If we reduce the number of dog and cat litters, we will reduce the number of suffering and homeless animals. Several states have created and expanded state spay/neuter programs. Maine successfully has the program in place and other states are following it’s lead. Unfortunately, state bills to create the programs are facing still opposition (from all industries) the pet food industry. A state-levied surcharge on pet food is used to finance a spay/neuter program. The pet industry fought against this in the state of Maryland but they lost. The Maryland bill passed in APril 2013.
The surcharge works by requiring pet food manufacturers pay an annual $100 registration for each brand they sell in a particular state. This will bring about $1million dollars yearly to fund spaying and neutering. If the pet food industry chose to pass this expense on to their customers, it would cost cat owners a mere 26 cents and dog owners 50 cents per animal per year.
This should be a no brainer. A pet food surcharge is a reliable, substantial and sustainable source of revenue to fund state run spay/neuter programs. Pet owners are willing to pay pennies pet year to greatly reduce animal suffering. What’s the problem with the big pet food companies. This country runs a greed!! It’s really a shame! The way people think in this country is truly unbelievable!!!
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Dogs Rescued from Cruelty
Was your dog rescued from a cruel environment? Does he or she exhibit anxiety or deep rooted fear? Whether your dog was rescued from a puppy mill, cruel environment, pet hoarding or some other situation, there is help out there. The Behavioral Rehabilitation Center offers programs for pets where you can even create your own program like systematic desensitization and counter conditioning. These are two common treatments for fears, anxiety, phobias, aggression or any behavior problem that involves arousal or emotional reactivity. These treatments are designed to change the way your dog feels about something – like new people or loud noises. It is much easier to do this with a qualified behaviorist. You can visit the Virtual Pet Behaviorist for more information.
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A Dog Thundershirt. Does it Prevent Anxiety?
A dog thundershirt is designed to help prevent anxiety in your dog. Thunderstorms usually cause lots of anxiety in our canine friends thus came the name “thundershirt.” This shirt is designed to provide a calming effect when your dog experiences fear, general or separation anxiety. The shirt is fully adjustable for a snug, comfortable fit. The shirt delivers constant, gentle pressure to create a calming effect. It supposedly has a proven success rate of 80%. The experts at Petsmart say that the shirt is ideal for fear and anxiety relief from thunder, fireworks, separation anxiety and travel. It’s made from a lightweight fabric and they cost about $40.00. So do they work? You’ll have to try it and let me know. I tell you one thing, it can’t hurt and may be worth a try.
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Be a Responsible Pet Owner
I read a very disturbing article the other day. Did you know that about 5 to 7 million companion animals enter shelters every year and 3 to 4 million are euthanized! (60% are dogs and 70% are cats) These statistics are staggering! More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. Lets face the fact that many people should NEVER own a pet whether it be a dog or a cat, it doesn’t matter. I hate to say it but we are a very selfish, self centered society. Many of us don’t have time to spend with a pet. Work and a social life rules. Also many neglect to realize that owning a pet requires patience, and flexibility. Yes, there is a possibility that a piece of furniture may be ruined but does this justify taking the pet back to the shelter only to be euthanized 72 hours later. Come on, show some compassion. Would you put your child up for adoption if he accidently spills something and ruins your rug?? Prospective pet owners must be prepared to face some challenges ahead before adopting a pet. If they can’t or don’t expect anything to change, then don’t even consider adopting. So many people adopt dogs of cats because their child wants a pet. Many of these people have no clue of how to care for the pet but because their child is insisting, crying, whining or whatever, they give in and who suffers? The poor pet. Come on people, use common sense, be considerate of our furry friends. They truly deserve a good life and if you can’t give them one, then let someone else give them a good life, love and affection. Sorry if I offend anyone but this is a fact, there are too many inconsiderate, selfish people out there!!
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Aggressive Pooch
It never fails, you take your dog out for a calm walk around the neighborhood and you wind up on your butt as he drags you toward a bicycle, jogger, squirrel, or anything that is moving. How do we calm him down so you and he can enjoy a peaceful walk? There is something that you may want to try. You have to desensitize him to the presence of bikers and joggers. Try getting a friend to bike or jog by over and over. (Hopefully, he is a good friend who can deal with your dog chasing after him!) Start at a distance where your dog barely notices and gradually have your friend get closer and closer. Feed your dog treats the whole time that your friend is in view. Mix up the areas as well as the helpers. (hopefully you have lots of friends) Keep feeding him treats but not if he barks and runs toward the biker or jogger. Eventually, your dog will see a jogger, or biker and look immediately at you for a treat. There will be no more lunging and barking and dragging you on your butt. A good trainer or behaviorist can help you with your timing. Good luck with this one!
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My Cat is My Alarm Clock
In case the power goes out, I never have to worry. My cat, Millie will wake me up the same time every morning. By 6:00 am every morning, Millie will climb on my headboard and begin to pace back and forth and meow. She insists that I get up and feed her, pet her and give her water. Cats can be very needy and Millie is one of those cats. Their instinct enables them to do things on schedule. They are very consistent and persistent! If the alarm goes off and I get out of bed, she is happy but on weekends, when the alarm is off, she will meow and meow starting at 6:00 am. I don’t get mad and even try to reason with her but she usually wins. After the pacing and meowing, I crawl out of bed by about 6:30 – 7:00 am. My cat controls me and it’s all my fault because I spoiled her when she was very young! The cats rule!!
