Have you ever caught your feline friend in a yawn and found yourself wondering just how many teeth do cats have tucked away in their mouths? For cat owners‚ understanding the dental makeup of your kitty is more than just trivia; it’s essential for ensuring the health and happiness of your beloved pet. Many might... How Many Teeth Does a Cat Have?

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The post 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels in Topeka Kansas (2024 Update) by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Surprisingly‚ Topeka Kansas has a few pet-friendly hotels that you may want to consider staying at with your furry friend. There are several hotels that accept both cats and dogs in the area‚ even if your canine happens to be on the bigger side. Of course‚ each hotel also has its own regulations and rules‚ which you’ll need to consider carefully when planning to stay there. We’ll take a look at these rules and other important features below. The 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels in Topeka Kansas 1. Endeavor Inn and Suites Topeka Image Credit: Endeavor Inn &; Suites View Deals at Endeavor Inn &; Suites Address: 924 SW Henderson Rd‚ Topeka‚ KS 66615 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $20 per pet‚ per night Pets may be left in room unattended if crated $50 refundable deposit required No maximum size 2. Residence Inn by Marriott Topeka Image Credit: Residence Inn Topeka View Deals at Residence Inn Topeka Address: 1620 SW Westport Dr‚ Topeka‚ KS 66604 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 12:00 PM check-out Cost: $100 per stay Designated walking area provided Accepts both cats and dogs Well-behaved animals may be left unattended No weight restrictions 3. Quality Inn Topeka Image Credit: Quality Inn Topeka View Deals at Quality Inn Topeka Address: 1240 SW Wanamaker Rd‚ Topeka‚ KS 66604 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $25 per pet‚ per night Allows both cats and dogs You may leave animals unattended in room Grassy area available for pet relief Up to two pets per room 4. Hotel Topeka at City Center Image Credit: Hotel Topeka at City Center View Deals at Hotel Topeka City Center Address: 1717 SW Topeka Blvd‚ Topeka‚ KS 66612 Star Rating: Open Times: 4:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $75 per pet‚ per stay Treats are available for dogs Canine cuisine menu available for room service Tons of green space around the hotel Cat-friendly 5. Country Inn &; Suites by Radisson Topeka West Image Credit: Country Inn &; Suites View Deals at Country Inn &; Suites Address: 6020 SW 10th St‚ Topeka‚ KS 66615 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 12:00 PM check-out Cost: $35 per pet‚ per night Pets may not be left unattended at any point Up to four pets (higher than most) Allows almost all species Welcome treats provided 6. Hyatt Place Topeka Image Credit: Hyatt Place Topeka View Deals at Hyatt Place Topeka Address: 6021 SW 6th Ave‚ Topeka‚ KS 66615 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 12:00 PM check-out Cost: $50 per pet‚ per stay Pet sign must be placed on door Pets may be left in room alone if they are well-behaved Weight limit of 50 pounds 7. Sleep Inn &; Suites Topeka Image Credit: Sleep Inn &; Suites Topeka View Deals at Sleep Inn &; Suites Topeka Address: 1024 SW Wanamaker Rd‚ Topeka‚ KS 66604 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $25 per pet‚ per night Animals can be left in room if permission is provided Small grassy area for walks on property Up to three pets per room 50-pound weight limit 8. Ramada Convention Center Downtown Topeka Image Credit: Ramada by Wyndham Topeka View Deals at Ramada by Wyndham Topeka Address: 420 SE 6th Ave‚ Topeka‚ KS 66607 Star Rating: Open Times: 4:00 PM check-in‚ 12:00 PM check-out Cost: $25 per pet‚ per stay Allows both cats and dogs Pets must not be left in room alone More rundown than other options Has a pool 9. Comfort Suites Topeka Image Credit: Comfort Suites Topeka View Deals at Comfort Suites Topeka Address: 6213 SW 10th St‚ Topeka‚ KS 66615 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $40 per pet‚ per night Weight limit of 45 pounds Accepts both cats and dogs‚ but only two pets per room are allowed You must supervise your pets at all times Lots of green space 10. Super 8 Topeka Wanamaker Road Image Credit: Super 8 by Wyndham Topeka View Deals at Super 8 by Wyndham Address: 5968 SW 10th Ave‚ Topeka‚ KS 66604 Star Rating: Open Times: 3:00 PM check-in‚ 11:00 AM check-out Cost: $25 per pet‚ per night Crated pets may be left alone in room Small grassy area around the hotel Up to four pets per room Not the best maintained or cleaned Conclusion With so many hotels to choose from‚ you should be able to find a hotel to fit your room. Some hotels are cat-friendly‚ while others only accept smaller dogs. Most only allow two pets per room‚ so if you’re traveling with more furry friends‚ your options may be more limited. Always call ahead to ensure that the hotel has a pet-friendly room available. Most only allow pets in certain rooms‚ which can make booking a room a bit more complicated. Featured Image Credit: Prystai‚ Shutterstock The post 10 Pet-Friendly Hotels in Topeka Kansas (2024 Update) by Kristin Hitchcock appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Why Euthanasia Is A Gift: Dr. Karyn Explains by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi‚ I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch‚ Cyril‚ Alex‚ Zelda‚ and Zazzles. This is going to be hard for me to write‚ so bear with me. My pets are sometimes the one thing that gets me through the day; theirs is the definition of unconditional love. Sure‚ sometimes they’re demanding‚ and some cynical people might say that their affection is given purely in exchange for food. I feel sorry for those people‚ because they have clearly never experienced what I have‚ and I know that most of you have too. In four decades‚ I have only lived 18 months without a cat in my life‚ and it sucked. But with all the joy‚ comfort‚ and companionship‚ comes the sad fact that the lifespan of our pets is only a fraction of our own (with the exception of some parrots and tortoises!). This means that at some point‚ we have to say goodbye. A selfie with my cat Sully Euthanasia in my work I’ve always wanted to be a vet; there was never anything else