Pet Auto Safety

According to No More Homeless Pets KC (NMHPKC), “. . . for every one person born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are also born. And that means there simply aren’t enough homes for them all.” So what happens to the excess animals? They roam the streets. They may possibly spread diseases to your own pets, get into garbage, mess in your yard, and continue to breed which causes more homeless dogs and cats. Wild dogs may form into packs and sometimes attack people and other animals, including your own pets. And the worst of all, millions of homeless dogs and cats get euthanized each year - That’s right, MILLIONS!

So what is being done to prevent homeless animals? There are many non-profit organizations all over the country that dedicate their time to not only find homes for these animals, but to also find a way to prevent more homeless animals. There are several in the Kansas City area, including No More Homeless Pets KS (NMHPKC). Their mission is “To lead a cooperative effort to end pet overpopulation and transform the KC area into a ‘Humane community’.” Part of what they do is help in getting homeless animals adopted. They also prevent homeless animals by providing humane education and low-cost spay and neutering.

So what can you do to help prevent homeless animals? The most important thing you can do is to spay or neuter your own pets. There are many benefits to spaying or neutering your dog or cat. Check out our following blog in a few days about the benefits of spaying or neutering.

Giving natural raw food diet is still one of the best treats for your pets. Fresh natural raw foods are viewed by many as safer than processed food due to less exposure to processed food contamination. Dog raw food diets are very simple and pet safe; they are the basic diets in the wild. Right diet can keep your dog fit and fine and their coats shiny and smooth and healthy dogs are pride of their owners.

Raw food diet provides a range of benefits including no doggy odour or smell, they naturally cleans teeth as well as they will surely enjoy it like other dogs in the wild. Promoting raw diet will make much less stool production and normally turn them into firm and chalky dog waste. When they gnaw raw bones, the time it takes to chew a raw meaty bones give their stomachs adequate time to get acids moving. Puppies develop at a more appropriate growth rate and quick growth spurts are avoided. A good puppy owner will want to stop fast growth which is better and much considerable. The ripping and chewing involved in eating raw meaty bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles of the dog. Commercial dog foods will never assist in this important muscle development. And of course, less food cost plus decreased vet bills, the dogs are healthier.

Other benefits that other experienced raw diet feeder testimonials, dogs who were previously un-energetic, and sluggish become completely new dogs once the raw diet feeding begins. Remember, grains are one of the biggest sources of allergies in dogs, allergies their dogs previously had on commercial foods, disappear once they start with the raw diet. It is effective for older dogs, arthritis has significantly reduced or disappeared in some dogs switched to raw diet. There is also good balance in their weights; raw diet is a better weight and food consumption control. And with dog natural diet, dogs are living longer than what their other dogs previously had survived on commercial dog foods.

Start with the basics - a range of different raw meaty bones, or preferably whole items, such as chicken, quail, fish, eggs. For the majority of raw feeders - chicken is the base of the majority of their dogs meals. However, if chicken is not available readily, use what is available locally - raw meaty - lamb, beef, venison, duck, rabbit, kangaroo, pig, raw whole fish, they will surely enjoy chewing them on their dog crates.

Aren’t chicken bones dangerous? It is one of the biggest myth of all time, Raw chicken bones are fantastic for your dog. They are soft enough so that they bend easily, and break well for the dog to digest. Remember, cooked chicken bones can be a problem, and I recommend that you do not feed cooked chicken bones.

First start off having your dog eats just the meat and bones the first few days. Make sure that their stomachs are ok with this before moving on. Go slow with the food variety and gradually introduce new meats. You may want to stick with one protein source for several weeks before slowly introducing new ones. This will help your dog adjust and help avoid stomach upset which can also happen when individuals switch from one variety of kibble to another. Feed your dog based on their energy requirements. It will differ for how much work your dog does, and what their metabolism is like. Look at your dogs and cats regularly - if they are looking a bit porky, then remove all carbs in their diet. If they look a bit thin, then, an extra chicken quarter in the diet for a few days may be the solution.

