Archive for the ‘News & Tips’ Category
We feel tremendous love for our dogs, and our dogs sure seem to love us. But is a dog really capable of emotions? Or are we just projecting our feelings onto our dogs?
Scientists avoid the subject because part of what sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to experience feelings. To say that animals actually have feelings, in the same way we do, would change everything – perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom. However, any dog owner knows that dogs love completely and have a greater capacity for love than most people. If one were to describe the main characteristics of a dog, they would have to be:
1. strong affection
2. warm attachment
3. unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for others
Wait a minute – those are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of love. Probably why the author of Dogs Never Lie About Love, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson writes, “dogs are love.†So there isn’t a question of whether dogs love, the mystery is how they have such an enormous capacity for it. Dogs who are neglected or abused still show love for their human and wag their tails in hope of a little affection.
Dogs taken from abusive situations hold no grudges toward the human race. A half an ounce of kindness from a new person results in an abundance of affection from the formerly mistreated dog. Humans rarely have the capacity to so completely forgive and love under those circumstances.
Probably the biggest reason the dog has become man’s best friend is because we know that when it comes to love, a dog can always outdo us. The highest form of love, agape love, which is completely unconditional, is something that people often have to work at or grow into. Agape love seems to come naturally between parent and child, but it’s more difficult between husband and wife, and harder still between friends. To love someone regardless of what wrongs they have done you is very difficult for humans. A dog, however, is born with an endless capacity for agape love, and doesn’t even have to work at it. You can be a complete grouch, ignore your dog, and refuse him your love. When you decide you’re ready to be sociable again, your dog doesn’t pay you back by ignoring you too. He’s just happy you’re there. More amazing still, is that the love that dogs and owners feel for each other lasts a lifetime. This is the ideal love humans strive for, but often fail at.
This is why we need dogs. They do something for us that rarely a human companion can do. No matter how much you mess up your life, or how much wrong you do, no matter how many mistakes you make or how often you make them, regardless of your looks, income or social standing, your dog never judges you. He always thinks you are wonderful and loves you with all his heart.
Source: PetCentric
In remembering Hurricane Katrina two years later, and the devastation it caused to the region’s pets, we feel the important thing to ask is what have we learned?..
Hopefully what we’ve learned is to be prepared for a disaster so that we have No Pet Left Behind. An article from AssociatedContent.com recommends the following to be prepared to care for your pets in a hurricane:
Just as you have a plan for your family, if you own pets you must have a plan that includes the care of your pets during a hurricane. During a hurricane you must always be prepared to evacuate and knowing how your pets will travel is essential. Leaving your pets behind is a recipe for disaster even if you have created a safe place for them. So prepare now for the day you evacuate and when you do take your pets with you.
Red Cross shelters and most local shelters cannot accept pets. Service animals are the only animals that are allow in Red Cross Shelters. If you are planning on evacuating to a local shelter during a hurricane, you must find shelter for your animals in advance. Do not wait until the last minute to do your research. Many rescue organizations also have pet shelters that operate during a disaster. Check on the requirements that these locations may have.
Contact the hotels and motels along your planned evacuation route on their policies about pets and the restrictions on size, number and types of pets. Remember someone’s boa constrictor is not the same as someone else’s miniature horse. Keep and updated list of pet friendly places including phone numbers and maps to them along with you other disaster information. If you know in advance that you will be evacuating make advance reservations.
If you will be going to a relative or other outside the area safe point make sure that they can accommodate your pets and their needs in advance. It is always best to keep family groups together, including your pets but be prepared to split the animals if the need arises.
Portable Pet Disaster Kit
Regardless of whether you are away from home for one day or for three weeks, you’ll need essential items for your animals. Keep these items stored just as you do for your family. Sturdy containers or large duffel bags make excellent kit boxes. The same things you and your family will need are needed by your pet.
- Medications and medical records and a first aid kit
- Current photos and id numbers in case your pets are lost
- Sturdy leashes, tie outs and carriers are essential to maintain control your animals in strange environments.
- Food, water, bowls, cat litter/box, and a can opener are all essential
- Pet Beds and toys if they can be moved easily
- If you are taking your pets to a shelter or to another person for care information on their feeding schedules, medicines and behavior problems along with the name of your veterinarian in case of emergency
Planning and preparation will enable you and your pets to evacuate quickly and safely. But remember just like people different animals react differently under stress. Outside your home area keep your animals tightly controlled. Do not leave your animals unattended anywhere they can get away.
If you must evacuate take your animals with you. Evacuate them to your prearranged safe locations, whenever you prepare to evacuate your family. Pets are a part of our families and our lives. Help to survive just as you would other members of your family.
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Also, you can get a FREE Pet Safety Pack from Care2.com. It includes stickers from the ASPCA, to put on your door or window to alert rescue workers that you have pets inside your home that need help in case of disaster. You can click here to sign up for your pack.
This week marks the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It also marks the opening of a special exhibit to Katrina’s four-legged victims in Bethesda, Maryland.
The exhibit at the Discovery Too Gallery is called “Lest We Forget.” It focuses on the pets who were left behind in the devastation and the people who went in to the save them. Three artists are featured in the exhibit: Carol Guzy, Scotland Haisley and Bill Manley.