I wanted to do. But in my teens‚ I started to worry about how I would handle the emotion around euthanasia‚ and I actually delayed my veterinary training‚ instead doing a science degree and working for a few years. Fast forward ten years‚ and not only was I emotionally mature enough to cope with euthanizing pets‚ I came to appreciate what a gift it really was. People often ask if I find euthanasia difficult‚ but I truthfully answer that‚ in the vast majority of cases‚ it is a blessing to be able to help take away an animal’s suffering. When we have reached a point where we can no longer help them medically‚ it is honestly a wonderful thing that we can let our pets go in a quick‚ peaceful‚ and painless way. I don’t want to open a can of worms about human euthanasia‚ but I personally think that it’s horrible‚ even ludicrous‚ that we are not legally able to have the same experience‚ without journeying to another country whose laws allow it. Don’t get me wrong‚ I am not indifferent to the passing of my patients‚ and there have been many‚ many times where I have been holding back tears as I gave the injection‚ and others where I was blubbering right alongside the owner. Sometimes the worst ones weren’t difficult just because of the pet‚ but the people left behind‚ because I know‚ all too well‚ how they feel. Although there are rare situations where a euthanasia doesn’t go as smoothly as we would all like‚ such as pets that need sedation before we can place an IV‚ or the animals that involuntarily vocalize as they pass (a reflex that sounds awful‚ but not something the pet is aware of)‚ in the vast majority of cases‚ euthanasia is a calm‚ peaceful procedure‚ which can take place in a veterinary practice or sometimes at your home. When euthanasia comes at the end of a long life‚ or a long and difficult illness‚ the most common emotions I see expressed once a pet has passed away are grief‚ gratitude‚ and relief. Gratitude for having shared their life with such a beautiful soul‚ and being able to spare them any future pain or indignity‚ and relief that their pet died quickly‚ peacefully‚ and cradled by loved ones‚ and is no longer suffering. We adopted Tate when his previous owners could no longer take care of him Staying with your pet Some people prefer not to stay when their pet is put to sleep‚ and that is okay. That is a personal choice. Rest assured that they will still be held and soothed and showered with affection as they pass. Whenever an owner is on the fence about whether or not they want to be present‚ I always encourage them to stay with their pet. If things get too difficult‚ they can always leave the room‚ but if you regret not staying‚ you can’t get that back. I once went to the home of an elderly chap who had some health problems of his own‚ and he had finally made the decision to say goodbye to his collie‚ who had been by his side for 16 years‚ seeing him through some really tough times. He was‚ understandably‚ very emotional‚ and thought that he couldn’t stay in the room‚ but kept changing his mind‚ and his dog‚ Molly‚ was clearly worried about her distressed owner. In the end‚ we had a chat outside and I asked him to come and stay with her‚ just as she had been beside him all her life. And he did. He held her head and cried into her neck as she slipped away in his arms. A few days later‚ he came into the vet clinic to shake my hand and thank me for “making him stay.” He was so grateful to have been there for Molly in her final moments‚ and bear witness to how peaceful her death was. Even though it had been a really difficult day for him‚ it was made a little bit easier by knowing that he’d done the right thing by Molly‚ and that he was with her at the very end. In her later years‚ Sully moved with me from Australia to the UK Euthanasia and me Of course‚ I have had my fair share of pets leave me over the years‚ and there have been a couple of situations that have solidified for me‚ just what a blessing it can be to be by your pet’s side when they die. I often hear people say that they would prefer that their pet pass away naturally‚ in their sleep‚ at home. And you know what‚ sometimes this does happen. But often‚ especially when it comes to illnesses like kidney disease or cancer‚ it can take a long time for death to come‚ and there may be a lot of suffering before it takes them. The privilege‚ which is what I believe it to be‚ of being able to take control of that final journey and make it as warm and loving as possible‚ is something I have envied on more than one occasion. Twice in my life I have had pets pass away suddenly‚ unexpectedly‚ while I wasn’t home. On the positive side‚ I knew that neither my elderly cat or epileptic dog had been in pain or suffering prior to their deaths‚ and both had been enjoying life as normal on the mornings I left them‚ but they were dead before I came home. I know that there is nothing I could have done‚ but I am still haunted by the fact that I don’t know if they were scared‚ or in pain‚ or how quickly death took them. I just know that they were alone. For this reason‚ when I am counseling people about making that final decision‚ when we know that there are no other options left‚ I encourage them to choose euthanasia‚ and choose it before it’s too late. Sullivan (Sully for short) flew all the way from Australia when she was 14 to live with me in the UK‚ which she did happily for almost two years. She had shown no signs of heart problems prior to her death. Tate (short for Potato) had joined our family when his previous owner could no longer take care of him‚ and he had been so stable on his medication‚ I couldn’t have predicted or planned for his death‚ which came suddenly one evening while I was at work. I have to take comfort in knowing that they had not suffered in the days leading up to the one that would be their last. But if I had known‚ I would want to be there to hold them and comfort them and show them that they were so loved. My memorial tattoo for Tate Parting thoughts If you are struggling with the euthanasia decision‚ of knowing when the time is right‚ of knowing if you will be able to stay‚ I will leave you with this advice: I have never seen the decision to euthanize a sick or suffering pet too early‚ but I have definitely seen it made too late. It is better to say goodbye when there is still some joy left‚ than to wait until there is none. It