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Editorial Comment . v ' • -,"'%Ær • ' J ' x . : ' "'AÿSiF' ' y:*' K S6t Canatrian Statesman July 20,1994 I \ Young pet owners got an introduction introduction to responsible animal care during a Wednesday morning Pet Care program at the Bowman ville Library. The "Pet's Sake" presentation was part of the "Go Wild at the Library" Library" summer activity program now on at branches in Newcastle, Bowmanville and Clarke. Visiting animal technician, Lori Rose, of McKay Veterinarian Clinic, Clinic, talked to a dozen children about how to take care of their furry friends. Good hygiene should include daily brushing of the pet's teeth. Most dog or cat owners know that good hygiene is the first step to maintaining good health, but, for most people, that simply means giving giving Rover or Fluffy the odd bath and combing their fur regularly. Veterinarians Veterinarians suggest that good pet hygiene hygiene should also include brushing an animal's teeth daily. Toothbrushes and paste are available available at vet clinics. It is wise to introduce introduce an animal to brushing slowly to get them accustomed to have a brush worked in their mouths. Cats may resist this procedure initially but may allow it if the brush is dipped in tuna juice at first before switching to paste. Pet owners are advised to talk to their veterinarian to learn more about preventing plaque build up with regular brushing. To ensure good health of your pet and your family, an annual trip to the veterinarian is a must Not only should pets be vaccinated against rabies, which humans can catch too, but they should also be protected against other dog and cat diseases and checked for parasites. Ms. Rose passed around a number number of vials containing typical parasites, parasites, such as tape worms and round worms, that can thrive in animal's digestive tracts unless treated. She also showed the children engorged ticks. Ticks are bloodsucking insects that attach themselves to animals who go outdoors. Often a vet is required required to remove them. Good manners always make a dog or cat all the more loveable, so kids should start early to teach their pets good behavior. "You never have to hit an animal," animal," Ms Rose stressed. Simple praise and ignoring are the keys to basic training. For instance, when you take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, delay petting him until he has done his business. Once he has, reward him with lots of praise, petting petting and attention. If you put your little puppy in an adult size crate for the night, she may be more apt to mess in it if it is too big. Ms Rose noted that animals will not normally mess in their beds, so the solution with an oversized crate is to partition it off until the animal has grown into it. One of the questions asked was "Why can't dogs or cats eat before surgery?" Ms. Rose said that an anaesthetized anaesthetized animal may choke on its last meal if it vomits. The children thanked the guest for her presentation before going on to play a game of dog/cat tag. Up-coming activities at Claring- ton libraries includes Spy School at the Newcastle Branch, a Summer Safari for pre-schoolers at the Bowmanville Bowmanville Branch, Games and Balloon Balloon Sculpture at the Clarke Branch, and a whole lot more! Call your local local branch for more information about summer kids activities. Animal technician Lori Rose from the McKay Veterinarian Clinic spoke to young pet-owners at the Bowmanville Library last Wednesday as part of the Go Wild at the Library summer activity program. Other fun and educational events are still coming up. For information about what activities are stiff open contact your local branch or drop in and pick up a brochure. 9582 George Rizsanyi (left) and Greg Balson, owners of 'The Hands On Music Company', on Silver Street in Bowmanville welcomed their first customers earlier this month. The store sells new, used and vintage guitars, but the pride of the operation are the hand-made guitars guitars built by George. by Lorraine Manfredo George Rizsanyi and Greg Balson Balson have passed out more picks than they expo: ted during their first week in business. Ward of 'The Hands On Music Company's' July 1st opening travelled travelled fast among the local string set and in no time strummers and pickers pickers were perched atop the stools at 12 Silver Street trying out the merchandise. merchandise. Enthusiastic bluegrass lover Greg Balson said: 'That's precisely what this business is all about. People come in looking, they grab a stool, and pick up an instrument." Balson and Rizsanyi have enough years and experience between between them to assist everyone from the aspiring rocker to the die-hard country banjo player. , The Hands On Music Company stocks new, used and vintage guitars, guitars, electric and acoustic, banjoes and mandolins. They also offer repairs repairs and will sell on consignment But the real pride behind the operation operation are George Rizsanyi's custom- built guitars. When he tired of factory work 17 years ago, Rizsanyi hooked up with a guitar maker in the Uxbridge area. After a year's introduction there, he moved on to blossom under the wing of Bruce West, a Bradford violin violin maker. Rizsanyi eventually set up his D O BtssaP' own studio near Port Perry where he has made guitars fa Canadian folk star James Taylor and for Jamie Campbell, lead acoustic guitarist with Roch Voisine. Not too long ago he made an 8-string Irish bou- zouki, or octave mandolin, for Bobby Bobby Watt, a Scottish folk singer originally originally from Whitby. All his custom made guitars are made from scratch, which means Rizsanyi must play lumberjack a couple of times; a year, keeping an ear out for just the right trees. Hands On Music Company stocks new, used, and vintage guitars. Lessons and workshops are planned. "I tap the wood, listening for just the right tone. I want a tree with a certain ring, a certain pitch." Trees chosen must not only sing well and show promise of good grain, but must be wide enough around to provide at least a 9-inch plank and show promise of attractive attractive grain. "In addition to maple, I'll use swamp elm, cherry, black walnut, and apple which are not traditional woods for guitars." Even douglas fir from a recycled Niagara region wine vat made its way into the bracing in one recent guitar. "It's good wood and it gives off a nice scent" fL Most of his raw materials he gets right here in Ontario between Kitchener Kitchener and Belleville. "In a few years we won't have any rain forest woods left" he laments. laments. So, he's made a point of mastering the readily available woods anticipating a long working relationship. Once the timber is milled and either either kiln dried or aged a good three years, George can cut the pieces according according to one of six designs he •uses. The sides must be steam bent before the top and back are glued on. "It's almost like building a house. You start with the foundation and add on the framing. The neck is sort of the brains of the guitar." He'll rarely make more than 20 guitars in a year. They start at $1,499. Rizsanyi and Balson have plans to host a lesson program and have invited Canada's past banjo champion, champion, Sally Ryba, and world-class fiddler fiddler A1 Fehrenbach to launch the series. series. They also hope to promote workshops workshops featuring music industry leaders leaders throughout the year so musicians can learn about different instruments instruments and different styles. The first has been scheduled for September 17 with ragtime blues guitarist Mose Scarlett. For more information call: 623- 7474.