAX.

Security: Keyless remotes, alarms and warning systems and anti-theft systems have come a long way toward making life on the go safer for many. Ford and Lincoln offer: SYNC’s 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report, MyKey, Intelligent Access with push-button.

And what does the future hold? Expect more revolutionary change for the auto industry. Look for better lithium-ion batteries, alternative fuels, more advanced safety technologies and more connectivity such as vehicle-to-vehicle systems that will allow vehicles to “talk” to each other via wireless communications embedded into the car.

Ford B-MAX Concept Debuted

March 2nd, 2011

The B-MAX concept showcases a unique new body design which eliminates the traditional B pillar between the front and rear doors, and features twin rear sliding doors.  This innovative format – which has already been engineered for production – promises best-in-class access to the cabin, together with unmatched convenience and flexibility.

The innovation continues inside the cabin, where the interior offers exceptional space and versatility for such a compact vehicle.  The use of high quality materials highlights the vision that small, practical cars can also be comfortable and well-equipped. The B-MAX concept combines the integrated B-pillar door format with a flexible and easy-to-use seating system, resulting in an interior which offers unmatched practicality and versatility.

Having folded the 60/40 split rear seats and the front passenger seat to create an extensive flat load floor, the side access is particularly convenient to load bulky items such as flat-pack furniture or even a bicycle.

The B-MAX concept is just 4.3 inches longer than the Fiesta five-door, and is approximately one foot shorter than the new C-MAX. With this highly compact footprint, the B-MAX concept is ideally placed to meet the fast-growing demand for downsized cars which are better suited to congested urban conditions, but without sacrificing interior space and comfort.

The B-MAX concept is powered by an ultra-low-CO₂ powertrain, featuring the 1.0-liter Ford EcoBoost^® gasoline engine unit combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing to achieve significant reductions in fuel-consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Simple resolutions to help you drive smarter and be safe

Simple resolutions to help you drive smarter and be safer

Today's vehicles are filled with features and technologies to help keep you safer. Knowing how to use them properly can make you a better driver. Some features can help minimize injuries from crashes, while others can help you avoid dangerous situations all together. Ford offers a list of safety resolutions and tips for car owners who are safe and in control in the drivers' seat.

 --Click it -- Always buckle that safety belt. Isn't alone worth taking that extra two seconds to click on the belt when you travel -- and make sure your passengers do, too?

 --Keep your eyes on the road -- not on your cellphone. Avoid unnecessary distractions. That means no texting -- no message is that important.

--Read a good book -- like your owners' manual. Reading it will give you valuable safety information and could even save you some money.

--Scrape that ice -- On wintery mornings, don't be one of those people trying to negotiate the roads while peering through a tiny hole of visibility in the windshield. That's just plain dangerous.

--Use technology to keep you safer -- Today's vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art technology that can help keep you safer, but it always helps if drivers understand these features. Take your anti-lock-brake system, for example.  ABS pumps the brakes automatically at a much faster rate than you could do it manually and allows better steering control.

 --Listen to your mother -- Sit up straight. Make sure your seat and headrest are adjusted correctly in your vehicle to give you the optimum support. Your legs shouldn't be overstretched to reach the pedals; you should be able to glance up and out at your mirrors with ease.

 --Check pressure on all four tires -- and the spare. Don't confuse the "maximum tire pressure" written on the side wall of the tire with the "recommended tire pressure" provided by the manufacturer -- that's found in that handy owner's manual you've resolved to read.

 --Take a cue from the Scouts -- Be Prepared. You never know what cold weather will bring, so make sure you're carrying the essentials in case you get stuck or stranded: water, blankets, granola bars or beef jerky, a few road flares, a good flashlight (and extra batteries), jumper cables and a bag of cat litter to help gain traction if you're stuck in snow.

 --Remember the two-second rule -- The vehicle in front of you should be passing a road marker two seconds before you to assure you're not tailgating.