“All of the artists witnessed the disaster firsthand, and through their art were able to share it with the world,” said Jennifer Smith, the gallery director at Discovery Too.
Scotland Haisley, the director of the Washington Animal Rescue League, was one of the first people on the ground looking for abandoned pets. His paintings, captured on antique ceiling tiles from New Orleans, are featured in the exhibit.
Carol Guzy, a Washington Post photographer and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, took a year’s leave of absence to capture Katrina’s aftermath and found herself awash in animal rescues. “This caused so much unbelievable suffering that didn’t have to happen by not including animals in the (evacuation and rescue) plan,” she said.
The exhibit also features New Orleans native Bill Manley, an artist who lost everything but his talent to the storm. His large, bright canvases show the ragged edges of his ruined home town.
Twenty-five thousand pets perished in Katrina, but rescuers from across the country managed to save thousands.
This Sunday, the Washington Animal Rescue League will head back to New Orleans to gather more animals born in the aftermath.
It’s no secret that obesity is growing at an alarming rate in the U.S. But, many people might be shocked to discover they need look no farther than their own backyard to discover the latest victims of this epidemic – pets.
That’s right. We’ve supersized Fido and Fluffy. An astounding 35 percent of the total pet population in the nation – 48 million cats and dogs – is considered overweight. Overeating and too little exercise are the chief culprits, with many pet owners greatly contributing to poor nutrition, without even realizing it. (Feeding a pet table scraps tops the list of faulty feeding habits; one ounce of cheese fed to a 10-pound cat is equivalent to a human eating a whopping three and half hamburgers.)
However, there’s good news. It’s not too late for our plump felines and chunky canines to shed a few pounds. With proper nutrition and exercise, cats and dogs can get down to their ideal weight and remain there – an important step toward enhancing a pet’s overall health and well-being.
“The major factors of obesity are the same for people and pets, high caloric intake and a decrease in physical activity,” says celebrity personal trainer and multiple dog owner, Gunnar Peterson. “Many pet owners think that food equals love, but this is not the case. My dog Lennox would much rather wrestle with me than have a treat, and it’s a workout for both of us.”
By working with a veterinarian and tracking progress online through www.PetFit.com, pet owners can see results as time goes by, which helps motivate them to keep up their pet’s new nutritional plan and exercise regimen. Some of the tools available on the site include: a weight check tool, which estimates the ideal weight of a dog or cat based on breed size, age, current weight and a calculated body conditioning score; the weight tracker, a personalized calendar that charts progress and provides feedback to set and maintain goals; and a calorie burn chart, which shows how calories are burned as a result of common activities such as walking, swimming or strenuous play. The site also offers nutrition and exercise tips for pets, including dog and cat workouts and feeding do’s and don’ts.
“The bottom line,” says Peterson, “is to stop lovingly overfeeding, get out and exercise with your pets and ensure their food has the right mix of nutrients.”
Source: PetFit.com
According to “Business Week“, Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets – more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. That’s double the amount spent on pets a decade ago, with annual spending expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years. That puts the yearly cost of feeding, and caring for pets in excess of what Americans spend on the movies ($10.8 billion), playing video games ($11.6 billion), and listening to recorded music ($10.6 billion) combined!
It wasn’t so very long ago that the phrase “a dog’s life” meant sleeping outside, enduring the elements, living with aches, and sitting by the dinner table, waiting for a few scraps to land on the floor. Today’s dog has it much better. Today, according to surveys, 42% of dogs now sleep in the same bed as their owners, up from 34% in 1998. The menu for both dogs and cats reflects every fad in human food – from locally sourced organic meat and vegan snacks to gourmet meals bolstered by healthy supplements like glucosamine to ward off stiff joints. Half of all dog owners say they consider their pet’s comfort when buying a car, and almost a third of buy gifts for their dog’s and/or cat’s birthday. And you’ll notice that nobody uses the word pet “owner” anymore – we who live with pets know very well who owns who!
We personally consider this all to be good news. But the best news of all is that all this human-quality care has helped to radically extend the life span of pets. Even larger dogs routinely live 12 to 14 years now, and the average is considerably longer for smaller breeds, a big jump from the average a few decades ago. So you see the more we improve their lives, the longer they live, and the longer they can continue to improve our lives. So don’t be ashamed to spoil your pet – they deserve it, and you’re not alone!
Did you know cancer is the No.1 natural cause of death in geriatric cats and dogs? Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of pet deaths each year. As with human healthcare, advanced research is bringing amazing advances to the fight against cancer in pets.
The Animal Cancer Foundation is currently working to develop and support research that advances the prevention and treatment of cancer for pets. Specifically, their endeavors focus on furthering research in comparative oncology, which is the study of cancers that occur similarly in both pets and humans. In this way, ACF is committed to advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of such cancers, and becoming a preeminent resource in educating the public and scientific community.