is unlikely that you will regret staying with your pet‚ but you might regret leaving. And finally‚ You are not killing your pet. You are not giving up or ending their life. You are ending their suffering and preventing any more. You are allowing them to pass away quickly and painlessly‚ in your arms. We don’t always get to make the decision‚ and the death of our pets is never easy. But if euthanasia becomes the only real option in front of you‚ please do not think of it as something to feel shame or guilt over. Euthanasia is the last thing we can do to show our pets how much we love them; that we put their needs before our own. When suffering becomes inevitable‚ euthanasia is the gift that takes it away. The post Why Euthanasia Is A Gift: Dr. Karyn Explains by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post 150 Great Names for Cornish Rex Cats: Our Favourite Names For These Beauties by Beth Crane appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Cornish Rex cats are one of the most unique breeds and resemble curly-haired pixies! Because of the tightly curled coats and impish nature of these intelligent cats‚ they all deserve a name that’s as unique as they are. After you’ve gathered everything else your new Cornish Rex will need‚ you’ll need to give them a name that’ll serve them well throughout their lives. In this article‚ we’ll look at 150 of the greatest names for Cornish Rex cats to help you choose the perfect name for the new addition to your family. How to Name Your Cornish Rex Cat Choosing a name for your pet can be daunting‚ especially for a cat as unique as the Cornish Rex! There are more common names you could choose from or unique names that no one will have heard of. The possibilities are almost endless‚ so knowing where to start can make the whole process much easier. The unique personality and quirks of your Cornish Rex are a great place to find inspiration for their name. Cornish Rexes are famous for their curly coats and are known to be kitten-like and curiously mischievous. Alongside their large ears and svelte faces‚ the Cornish Rex has a fairy-like‚ impish appearance that gives rise to many fantastic names. Their unique traits can create a tremendous pool of names for you to choose from! Top Ten Names for Your Cornish Rex Cat Image Credit: Elena Loginova‚ Shutterstock Fairy Imp Pasty Cornwall Wren Mischief Rouge Angel Wenna Bronwyn Names for Your Cornish Rex Cat Based on Appearance and Personality Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova‚ Shutterstock When you watch your Cornish Rex interact with the world around them‚ you’ll likely notice all their unique quirks and the physical features that make them extraordinary. The following names all take inspiration from the Cornish Rex’s fur and curious personality traits. Wizard Dotty Curly Prissy Pricilla Charming Iris Cotton Wooly Cuddles Lovely Lacey Darling Sleepy Misty Lacey Sugar Goldie Angelica Luna Names Based on Food and Drink Image Credit: absolutimages‚ Shutterstock Food and drink names have always been popular choices for pet names‚ and for good reason! There are names based on foods your Cornish Rex likes‚ foods you like‚ and even your favorite beverage! Food and drink names often overlap with other traits‚ such as a cat’s fur color‚ so take a look at some delicious-sounding names for inspiration. Panini Melon Martini Hazelnut Taffy Honeydew Honey Bun Nugget Cocoa Sage Merlot Nutmeg Pickle Pepper Margarita Parsley Flapjack Kiwi Sherry Kale Olive Honey Rosemary Maple Tuna Paprika Ravioli Tabasco Reuben Clementine Ginger Skittles Thyme Cilantro Whiskey Popcorn Grits Peanut Butter Waffle Noodle Coconut Lemon Tofu Enchilada Chickpea Pancake Gumbo Cracker Lovely Female Cornish Rex Names Image Credit: Jenni Ferreira‚ Shutterstock If your Cornish Rex has a beautiful and delicate face like a princess‚ a lovely name befitting her delicate personality is a perfect choice. Of course‚ your female cat might also be a madam who knows who’s boss‚ but a girlie name can still be a brilliant choice. Pinky Fluffy Baby Kitty Raven Lillie Cassie Lola Roxy Missy Rainbow Juno Callie Stormy Ivy Suzy Bonnie Summer Jewel Lexi Katie Blitz Bessie Bubbly Penelope Queenie Cat Mimi Minnie Bunny Mimsy Misty Ava Sunny Pearl Buffy Piper Scarlett Sasha Pixie Cute Male Cornish Rex Names Image Credit: Natalia Fedosova‚ Shutterstock Whether bold as brass or cuddly and loving‚ your male Cornish Rex could suit a classically masculine or refreshingly ambiguous name that matches them perfectly. The following names are a mix of both‚ with some that could be used for male and female Cornish Rexes. George Dewey Ashton Joey Elmo Cyrus Baxter Louie Comet Logan Dexter Diablo Ghost Cooper Loki Jet Jester Elwood Gizmo Apollo Flynn Enzo Blue Fisher Arlo Diego Asher Armani Flash Max Final Thoughts Cornish Rex cats are as unique as they are loving‚ so they deserve a name that’ll serve them well for the rest of their lives. However‚ there are so many choices that it can seem impossible to choose the right one! By keeping your Cornish Rex’s individuality in mind‚ keeping the name simple‚ and choosing one you won’t mind calling out when you need their attention‚ you’re sure to find a name you and your Cornish Rex will love! Sources https://www.animalwised.com/cornish-names-for-cats-with-meanings-1344.html https://catnamesunique.com/cornish-rex-cat-names/   Featured Image Credit: Stramp‚ Shutterstock The post 150 Great Names for Cornish Rex Cats: Our Favourite Names For These Beauties by Beth Crane appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