About bacteria on raw chicken, there is bacteria everywhere. Dogs have an amazing immunity system specifically designed to eat all manner of bacteria. And a healthy raw fed dog manages those bacteria without a problem. E-coli, salmonella, etc are found on raw chicken, but those nasty bacteria are also found in your fridge, in your sink, on your floor, in your backyard, in your car, on the footpath, down at the park, and perhaps in your bed and even possible on commercial dog foods. The most important thing is to wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your dogs, and even after cutting up meat for your own meals. Our digestive systems are not quite as robust as our dogs, so we must protect ourselves.

Before you run out to your local butcher and start ordering all the raw meat and bones for your dog, be sure to check with your veterinarian. Remember, best educated vets recommend an all natural diet. You need to make sure it is right for your dog before starting them on one. Just as you should check with your doctor before going on any kind of diet, the same is true for your dog. Talk to your local butcher, abattoir, or chicken processor to get raw food stuff. Many of the leftovers that these guys consider waste, us raw feeders people consider fantastic for our dogs. Things like chicken carcasses, chicken necks, chicken feet, and chicken heads are considered rubbish, and are sold for next to nothing. You should be able to get these fairly easily.

We loved the new facility at Woof’s Play & Stay. During our visit, we got to speak to the business owner and several employees. Everyone was obviously a huge dog lover. There was great food for both people and pets, fun games, and wonderful free prizes and spectacular door prizes.

We were greatly impressed with our tour of the facility. The day play areas were large and clean. An employee stood inside the play area to monitor the dogs. Cameras which can be accessed online were also monitoring the play area! We really liked this idea because we can watch our puppies online while they are having fun and playing. There were different play areas for different dogs. The dogs were put in different play areas based on their size, temperament, and activity level.

The night boarding kennels were well equipped and looked very comfortable. There were two types of rooms: The regular suites and the Penthouse suites. All the suites are private but the Penthouses offer a bit more home-like feel. The Penthouses had televisions, pet-themed wall paintings, more privacy, and luxurious bedding. One thing we liked about the night stay was that the day play was included in the cost of the overnight fee. We liked this because most boarding services charge extra for play time.

The full service grooming and spa services were also wonderful. It is a terrific way to really pamper your puppy at a reasonable cost. The Furminator de-shedding is also a great service that our own dogs could really use during those heavy shedding seasons.

Maya will be staying at Woof’s Play & Stay on Wednesday, July 30th. We will try to have a link to the online viewing so you can see her in action! For more information and pricing on the services offered at Woof’s Play & Stay, check out their website at www.WoofsPlayStay.com.

I used to live in the country where it was very well known that coyotes would attack sheep, cattle, chickens, and even other dogs. I had 5 acres of land but kept a half an acre fenced so that my dogs would not roam around and get attacked by these coyotes (or mistaken for coyotes and get shot by a farmer). In the fenced yard, my dogs were safe.

However, Duce had a tendency to dig. Like my other dogs, he was kept in the house at night but let outside during the day for potty and play. I liked to be outdoors too so I was generally able to keep an eye on him and stop him from digging. But one day, he dug out and disappeared. I looked and looked for him but the country is a big place and there was still a lot of wild and wooded areas that made it harder to find him.

I really loved that dog and I miss him very much. He was shepherd/chow mix and a beautiful and lovable dog. It wasn’t until recently that I heard about a GPS pet tracker. The company I work with called PetAutoSafety.com sells one in particular called the RoamEO pet tracker. If those had been invented when I had Duce, I would have gladly have purchased one. That way, when Duce got out I would have been altered and hopefully would have been able to track him down and get him back home before he got hurt. This is a great product and probably one of the best pet trackers on the market because it is so easy to use and there is no monthly fee. I have the RoamEO pet tracker now although my dog Missy is almost exclusively and indoor dog. I use it mostly when we go camping or hiking. Missy has never gotten away from me but I don’t want to take any chances with losing another great dog.

Whether you live alone or are married with children, whether you have an active outdoor life or prefer to stay at home, there is a dog or cat to fit your lifestyle. So where do you find such a wonderful companion? Per this article, “Where to Find the Perfect Pet”, your local humane society is the best source for finding a healthy and great dog or cat.  The animals are already evaluated for health and temperment.  And the humane society can help you find the perfect match.

So don’t get your pet from a pet store or a breeder.  Many of these animals are from puppy mills.  Please don’t support these often dirty and inhumane facilities that only breed animals for money and not for the love of the breed.  Adopt from your local humane society whose goal is not to make money but to find good loving homes for dogs and cats.