Pet Auto Safety

Watching Good Morning America this morning, I just learned about this awesome group of biker men who not only rescue abused and neglected animals, but they also confront the offenders.  They have a show which is going to premier on the National Geographic Channel on Friday, September 25, 10pm EP. I checked out their Success Stories page and it brought tears to my eyes - tears of sadness that there are people in this world who actually treat animals this way - and tears of happiness that there are people in this world who really care and want to do something about it.

Check out this link on the success stories:  http://www.rescueink.org/success.html.

We are always talking about the benefits of adopting a dog versus buying a dog, although we are not against buying a dog IF you buy the dog from a reputable breeder. However, there are far too many breeders out there who are only in it for the money and not for the love of the breed. Check out this wonderful book on a dog who lived a horrible life at a puppy mill but was luckily rescued and given a second chance at life in a wonderful home:
“A Rare Breed of Love”

The most obvious reason you should care for your pet is so that your pet lives a long and happy life and gives you happiness in return. But now there is another reason. Cities all over the US are cracking down on people who abuse or neglect their pets. Neglect includes leaving a dog chained in the yard day-in and day-out or letting a dog roam the neighborhood. Just because someone regularly feeds a dog, a dog constantly chained up or allowed to roam can eventually lead to a dangerous dog which is more inclined to attack or bite people than a dog who is properly cared for. Check out this fantastic article written by someone in a city who is issuing citations for dog owners who do not properly are for or restrain their dogs:

Citations Issued to Dog Owners Who Do Not Properly Care For or Restrain Their Dogs

The shelters are full all over the United States due to people giving up their pets.  This economy is making it more difficult for people to pay their bills. But before you give up your pets, consider all the quality benefits you will be losing. Studies have shown that pets help us with our health and stress. The comfort of a pet can help with various health issues including high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. See our blog post on health provided by animals. If you are stuggling in this economy, don’t you think it would be easier to deal with stress by keeping your best friend around?

Besides, caring for your pets are not really all that expensive. You can get inexpensive dog food which may not have all the specialties of the name brand dog foods but it is still adequately nutritious. You can also purchase pet medications and their shots online from sites which provide vast discounts as compared to the costs of veterinarians. Be sure to research any such sites to make sure they are a legitimate company selling legitimate products. You can get recommendations from humane societies and check to see if the site is owned by a company who is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Other than food and shots, there is really no other expense associated with keeping your pet. Check out this heart-warming article on a woman who lived in her car with her dogs. She may have lost her home, but she has not lost her beloved pets. There’s no doubt that they will help her get through these hard times.

We recently saw on the news that a man who was running an unlicensed puppy mill set the place on fire.  I couldn’t sleep that night because I kept thinking of those poor dogs.  This apparently was the third puppy mill closed down in a two week period in Missouri.  Sadly, those who are too sick or too aggressive may be put down.  Hopefully most will just need minor rehabilitation since they have been kept in small cages and are most likely unsocialized.  Then the shelters and rescue groups will have to find homes for them all.

Demand for certain breeds is what inspires unscrupulous dog breeders to form puppy mills.  You can help curb demand by getting a purebred dog from experienced breeders, breed rescue groups, or animal shelters.

Check out this article for more information on the three puppy mills recently closed down in Missouri.

Puppy Mills in Missouri

So you want a specific breed of dog and you can’t find it in a shelter or with a breed rescue group. What is your alternative? You can buy a dog from a pet store or breeder. However, there is great danger in doing this. The dog you are buying may have come from a puppy mill. Puppy mill breeders are known to unscrupulously breed dogs without any thought to the health and temperament to the dogs themselves. And don’t be fooled just because the purebred dog you are buying has papers. All that papers mean is that the dog is a purebred. It doesn’t mean that there has been multiple inbreeding of the dogs which deteriorates the quality of the breed. And it doesn’t mean that the dog won’t come with severe health or temperament issues associated with unscrupulous breeding.

My parents bought a dog once who was purebred German Shepherd. We named him Rocky and he had papers. But by the time he grew up, he looked nothing like a real German Shepherd. They bought another dog who was also a purebred German Shepherd with papers. Her name was Tanya and she looked like a standard German Shepherd. However, she had to be put to sleep after only two years of age because of severe hip dysplasia problems. The breeder had enticed my parents with a guarantee that the dog would not get hip dysplasia. But the catch which my parents were unaware of was that the guarantee was only for one year and these dogs generally do not show signs of hip dysplasia until after they are a year old. My parents tried to report the deficiency of the breed to AKC but AKC said that they played no part whatsoever in regulating such a thing. Their only interest was in documenting that the dog was a purebred German Shepherd.

So, let it be known that a dog with papers does not mean you are getting a quality breed. For both you and your new dog’s benefit, you must research before buying a dog. Read the following article for more great information on papers:

Facts about “Papers”

The best way to keep your new dog from chewing your stuff or from messing on your floor while you are away is to provide crate training for your dog. Crate training is a safe and easy way to protect both your home and your pet. Some people may think that keeping a dog in a crate is cruel. This is not true unless you keep your dog in the crate for several long hours without food or water or a restroom break. But keeping your dog in a crate for only a few hours can actually help your dog feel safe. In the wild, wolves and other wild canines often stay in a cave or den. Their cave or den protects them from predators and elements of the weather. As descendants of the wolf, dogs still carry this instinct to stay in a secure place. Ever notice your dog sleeping under the table or the bed? Or behind the furniture or in a small room, such as the bathroom during a thunderstorm? Under the porch or in a doghouse? A crate will provide your dog with the same security that the places of your home bring. In fact, most dogs who have gone through crate training often go in their crates on their own initiative.