EAGLE PASS‚ Texas—The clothing strewn across the riverbank gives away that Shelby Park on the Rio Grande was a major crossing point for illegal aliens not long ago. But since Texas National Guard assumed control of the park‚ the crossings have nearly stopped entirely‚ according to authorities.   A discarded pile of clothing sits on the edge of Rio Grande in Shelby Park. (Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal) The Daily Signal visited Shelby Park in Eagle Pass‚ Texas Thursday and spoke with members of the National Guard. The military officials said the illegal crossings have ground to a near halt since early January when National Guard took over operations at the park‚ which sits on the border of Mexico.   The narrow and shallow water of the Rio Grande on the edge of Shelby Park make the site an appealing crossing point. Border Patrol used the wide-open space of the park as a holding location for the illegal aliens after they crossed the river.   At the center of conflict between Texas and the Biden administration is Shelby Park. But since Texas National Guard took control of the park‚ illegal aliens are no longer crossing there. The barriers are working. pic.twitter.com/ufB1ijdcFW— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) February 2‚ 2024 Texas National Guard is preventing Border Patrol from processing illegal aliens in the parks and has instead laid concertina wire fencing along the riverbank and built a 4‚500-foot border wall using shipping containers topped with sharp razor wire.   A makeshift border wall of shipping containers and razor wire line the Rio Grande in Shelby Park. (Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal) The Biden administration has requested Texas again grant federal authorities full access to park‚ but last week‚ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton denied the request in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security.   “As I said before‚ this office will continue to defend Texas’s efforts to protect its southern border against every effort by the Biden Administration to undermine the State’s constitutional right of self-defense‚” Paxton wrote.   Border Patrol agents still have access to the boat ramp in Shelby Park and use the ramp multiple times a day‚ according to National Guardsmen stationed at the park. Border Patrol use air boats to patrol the often shallow waters of the Rio Grande.   An air boats enters the Rio Grande in Shelby Park. (Photo: Tim Kennedy/The Daily Signal) Asked about the relationship on the ground between National Guardsmen and Border Patrol agents‚ the National Guardsman escorting The Daily Signal through the park said the relations are fine‚ and stressed that all the men and women serving at the border are just trying to do the job they have been commissioned to do.   Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden administration are currently engaged in a legal battle over border security and fencing along the Rio Grande. The conflict drew significant attention at the end of January when the Supreme Court issued an order that clears the way for Border Patrol agents and other federal authorities to cut and remove the razor wire installed by the Texas National Guard along the state’s border with Mexico.    Since the Supreme Court issued its order‚ 25 Republican governors issued a joint statement declaring‚ “We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor‚ Greg Abbott‚ and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy‚ including razor wire fences‚ to secure the border.”   At least 15 Republican governors are holding a press conference in Shelby Park Sunday in support of Abbott’s efforts to secure Texas’ border with Mexico.   Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Inside Shelby Park: Texas Built a Wall‚ Placed Guards at Border and Illegal Aliens Stopped Crossing appeared first on The Daily Signal.

In the end William “Billy” Dixon cared far less about being a legend or hero than he did about the vibrancy of life he had experienced on the Great Plains. Death had flirted with the famed frontier scout and buffalo hunter on more than one occasion‚ but it was in those harrowing moments he had felt most alive.   A reflective Dixon recalled one of those life-defining episodes in his autobiography‚ dictated shortly before his death and published in 1914. His mind drifted to his days as a young buffalo hunter at Adobe Walls‚ a remote outpost of hunters‚ skinners and tradesmen in the Texas Panhandle. There‚ in the predawn hours of June 27‚ 1874‚ Dixon caught a glimpse of a large body of shadowy objects near a timberline beyond the settlement’s grazing horses. They were moving toward the outpost. Dixon strained his eyes but couldn’t define anything in the murky light. Suddenly‚ the advancing body “spread out like a fan” and unleashed a collective‚ thunderous war whoop that “seemed to shake the very air of the early morning.”   Hundreds of mounted Comanche‚ Kiowa and Southern Cheyenne warriors then burst into view‚ charging furiously in full regalia. The fearless Comanche Chief Quanah Parker led the pack. Dixon described the scene with vivid‚ romantic prose—splashes of bright red‚ vermillion and ochre on the warriors and their horses…scalps dangling from bridles…fluttering plumes of magnificent warbonnets…and the bronzed‚ half-naked bodies of the riders‚ glittering with silver and brass ornaments as they emerged from the fires of the rising sun. “There was never a more splendidly barbaric sight‚” Dixon confessed. “In after years I was glad that I had seen it.”   Dixon had witnessed one of the last great thrusts by the Plains tribes in defense of their way of life—an ancient‚ nomadic existence tethered to the once mighty herds of buffalo. By the time of the 1874 Second Battle of Adobe Walls‚ however‚ the herds were vanishing at an alarming rate. Dixon‚ like the buffalo‚ miraculously survived. He emerged from battle that day as the “hero of Adobe Walls‚” having dropped a warrior from his horse with a legendary rifle shot of more than 1‚500 yards. In the ensuing decades Dixon became increasingly cognizant of the unique history he had experienced on the Great Plains. Above all he came to appreciate the magnitude those events had had on the development of the American West. The Comanche attack at Adobe Walls caught its resident buffalo hunters literally sleeping. Dixon had left the ammunition for his own rifle locked in the settlement store. So‚ borrowing a Sharps .50-90 buffalo gun like that above from a bartender‚ he aimed at a horseback warrior on a distant ridge‚ killing him on the third shot. “I fear that the conquest of savagery in the Southwest was due more often to love of adventure than to any wish that cities should arise in the desert‚ or that the highways of civilization should take the place of the trails of the Indian and the buffalo‚” Dixon said. “In fact‚ many of us believed and hoped that the wilderness would remain forever. Life there was to our liking. Its freedom‚ its dangers‚ its tax upon our strength and courage‚ gave zest to living.” Memories of that life flooded Dixon’s mind. Fortunately‚ Billy’s greatest champion—his wife‚ Olive—convinced