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Is Such a Thing As a Mini Greyhound?
You just saw a small dog run by that seemed like a small version of the Greyhound. You may have seen an Italian Greyhound. This is an ancient canine breed that has all of the sleek proportions of a full size greyhound. These dogs are barely a foot tall. If you compare a regular greyhound to, lets say a bus, then the Italian greyhound could be compared to an Italian sports car. They have the same easy going, sweet disposition of the larger greyhounds and the desire to run. It was a favorite of Italian noblemen and if you know anything about art, you would know that the miniature greyhound is frequently seen in renaissance art. So now you’re thinking that the Italian greyhound would make a perfect apartment dog right? You are partially correct. They are good for apartments in terms of size, but they require lots of exercise. You can’t just put on his dog leash and stoll around the neighborhood. These dogs like to run in wide open spaces. So if you live in a city, you way want to re-consider owning an Italian greyhound.
Will Your Dog Protect You if an Intruder Breaks Into your Home?
You may think that if you have a Pit Bull or Rottweilers, you’ll be protected if an intruder breaks into your home. The truth of the matter is that they may not even bark, let alone bite an intruder. The following excerpt is taken from CBS in Atlanta. It involves staged break ins with the results of each.
CBS Atlanta put five breeds known for being instinctive guard dogs to the test by staging break-ins at their homes and watching their reactions. Some yelped at the fake intruder, most whimpered, one did tricks, another let the intruder carry her out of the home in his arms — and none of them fought him off.
Jeff Schettler of the Georgia K9 National Training Center played the part of the burglar, dressed up in a protective suit in case the dogs attacked. He hardly needed it: Only one of the dogs, Kevlar, a 100-pound German shepherd, nipped at him before scurrying away and cowering.
“Even when they are in their own home, they can be a bit nervous,” Schettler told CBS Atlanta.
Ryan and Rihannon, the owners of Roxie, an 85-pound Rottweiler, have had their home burglarized before. They even have a mark on their front door where a burglar broke in. They told CBS Atlanta that they adopted Roxie to fend off future intruders.
But when Schettler entered their home, Roxie did little more than let out a few barks. She mostly eyed the intruder from a distance and whimpered — but did nothing to stop him.
“I hoped that she would, you know, live up to her reputation as a protector and, you know, give him a chomp on the arm,” Ryan said.
And the dog that did tricks for Schettler as he invaded her home? That was Bindi, the 29-pound pit bull. Yes, pit bulls may get a bad rap for being aggressive and ferocious, but Bindi just waved at the would-be burglar with her paw.
The other dogs involved in the tests were Calico, a 38-pound Brittany spaniel, and Star, a 10-pound papillon mix.
The results may be disappointing to some, since two of the test breeds — German shepherds and Rottweilers — have been listed among the 10 best breeds for guard dogs. But Schettler said that no matter what breed the dog is, if it hasn’t been trained to protect, it likely won’t fight back against an intruder. It’s also worth noting that when Schettler entered each home, he didn’t exactly cause the kind of ruckus that a real burglar likely would.
We would like to thank CBS in Atlanta for providing this valuable information!
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Taking Your Dog to the Beach in Summer
Before you know it, you’ll be spending time with your best friend at the beach. Make sure that you always provide enough shade and water for your dog. Dogs, especially those with short hair and pink skin can sunburn. Limit your dogs exposure to the sun and apply sunblock to his ears and nose thirty minutes before going outside. Know the water conditions. It’s a good idea to check with your lifeguard. Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish. Running on the sand is a strenuous exercise both for humans and dogs. If your dog is out of shape, he can easily pull a tendon or ligament. Monitor your dog’s activity.
Don’t let your dog drink seawater, the salt will make him sick. Salt and minerals in the ocean can damage your dogs coat so rinse him off a the end of the day.
Not all beaches allow dogs so check with your local town before heading out. Have a great summer with your best friend!
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Nine Things You Should Know About Your Cats
Here are nine things to keep in mind if you own a cat. Readers Disgest has published these facts about your feline friends.
- Nose to nose greetings between cats are unusual but cats who know each other well but have been apart for a while feel safe enough to do this to confirm visual recognition and gain information about how the other cat is, where he has been and what he has been doing.
- Purring usually indicates that your cat is content but a deep purr could indicate illness.
- Cats retain their kitten vocal signals to communicate with humans but they usually use an adult repertoire of sounds to communicate with other cats.
- Like dogs, cats can also get sick and die from eating chocolate.
- Cats like to nap rather than sleep. When in a deep sleep, they do tend to dream like we do.
- Cats blink and narrow their eyes when they make eye contact. To make friends with an unfamiliar cat, blink and look away when you catch his eyes.
- Cats cannot understand punishment as humans do. They must be praised and rewarded for good behavior.
- Giving your cat a strip of raw meat to chew on everyday will keep his teeth and gums in good condition. Make sure that the meat is deboned.
- Cats can tolerate heat very well but never leave them in the car with the windows rolled up on a hot day!
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