The most important reason you should provide crate training for your dog is that keeping your dog in a crate prevents them from chewing on harmful things or getting into harmful substances when you are not home. 

Can you believe some people are giving up their pets because of the recent economic hardships?  The animal shelters in the Kansas City Metro area are completely full because of all the animals being dropped off and sometimes even abandoned.  As hard as the volunteers of these animal organizations are trying to find homes for them all, it is nearly impossible.  So before you give your pet up, read this heart-wrenching story by Jim Willis titled “How Could You?”  It brought tears to my eyes and I hope it brings tears to yours.

 http://jimwillis0.tripod.com/tiergarten/id21.html

“How Could You?” was written by Jim Willis in 2001.  He says you can distribute the essay for noncommercial purposes as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.  So please feel free to pass this ling along to others.  It is a great way to hopefully save some animals.

Owning a pet offers years of a rewarding experience. The loyalty, love, and affection they provide is vast. It has even been said that pets help people live longer healthier lives. Although the rewards of owning a pet far outweigh the reponsibilities, the obligations of a pet owner are still very important. After providing annual shots and vet visits, spaying or neutering your dog or cat is the most important. Several people have excuses about why their pet is not spayed or neutered. As pet lovers who sincerely believe in helping to prevent homeless animals, we feel that it is important to stress the benefits of spaying or neutering.

Why Breeding Your Pet is Not a Good Idea
Unless you are a professional breeder, you probably should not be breeding your dog or cat. There are a lot of costs involved in breeding that you may not have considered. Finding a male for your female is not always easy. And if you do find a male, there may be a stud fee involved. If you already have both a male and female breed, you may be inadvertantly breeding dogs or cats that are too closely related and therefore contributing to the degeneration of the breed. Once you have a pregnant female, there are several vet visits which cost money. There is not only the vet cost for the pregnant female, but there are also vet fees involved for the puppies or kittens. If you want to sell quality breeds, vet costs increase because you want the vet to check for health issues and hereditary problems. Also, some breeds require docking of tails or ears which also involves vet fees.

Another thing to consider is that all of your puppies or kittens may not be sold. If you are a considerate pet breeder, you may want to dispose of them by taking them to a no-kill shelter. No-kill shelters often request a donation in order to help them care for the animal before it is adopted. More often than not, breeding dogs or cats is not as profitable as you might think. And sometimes, no profit is made at all.

Besides costs, a lot of your time is required when caring for the pregnant female and her puppies or kittens. The mother dog or cat does not always care for her young properly. And if proper care is not given by either you or the mother, some of the young may die before they have a chance to be sold.

Even if you are lucky enough to find homes for the puppies or kittens your pet has had, you would be surprised to find how many of them end up in a shelter later. A lot of people get a puppy or kitten on impuse because they are so adorable. But people who don’t have the knowledge or the desire to learn about raising a pet tend to end up with an adult dog or cat they can’t handle. That pet may then end up abandoned. Stray dogs may bite or attack people or pets, get into trash, defecate on your lawn and spread disease to other pets. Research shows there are more dogs and cats born every day than there are people which means there are not enough people willing to adopt them all.

Spaying or Neutering Does Not Cost a Lot of Money
Costs to spay or neuter your pet can vary depending on your vet. If you can’t afford those costs, check with your local humane society and ask about low-cost spaying and neutering programs. These programs were formed in order to prevent unwanted pets so they will be glad to help you find something that can fit within your budget.

Spaying or Neutering Can Help Curb Certain Behavior Problems
Male cats who are not fixed tend to spray more often than male cats who are not neutered. When a male cat sprays, there is a highly offensive odor that can easily infiltrate your entire home. Not only that, the odor on the item that was sprayed will be difficult to remove. When female cats who are not fixed go into heat, they tend to do this odd screeching cry that is both incessant and loud. This could happen twice a year (usually in the spring and fall) and lasts up to three weeks.

Male dogs who are not fixed tend to mark more often, even indoors, and especially when they smell a female dog in heat. Indoor marking could damage your furniture and the smell could be difficult to remove. Female dogs who are not fixed tend to leave marks of blood on your carpet or furniture. Dogs do not bleed as heavily as people, but they do bleed - the bigger the dog, the more noticable the spotting.

For both male and female pets who are not fixed, you could have problems with them trying to get out of the house or fenced yard. Females in heat are especially more urgent to get outdoors. Male pets who catch the scent of a female in heat could be more inclined to get out of the house or dig out of the yard or jump the fence.

If you are wanting a loyal and lovable affectionate pet, your chances of getting one is by having your pet spayed or neutered. Believe it or not, studies show that fixed pets tend to be more affectionate.

Spaying or Neutering Can Help Prevent Certain Health Issues
Fixed pets tend to live longer. Losing a pet is very difficult so you want your dog or cat to live as long as possible. A dog that is spayed or neutered also tends to be healthier. They are also less likely to get certain types of cancer. A sick dog can be very expensive to make healthy. And in many cases, the pet can end up dying anyway.

So please help to prevent homeless pets by getting your dog or cat spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering your pet benefits you, your pet, and the community.

This article was inspired by No More Homelss Pets KC (NMHPKC)