him to preserve his remembrances for future generations in an as-told-to autobiography. Starting in earnest in the fall of 1912‚ she faithfully recorded Billy’s running narrative on notebooks scattered throughout their homestead in Cimarron County‚ Okla. She even kept a notebook in the corral in case her taciturn husband became reflective about the past‚ ever mindful of his reluctance to fuss over his adventures. Sadly‚ Billy never read the final manuscript. He caught pneumonia during a winter storm and died shortly afterward at home on March 9‚ 1913‚ at age 62. Fellow members of his Masonic lodge buried Billy in the nearest cemetery on Texas soil‚ in the Panhandle town of Texline. “Little did we suspect that Death—the enemy from whom he had escaped so many times in the old days—was at hand‚” Olive wrote in the preface to his autobiography‚ “and that the arrow was set to the bow.” Though better known as the sharpshooting defender at the 1874 Second Battle of Adobe Walls‚ Dixon was awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions later that year at Buffalo Wallow. His vivid memories of both fights appear in the autobiography widow Olive borrowed cash at interest to have published in 1914. Having inherited her husband’s hefty mantle‚ Olive faithfully labored over the next 43 years—until her own death—to preserve and promote his legacy. Her love and unwavering dedication to Billy‚ a man 22 years her senior‚ is consistently evident in her private letters‚ published articles‚ lectures and memorial projects. In the immediate aftermath of his death she dedicated her efforts to publishing his life story. First‚ Olive enlisted the services of Frederick S. Barde‚ the “dean of Oklahoma journalism‚” to compile Billy’s remembrances into an orderly manuscript originally entitled Life and Adventures of “Billy” Dixon. She then borrowed $500 at 12 percent interest to pay for the printing—a mighty sacrifice for a widow of seven children. Twelve years would pass before Olive finally paid off her banknote‚ but any hardships proved worthwhile where her husband’s legend was concerned. Historians and old-timers alike declared the book an instant frontier classic. University of Oklahoma history professor Joseph B. Thoburn‚ who became one of Olive’s closest friends and confidants‚ viewed the timing of her work on the book as “almost Providential.” In one letter to Olive he declared‚ “Posterity will always owe you a debt of gratitude for your persistence in persuading your husband to tell his life story for publication. So much valuable historical material of this class had been lost in the West because the story of a man’s life was permitted to die with him.”   Thoburn spoke truth. If not for Olive’s perseverance‚ large swaths of Billy’s remarkable life story would never have been recorded. The autobiography alone provided Dixon’s firsthand accounts and context for two of the American West’s most thrilling episodes—the June 27‚ 1874‚ Second Battle of Adobe Walls‚ and the Sept. 12‚ 1874‚ Buffalo Wallow Fight.   Buffalo Wallow At Buffalo Wallow—a sideshow of the Sept. 9–14‚ 1874‚ Battle of the Upper Washita River—Dixon‚ fellow civilian scout Amos Chapman and four enlisted men of the 6th U.S. Cavalry defended a patch of naked ground against a large band of Comanche and Kiowa warriors. For their actions Dixon and the others received the Medal of Honor. Billy’s blunt but gripping narration of the battle to Olive provided the backstory behind the medals.   Dixon described how he and his companions were carrying dispatches from McClellan Creek‚ in the Panhandle‚ to Camp Supply in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)‚ some 150 miles to the northwest. They’d been sent by Colonel Nelson A. Miles‚ then commanding the 5th U.S. Infantry and the 6th Cavalry‚ whose rations were running dangerously low amid the Red River War‚ the ongoing campaign to subdue the southern Plains tribes. At sunrise on September 12‚ their second day out‚ the small party crested a knoll within plain sight of the Comanches and Kiowas. The warriors quickly encircled the men.     “We were in a trap‚” Dixon recalled. “We knew that the best thing to do was to make a stand and fight for our lives.” As the men dismounted‚ Private George W. Smith gathered the reins of their horses‚ only to be shot a moment later. He fell face down. At that the horses bolted. A fierce‚ close-quarters firefight ensued‚ as Dixon‚ Chapman‚ Sergeant Zachariah T. Woodhall and Privates Peter Roth (or Rath) and John Harrington fended off an estimated 125 warriors.   Scanning the open plains for any shelter‚ Dixon spotted a depression some yards distant where buffalo had pawed and wallowed. As the men sprinted for it under fire‚ one shot dropped Chapman‚ who fell with a moan. Roth‚ Woodhall‚ Harrington and Dixon kept running till they reached the wallow‚ then desperately stabbed and clawed at the earth with their knives and hands to throw up a crude earthwork around its perimeter. “We were keenly aware that the only thing to do was to sell our lives as dearly as possible‚” Dixon said. “We fired deliberately‚ taking good aim‚ and were picking off an Indian at almost every round.”   Chapman and Smith—the latter presumed dead—remained where they had fallen. One of the men cried out for Chapman to make a dash for the wallow‚ but the scout replied that a bullet had shattered his left knee. Dixon refused to leave Chapman stranded. Despite intense volleys by the enemy‚ he finally reached his fellow scout‚ hoisted Chapman on his back and bore the larger man to the safety of the wallow. Chapman later told a dramatically different version of who saved whom that day‚ a claim the reserved Dixon never contested publicly while alive‚ much to Olive’s dismay.   On Sept. 12‚ 1874‚ Dixon‚ fellow civilian scout Amos Chapman and four enlisted men of the 6th U.S. Cavalry were caught out on the Texas Panhandle prairie by a band of some 125 Comanche and Kiowa warriors. The six sheltered in a buffalo wallow‚ Dixon later retrieving the wounded Chapman and another man. Around 3 p.m. merciful fate intervened‚ as sheets of cold rain provided the defenders with welcome water and pelted their assailants‚ prompting the Comanches and Kiowas to retreat for warmth and cover out of rifle range. By dawn the next day the warriors had vanished. The break came too late for Smith‚ who’d been mortally wounded with a punctured lung. In the dark of night Dixon and Roth had manhandled the private back to the wallow‚ where he died without complaint. Decades later Billy spoke of the cool courage displayed by every man that day and mournfully told his wife that Private Smith still lay buried out on the windswept plains.   