Dogs

7 WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR DOGS

  SEVEN WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR DOGS When it's too bitter to be outside, here are seven ways to beat the winter boredom blues! The polar vortex arrived, and all of us, animals and humans, were stuck indoors and bored.  For humans, we have our books, our television, and our computers to keep us happy.  But for a dog, whose interest is piqued by smells more than by sight, the cold winter months can be boring and depressing. Below find a few ideas to perk up your pet in the middle of a cold snap (most also work well for rainy days, too): Take a Different Route Since you can’t walk your dog for as long as you would in the warmer months, vary the route.  Put your pet in the car, drive to another part of your neighborhood, and do your brief walk there.  Or get extra adventurous and go to a different area altogether. Chances are there is a whole new world of scents just a few blocks away – something to perk up even the saddest dog. Add…

  • Post author:
Continue Reading7 WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR DOGS

THE “NO-KILL” MOVEMENT. HOW THE ANIMAL RESCUE FIELD IS REDUCING THE EUTHANASIA RATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HOW YOU CAN HELP.

THE NO-KILL MOVEMENT WITH ONE IMPORTANT EXCEPTION THE GOOD NEWS Since 1984, the no-kill movement in the United States has made tremendous strides lowering the euthanasia rate of household pets.  From an estimated 17 million animals euthanized annually in shelters in the United States, we have dropped to a much improved 1.5 million per year.  Figuring that a percentage of those still performed are for terminal illnesses or severe aggression issues, the numbers become even better.  Still, not one healthy adoptable pet should ever be killed. Because of the never-ending efforts of hundreds of shelter and rescue animal advocates, starting with Rich Avanzino, the President of the San Francisco ASPCA in 1984, we’ve come a long way. The efforts now continue through many local and national organizations.  The result?  Many shelters with previously high euthanization rates are now either considered “no-kill” or are rapidly heading in that direction. PRIVATE SHELTERS So, why do some shelters still euthanize for reasons other than health or behavior?  There are two types of shelters to consider.  The first is a private organization, run as a…

  • Post author:
Continue ReadingTHE “NO-KILL” MOVEMENT. HOW THE ANIMAL RESCUE FIELD IS REDUCING THE EUTHANASIA RATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HOW YOU CAN HELP.

HOW TO CHOOSE A VETERINARIAN

So, you need to choose a veterinarian.  You’re new to the area, or you’re a first-time pet owner.  There are lots of veterinary practices within a reasonable distance from you – how do you pick? WORD OF MOUTH If you already know pet-owners nearby, ask.  Don’t just ask what practice, ask why.  Everyone looks for different things in a veterinarian – something that is very important to you may not be particularly important to your neighbor.  Vets and their staff come in all types – curt, but efficient; friendly, but scattered; working to the client’s convenience instead of their own.   And, from my personal experience, veterinarians can be an ego-driven lot, so make sure to ask about the vet’s personality as well. HOURS This can be very important, both for routine and emergency visits.  When I moved into my current home, I chose a practice which advertised that they were open until 7:00 PM two nights a week.  I commute to work every day, and having these two days where I could make an appointment after my work hours were complete…

  • Post author:
Continue ReadingHOW TO CHOOSE A VETERINARIAN

KIDS VERSUS PETS

NOTE:  This post is meant to be for fun only – please enjoy it as such! Younger generations seem to be opting for pets rather than children in larger numbers than earlier ones.  So…I decided to do a little research to see which is more economical.  Turns out the millennials may be on to something! MEDICAL Be they veterinary, or human, medical costs are expensive and only rising.  Gone are the days of $50.00 vet or pediatrician visits.  Hello to dropping at least $150.00 whenever visiting a medical professional.  Here is the breakdown: Veterinarian bills over the lifetime of a dog – approximately $22,000 Veterinarian bills over the lifetime of a cat - approximately $18,000 Pediatric Bills for a child up to the age of 18 - $12,024 plus vaccines at $3,150 = $15,174.  Or you can spend (in case something extra is needed) $34,895.00 for insurance, which will, of course, require a co-pay. EDUCATION Since we’re only talking about raising a child to the age of 18 here, education through public school, is very cheap.  (Not free, since there are…

  • Post author:
Continue ReadingKIDS VERSUS PETS

HELP A SHELTER DOG – FOSTER! FOSTERING A DOG IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THAT PET READY FOR LIFE IN A LOVING HOME. LEARN THE FACTS.

  FOSTERING - DOGS Many animal rescues are foster-based, meaning they have no central shelter, but house their animals up for adoption with volunteers in private homes.  Many thousands of dogs and cats owe their lives to individuals who step up to provide love, care, and some training while a rescue searches for the perfect permanent home. This post will be about fostering dogs – another post covered fostering cats and kittens. There are two kinds of fosters:  Foster successes, and foster fails.  Foster successes are temporary pet parents who do not adopt the animals they foster, but cooperate in finding these guys permanent, loving homes.  Foster fails (and I’m afraid I have to raise my hand here), start out with the intention of being foster successes, but then end up adopting their foster furry child. HOW DO I APPLY TO BE A FOSTER? Rescues who need fosters have Facebook pages and websites which usually have the foster application there.  If you can’t find the application, drop the rescue an email and they’ll be happy to send one along. Foster applications…

  • Post author:
Continue ReadingHELP A SHELTER DOG – FOSTER! FOSTERING A DOG IS ALL ABOUT GETTING THAT PET READY FOR LIFE IN A LOVING HOME. LEARN THE FACTS.

12 PLANTS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR PET SICK

Household pets come in contact with lots of dangerous items every day.  Although they have lived in our homes for many centuries, they are still animals, and need us to protect them from the hazards of our world.  More than 100,000 companion animals are treated each year for some type of poisoning.  One of the biggest reasons for this is toxic plants - either house plants, or items we've planted in our yards or gardens.  Here are some of the most common ones: COMMON AT CHRISTMAS Poinsettia – Causes irritation in the stomach and mouth if ingested. Not generally life-threatening.  Affects both dogs and cats. American Holly - Vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, low heart rate. Toxic to both dogs and cats. Mistletoe - cardiovascular collapse, difficulty breathing, erratic behavior, vomiting, and diarrhea. Toxic to both cats and dogs. COMMON HOUSE PLANTS Aloe Vera – Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea. Poisonous to both dogs and cats. Ivies - Vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling, diarrhea. Foliage is more toxic than berries. Toxic to both cats and dogs. Lillies – Kidney failure – toxic to cats, non-toxic…

  • Post author:
Continue Reading12 PLANTS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR PET SICK