DIY PET PROJECTS

It's only natural that we lavish love on our furry companions -sometimes in the form of DIY pet projects. It’s great to watch your pet enjoy something you’ve made. And you’ll never hear them say that it’s the wrong color, or it’s lame, or the other pets will make fun of them. We all love our pets, and, sometimes, part of that love is making a hand-crafted pet project just for them. Some crafters sew blankets. Other, more ambitious ones, make complete dog or cat beds. Toys play an important role in preparing kittens and puppies for adulthood. These little ones learn social interaction and hunting skills (for cats) from playing with toys. Dogs learn how to play safely within a group. There are Halloween costumes for your pets, toys filled with catnip, doggie diapers for pets with medical issues, and the list goes on. Some have even made a good living doing nothing but making fun things for dogs and cats. Check out Etsy - there are 64 PAGES of crafts-people making items for your pets. There are 89.7…

Post author:abbey
Post published:April 8, 2019

EASTER SAFETY TIPS FOR PETS – ENJOY THE HOLIDAY!

It’s finally spring – and with that comes Easter. Warm breezes are replacing the chilly winds of winter, and we’re getting ready for the Easter holiday. Below are some Easter safety tips for your pets that will allow you to enjoy the season while keeping your furry companions safe. NOTE: Dietary comments below are meant for healthy animals only. If your dog or cat suffers from a medical condition, please check with your vet before offering treats. CATS - SOME EASTER SAFETY TIPS LILIES These traditional Easter flowers are poisonous to cats – even in very small doses. Merely licking the pollen from a lily off its fur can cause vomiting, lack of appetite, and lethargy. Kidney damage can occur rapidly if not promptly treated. So, please, leave the Easter lilies in the store and bring in some of the plastic or silk variety to brighten your home. HARD-BOILED EGGS Cats CAN eat hard-boiled eggs, peeled, of course. As long as the eggs are completely cooked, an occasional hard-boiled egg adds protein and variety to your cat’s diet. Be aware, though, that…

Post author:abbey
Post published:April 1, 2019

ADOPTION APPLICATIONS – WHY ARE THERE SO MANY QUESTIONS? ENSURING THEIR CATS AND DOGS WILL END UP IN LOVING, CARING HOMES IS A SHELTER’S MAIN PRIORITY

NAVIGATING THE ANIMAL ADOPTION APPLICATION The adoption application comes in many forms, and the questions can feel overwhelming for many. Generally, a euthanizing shelter will have fewer questions, private rescues (especially breed-specific rescues) may have several pages. Here are the most common, and why they are asked: VETERINARIAN REFERENCE AND IMMUNIZATION RECORDS This is the most common question asked on adoption applications. No shelter wants to send an animal to a home where basic medical treatment is not offered or where regular vaccination does not take place. You will face a whole range of judgement about this question depending on which organization you are trying to adopt from. Some rescues ask only about the major vaccines – rabies, DHLPP, etc. Others extend this to include canine influenza, and Bordetella (kennel cough). Neither canine influenza nor Bordetella are considered core inoculations. And, although kennel cough is certainly something you want to protect against if you ever board your dogs or if you take your pets to a dog park, if you do neither it’s not an absolute necessity. Just be aware that…

Post author:abbey
Post published:March 18, 2019

ADOPTION EVENTS – HELPING AT THE SHELTER

Adoption events are held by most animal shelters and rescue organizations at local businesses. Most often at pet supply stores, other shops have started offering their spaces for these events as well. Our local Tractor Supply store is very receptive to this, and is best for taking large dogs or dogs who don’t necessarily do well with other dogs. I’ve also attended events outside of grocery stores, and one at a local WalMart. Foster-based rescues, in particular, need to hold these regular events to get their adoptable animals out to the public. Without a physical shelter, animals can remain in foster care for far longer than necessary if they do not hold meet and greets. And one of the biggest problems facing these foster-based organizations is finding enough volunteers able and willing to spend a few hours of their weekend helping out. Helping at one of these adoption events can be a fun and rewarding volunteer activity – plus you get the added benefit of playing or cuddling with one or more adoptable animals for an afternoon. You shouldn’t be asked…

Post author:abbey
Post published:March 11, 2019

SPRING CLEANING WHEN YOU HAVE PETS

Spring cleaning is a bit more of a chore when you have pets. Lovable and part of the family, there's no denying that our dogs and cats bring with them cleaning challenges. Below are some tips to help get your house ready for the warmer weather. PET HAIR This is an unending chore for those of us with pets who shed profusely. (Raising my hand here.) I have a Shepherd/Collie mix who blows her undercoat as soon as the weather gets warm. Even in the colder weather, she broadcasts hair wherever she goes. Since the weather is getting warmer (hopefully), many of us get the itch to do a thorough spring cleaning and start fresh for the new season. If you have pets, you know that removing all pet hair from your home is impossible. Particularly if you have carpet, a complete clean would require moving each and every piece of furniture, cleaning under it, and THEN cleaning the underside of the furniture. If you want to finish before autumn, you’re going to have to take some shortcuts. Find where it’s…

Post author:abbey
Post published:March 4, 2019

ST. PATRICK’S DAY TRIVIA – WHICH SIX PET BREEDS ORIGINATED IN IRELAND?

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are six pet breeds from Ireland. Some are better known than others. All are Irish through and through. Happy Saint Patrick's Day! KERRY BLUE TERRIER HISTORY Although no one knows when this breed was first created, Kerry Blue Terriers were highly prized in rural Ireland as early as the 1700s, and perhaps much earlier. Bred as vermin catchers, they helped keep mice and rats from consuming the grain of the farmer's who prized them. Multi-talented, Kerry Blues can also retrieve game and herd sheep and cattle. They are, today, occasionally used as police dogs. First recognized as a distinct breed in 1924, although it was shown in 1922 at the Westminster Dog Show, a Kerry Blue Terrier Club was founded in the United States in 1926. This breed is quite uncommon today. PERSONALITY Kerry Blue’s have the typical terrier tenacity. They are not known for friendliness with other dogs, and, unless socialized at an early age, do best as an only pet. You will find, however, that the Kerry is often child friendly. Terriers…

Post author:abbey
Post published:February 27, 2019