Tireless Work The knowledge that Smith’s grave‚ as well as the battle site‚ remained unmarked overwhelmed Olive with a sense of responsibility to honor the memory of Billy and his contemporaries. With that singular mission in mind she leapt from one project to the next. She wrote to magazines and newspapers‚ often to correct details in published articles about Billy’s life. In 1922 she became a charter member of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society and two years later spearheaded the society’s efforts to mark the 50th anniversary of the Second Battle of Adobe Walls.   On June 27‚ 1924‚ more than 3‚000 celebrants descended on the remote Adobe Walls battlefield‚ by then part of the Turkey Track Ranch in Hutchinson County‚ Texas. They arrived in automobiles‚ wagons and on horseback‚ all to pay homage to the memory of a heroic and successful last stand by 28 men and one woman (Hannah Olds‚ the wife of cook William Olds) against “the flower and perfection” of the Plains tribal warriors.   Andy Johnson of Dodge City‚ Kan.—one of two living defenders—attended the celebration with a pistol fastened to his waistband. He later regaled the crowd with a stirring account of the battle as airplanes circled overhead. Naturally‚ Johnson’s story of Dixon’s legendary long shot received prime treatment‚ though the claim later drew skepticism in some quarters. Olive also made brief remarks‚ crediting others for the historic occasion. The crowd cheered lustily when a 10-foot-tall monument of the finest Oklahoma red granite was unveiled. Inscribed on it are the names of each Adobe Walls defender.   The successful event only fueled Olive’s commitment to her cause. She had already begun lobbying the society to mark the site of the Buffalo Wallow Fight while simultaneously searching for a publisher to reprint Billy’s book. Despite the book’s critical acclaim a decade earlier‚ Olive’s hunt for a publisher proved slow and unnerving. In a Dec. 27‚ 1925‚ letter to Thoburn‚ she went so far as to declare that if she couldn’t secure a publisher soon‚ she would be forced to “sell my land in Cimarron County.”   Olive Dixon worked tirelessly until her death at age 83 on March 17‚ 1956‚ to keep her husband’s memory in the forefront of Texans’ minds. When approached by another author seeking to write the story of their shared life‚ she relented but remained humble. Two years passed before Olive celebrated those two signature achievements—the release of a revised edition of Billy’s autobiography‚ by Dallas-based P.L. Turner Co.‚ and the placement of a monument at the Buffalo Wallow battleground‚ 22 miles south of Canadian‚ Texas. She even successfully lobbied the U.S. War Department to provide a grave marker for Private George Smith.   Still‚ Olive couldn’t rest. Two years later she made the intensely personal decision to have her husband’s remains reinterred to Adobe Walls. On June 27‚ 1929—55 years to the day after the storied battle with allied warriors led by Quanah Parker—a police escort led a funeral procession three hours from Texline to the battleground. Reverent spectators lined the route‚ removing their hats as the caravan passed. A headline in the Amarillo Daily News proclaimed‚ Col. Billy Dixon Gets Last Wish: Buried at Site of Adobe Walls. Never mind that Dixon had no military rank; he didn’t need one to be remembered.   Immortalized in Print The model of a devoted widow‚ Olive ensured her husband’s name would echo through time. She did so tirelessly‚ lovingly and with humility. Recognizing her immense contributions to the history of the Texas Panhandle‚ author John McCarty sought her permission to write a biography about her life with Billy‚ and his vision culminated in the 1955 publication of Adobe Walls Bride: The Story of Billy and Olive Dixon. Initially‚ Olive had balked at the idea. “Throughout the time when interviews and research were bringing out the story of her life‚” McCarty wrote‚ “Mrs. Dixon steadily maintained that there was nothing distinctive about her or her experiences; she even protested that there would be no interest in a story of her life‚ as she had done nothing out of the ordinary. All her disclosures were slanted toward one recurring theme: ‘My husband was a great man.’ But she took no credit for Dixon’s achievements.”   Olive died in Amarillo a year later‚ on March 17‚ 1956—43 years and eight days after her beloved Billy left this earth. Death stole her swiftly. That evening she had joined daughter Edna and son-in-law Walter Irwin for dinner at a popular barbecue restaurant. On the drive home Olive quietly slumped over on her daughter’s shoulder. She never regained consciousness.   As a child growing up in Virginia‚ Olive had dreamed of a time when she could “mingle with people who were really doing things in an unusual way.” Stories of the expansive cattle ranches on the Great Plains fueled her imagination‚ until in 1893‚ at age 20‚ she boldly joined brother Archie King in Texas for the adventure of a lifetime. He worked as a cowhand for a Hutchinson County spread‚ living with wife and child in a crude log-and-sod structure dug out of a bank on Johns Creek some 20 miles from the ranch headquarters. She also visited brother Albert‚ who wrangled for a neighboring spread.   Olive instantly fell in love with the West‚ and soon after with one of its icons. Her childhood dream was realized. She’d sought adventure‚ embraced the pioneer spirit and then married the love of her life. Olive‚ like her husband‚ had lived a life worth remembering.    this article first appeared in wild west magazine See more stories SubscriBE NOW!   Ron J. Jackson Jr. is an award-winning author from Rocky‚ Okla.‚ and a regular contributor to Wild West. For further reading he recommends the autobiography Life and Adventures of “Billy” Dixon‚ as well as Adobe Walls: The History and Archeology of the 1874 Trading Post‚ by T. Lindsay Baker and Billy R. Harrison; Adobe Walls Bride: The Story of Billy and Olive King Dixon‚ by John L. McCarty; and Billy and Olive Dixon: The Plainsman and His Lady‚ by Bill O’Neal.