You can help by sponsoring an ACF special event, make a dedication in memory of a beloved pet, volunteer your services or simply make the donation you can afford. You may also want to purchase a copy of Josée Clerens and John Clifton’s inspiring book, “Sparky Fights Back, A Little Dog’s Big Battle Against Cancer”, or buy a Pet4Pets cancer awareness collar and matching wristband at www.pet4pets.com. A portion of your Pet4Pets purchase will support the search for new, more effective cures for cancer in pets, and in people.
Someday soon, new therapies may provide your pet with a high quality of life for years to come!
This summer we have been taking Kylie, our spokesmodel and love of our lives, for weekly swimming sessions. Kylie is 14 and still very spry and we just want to keep her that way, so we looked into swimming as a great form of low-impact exercise. We found it at Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group.
CRCG‘s programs focus on enhancing and improving a dog’s life and physical abilities through exercise, recreation, and rehabilitation. Not only is water a great way to exercise for young and old dogs alike: It can also help dogs recover after certain operations or injuries, and improve other physical issues. They offer hydro therapy in the Endless Pool, which is where Kylie swims, and an underwater treadmill, as well as massage and acupuncture services for dogs and cats. And for recreational purposes they have Denver’s first and largest above ground, heated, indoor pool. It’s 26F x 18F and four feet deep and as you can see, big fun!
So if you think your pet could benefit from hydro therapy or just a big splash, check into similar facilities in your area. It has been great for Kylie!
This is a truly amazing, new, high-tech pet product that we saw in Doggie Aficionado magazine that we wanted to share with you.
The Hear Now is a multi-functioning, state-of-the-art pet collar and hand-held radio transmitter, providing interactive two-way voice communication allowing you to speak to your pet from up to 12 miles away. Variations of the collar offer an array of additional features, such as LED lights for night-time visibility, Bluetooth technology, and geo-fencing capabilities used in conjunction with GPS technology.
The Hear Now also features the “PEPi Recorder” (Personal Entry Pet Information), allowing the owner to record their contact information, which can be played back in the event their pet becomes lost and found. Even if no one finds the lost pet, the device’s GPS technology allows the owner to electronically track the animal.
Other features and abilities include:
- Controlling up to 14 Pets with One Radio
- “Call Owner†Button from the Collar or Harness
- Stop Barking Dog Without Shouting
- Water Proof Collar & Water Resistant Radio
- Rechargeable Batteries
The Hear Now design encompasses everything pet parents could ask for to communicate and protect their animals at the same time. We think it’s awesome!
Check out the complete product line on their website to see the whole line of collars and harnesses with GPS and Bluetooth technology, plus the other great pet products they offer like the “Rain or Shine Pet Bed.” It has magnets built in to prevent and treat arthritis and the colorful, adjustable umbrella and food & water tray.
FLEXPETZ is a unique concept for dog lovers who are unable to have a dog of their own, because of their busy lives or restrictions where they live, but who miss spending time with a canine friend. It’s a shared dog ownership concept that provides members with access to a variety of dogs for a few hours or a few days just by making a reservation. It’s like a time-share program for pets!
Through this “shared dog ownership concept”, members can choose from a variety of breeds of all sizes to ensure compatibility with our member’s individual lifestyles and unique circumstances. All Flexpetz dogs are rescued or rehomed, socialized, and fully trained. Some of their locations even offer drop-off and pick-up service to your home. And speaking of locations, Flexpets is currently available in San Francisco, NYC, Boston, DC, and London and since your membership is valid at any location, you could even “reserve” a dog to take for a walk in Central Park next time you’re in the Big Apple!
Critics of the program claim that this is unkind to the dogs because dogs need to bond to their “pack” in order to be happy and emotionally healthy. We have to admit it’s a little strange, and just feels wrong, like they’re exploiting dogs for profit by renting them out to people who want the benefits of having a pet without the responsibility and commitment. But clearly it fills a niche, we sympathize with people who want a dog but can’t have one, and they are rescuing dogs which is not a bad thing. But please let us know what you think.
Also to give you all aspects of this as a story, Itchmo.com has reported that the CEO of the company that owns Flexpetz has a very sordid past.
“Simon Brodie, the controversial founder with a criminal past behind the Allerca hypoallergenic cats, is the CEO of a company that owns Flexpetz, the pet sharing service. Brodie was convicted in the UK of multiple counts of accounting fraud. Ever since his move to the United States, he has been linked to pets or animals in his ventures and is shadowed by a history of failed ventures, lawsuits, unpaid bills, and fraud allegations.“
Komfort Pets has introduced the first climate-controlled pet carrier designed to automatically keep pets cool when it’s too hot and keep them warm when it’s too cold.
Komfort Pets has pioneered a patent-pending technology to offer both heating and cooling capabilities for your pet’s comfort. Their innovative temperature control system is designed to compliment the natural methods by which a pet regulates its own body temperature by using both conduction and convection simultaneously. They have incorporated this ingenious technology into the best-looking and most distinctive pet carrier in the marketplace today.
The Komfort Pets Carrier can be taken or used almost anywhere. It is surprisingly affordable and can be used in cars, SUVs, RVs, rental cars, boats, or in your home or garage to provide a comfortable cooled or heated sanctuary for cats, dogs, rabbits, or just about any other household pet.