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero came as a shock to many in the west. Quick and incredibly maneuverable‚ it could outfly nearly everything in the sky. The fighter dominated its opponents in China and Burma early in World War II. It’s “introduction” to American airmen came on December 7‚ 1941‚ over Pearl Harbor.  Petty Officer 1st Class Takeshi Hirano was part of the first wave of the Japanese attack‚ flying in an element of three fighters from the carrier Akagi. After strafing Hickam Field and attacking some of the B-17s trying desperately to land there‚ Hirano’s Zero was peppered by machine gun fire from the ground. The pilot struggled to bring his damaged fighter down but clipped a number of trees and crashed into the entrance of Fort Kamehameha’s ordinance machine shop‚ killing Hirano. His was one of only 29 aircraft brought down during the attack. Brought down by ground fire‚ Hirano’s Zero was one of only 29 aircraft downed during the raid. (National Archives) This particular Zero would become the object of intense scrutiny by U.S. intelligence officers looking for kinks in the vaunted fighter’s reputation. The KitTamiya‚ Inc.‚ produces one of the most accurate scale models of the Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21. First released in 1973‚ the 1/48th scale kit still holds up well against some of the higher priced models. It’s an ideal kit for the beginner—simple‚ well-engineered and easy to build. The more experienced modeler will be tempted to add some extra detail. First released over fifty years ago‚ Tamiya’s A6M2 is full of detail and a great kit for the beginner or the experienced modeler. Construction starts with building and painting the multipart cockpit‚ which comes with an optional pilot figure. Using Tamiya cockpit green (XF-71) takes the guesswork out of what to paint the floor‚ sidewalls and instrument panel. A decal does a good job of reproducing the dials and indicators. The seat is flat aluminum; a belt harness from an aftermarket detail set is a nice touch. (Note: Japanese naval fighters used a single diagonal shoulder strap with a standard lap belt.) With the cockpit complete‚ paint the 940-hp Nakajima Sakae Type 12 engine flat aluminum‚ then use a black wash to bring out the details. Next‚ glue together the two-piece cowling and paint it with a mixture of semigloss black (FS-27031) and a few drops of cobalt blue to duplicate the cowling color reportedly seen on many WWII Japanese carrier planes. Glue the completed engine into the cowling and set it aside to dry. Next‚ join the fuselage parts together. Slip the finished cockpit through the fuselage’s underside‚ making sure it is seated correctly before applying dabs of glue to hold it in place. Now you can add the completed wing. The fit here is very good‚ but there is still a small gap at the wing root that will need attention. For this model we’ll add an extra detail. The type 21 Zero was the first version to have folding wings (more accurately‚ folding wingtips). It was a new addition meant to help maximize space aboard the carrier. The Czech company Eduard makes a great resin detail set of the folded wingtips. Designed for their own A6M2 Zero kit‚ it can easily be made to fit the Tamiya kit with a little extra surgery and sanding. It’s a great addition to the model. Cement the horizontal stabilizers in place and set the assembly aside.  Now that the basic construction is complete‚ it’s time to check over your work and fill and sand any seams. Most imperfections can be smoothed over with an application of Tamiya’s surface primer. CamouflageThe A6M2 Zeros that took part in the Pearl Harbor raid were painted Imperial Japanese Navy gray-green overall. This color is available in both a spray can (Tamiya AS-29) or bottle (XF-76). Before painting‚ stuff facial tissue into the cockpit and wheel wells to protect them from overspray. With the major subassemblies complete‚ it’s time for the airplane’s markings and final assembly. The wheel wells and the insides of the main landing gear doors should be painted the same interior metallic blue-green as the cockpit. The landing gear legs are semigloss black‚ with dark brown “rubber” colored tires and aluminum hubs. The propellers on Pearl Harbor Zeros were unpainted aluminum‚ with red warning stripes near the tips. The back of the propeller was painted a flat deep brown to reduce glare for the pilot. The fabric-covered moveable surfaces—ailerons‚ rudder and horizontal stabilizers—were painted a gray primer. It was thought that the weight of an additional layer of paint would alter the delicate weight and balance and effect performance. Mask off these sections and paint them a slightly darker gray. After all the painting is complete‚ apply a coat of gloss varnish to provide a smooth surface for the decals to adhere to. Bringing the Zero to LifeHirano’s aircraft had simple‚ standard markings. The kit markings work well and settle into the nooks and crannies with a little decal softener. The tail number‚ AI-154‚ was cobbled together from other Zero decals that were in the “stash.” Add a mild amount of weathering‚ some soot from the exhaust ports and a bit of fuel and oil staining. That’s all you need. Once the decals are complete‚ give the fighter a light coat of a clear flat varnish and put it aside. On to the canopy. There is an option for an enclosed one-piece canopy‚ but you’ll want to show off that cockpit detail so opt for the three-piece open version. Painting the cockpit canopy frames will be easier if you mask and paint the horizontal ribs first‚ then the vertical frames. Attach the clear parts with white glue and finish off your model by gluing the landing gear‚ gear doors‚ arresting hook and tail wheel into place. Don’t forget the pitot tube and small weights on the top and bottom of each of the ailerons. Last but not least‚ add that folding wingtip. Takeshi Hirano’s Mitsubishi A6M2 is now ready for its sortie into history.  Hirano’s Zero can share shelf space with Mitsuo Fuchida’s Nakajima B5N2 “Kate‚” which also participated in the Pearl Harbor attack.

Buzz Aldrin. When Military History sought an interview with Buzz Aldrin‚ he initially demurred. The second human being ever to walk on the surface of the Moon—on July 21‚ 1969‚ as a crew member of Apollo 11—he finds that journalists seldom want to discuss anything else. But Aldrin’s career spans much further. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy‚ he was commissioned into the Air Force at the outset of the Korean War. Flying the North American F-86 Sabre for the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron‚ Aldrin completed 66 combat missions and downed two MiG-15 jets. After the war he earned a doctorate in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Aldrin walked in space as a Gemini astronaut before flying to the Moon with Apollo. Today‚ the 93-year-old Air Force brigadier general remains a strong advocate of the space program‚ particularly of planned missions to Mars.     What made you select the Air Force after graduation from West Point?   I wanted to fly and had always wanted to fly. I took my first flight at age 2 with my father and never looked back. Flying was exhilarating. We [graduates] knew the nation would need pilots‚ so we signed up.   What was it like flying the cutting-edge F-86 Sabre?   Fast in a dogfight—and I was in a couple of those—and gratifying‚ because the plane handled well‚ although my gun got jammed in one encounter‚ and on another occasion I had a frozen fuel line. But the plane was a jet‚ and we liked the idea of flying jets. They got you higher and faster‚ and we all liked that.   How did the MiG-15 match up in your two recorded Korean War shootdowns?   The MiG-15 was a fast plane‚ and they had good pilots. The pilot ejected in the first one‚ which was filmed by the nose camera [of my Sabre].   Second Lt. Aldrin poses in his F-86 Sabre jet fighter in 1953. That May 14 he shot down his first of two North Korean MiG-15s‚ forcing its pilot to eject. Your second kill entailed a difficult dogfight. Tell us about that.   Not a lot to tell‚ but you can see photos of it. My gun jammed on my first lock‚ so I had to be steady‚ stay with him‚ get the lock again and then fire. He‚ too‚ ejected‚ which was good for him. Dogfights are all-consuming—they happen fast. Nothing about a shootdown is easy‚ but when you return alive you feel glad you returned‚ glad you could do what you were supposed to.   What was it like flying the F-100 Super Sabre equipped with nuclear weapons?   I will just say‚ those times—perhaps a bit like these times—were about being prepared. There was tension‚ but we were always well trained‚ ready for what might come. We signed up to protect the United States‚ and so we did. It was as simple as that. We all thought freedom mattered‚ and we flew to protect it.   A fighter jock with a doctoral degree?   Yes‚ before selection to NASA’s third group of astronauts‚ I earned my doctorate from MIT. I wrote a thesis called “Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous.” An understanding of that topic and orbital mechanics proved fortuitous when Jim Lovell and I flew Gemini 12‚ the last Gemini mission‚ which required proving the efficacy of orbital rendezvous. As fate would have it‚ we actually needed to manage part of that process manually‚ due to computer problems‚ so the thesis came in handy after all.   Aldrin poses aboard the Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle on July 21‚ 1969‚ after having spent more than two hours walking on the Moon with fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong. How excited were you to join the space program?   Very. And looking back‚ I was just fortunate to be selected for Gemini 12 and Apollo 11. I was also blessed to have great crewmates—Lovell in Gemini 12‚ and Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins in Apollo 11. What can you say? We were all blessed.   Describe the sensation of your free-flight space walk for Gemini.   My longest EVA [extravehicular activity]‚ or space walk‚ of Gemini 12 was surprising for the beauty and sense of accomplishment that came with it—and because my heart rate apparently stayed low. Someone asked me why‚ and I really could not say‚ except that I was honestly having fun.   We must ask‚ what was it like to walk on the Moon?   In many other venues I have discussed the answer to that question‚ but suffice to say we had a job to do‚ and we worked very hard to do it. We did not want to let others down‚ since so many had worked to make Apollo 11‚ mankind’s first Moon landing‚ a success.   I called it “magnificent desolation” at the time‚ and that remains a good description. It was also an honor‚ and while we trained hard for it‚ the actual event was exhilarating in small and unexpected ways. We saw our shadow landing‚ which never happened in simulation. We had to test one-sixth gravity‚ since that could not be simulated. We had to get experiments out‚ and one required waiting for a small BB to settle in a cone‚ which took a while with one-sixth gravity. Neil and I worked together to get the American flag in‚ which was harder than you might think with only about an inch of Moon dust to plant it in.   On May 5‚ 2023‚ you were promoted to brigadier general. What did that mean to you?   Well‚ it was humbling‚ gratifying‚ and I was really honored. I stepped out of the normal advancement sequence flying for NASA. Afterward‚ I continued to serve‚ fly and believe in the U.S. Air Force. To be recognized for that—for what I did during and after that special time—was gratifying. I thank all those involved. It meant a lot‚ and I am happy still when I think about that day.   Aldrin has been an advocate of the space program since its inception. You continue to advocate for a manned mission to Mars. Why?   Simple‚ really: The United States is the leader in human space exploration‚ and we need to keep reaching outward‚ expanding and enriching the human experience. That means not resting on our laurels‚ but going out to Mars‚ exploring and swiftly creating permanence there—not a touch-and-go‚ but staying on Mars.   How do you reflect on your achievements in the military and as an astronaut?   We all have our stories and our journey‚ and mine has been exciting. It was an honor to serve in Korea‚ with NASA and thereafter with the Air Force. This nation is one of a kind—both a great and good country. Those opportunities came from tens of thousands of other dedicated Americans‚ and I feel forever grateful for what they did to make my journey possible. So‚ how do you reflect on all that? You just remind yourself each dawn is precious‚ and you stay grateful. You keep trying to do whatever you can to keep the greatness and goodness going. This interview appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of Military History magazine.

Ingenious Ways To Use Milk Jugs In Your Backyard