by Lisa on April 23, 2010
Ok readers, here’s a WIN-WIN offer for all of us. Purchase one of my Adoption Wear Gear Tees (short or long sleeve), Sweatshirts or Hoodies, and I will put YOUR COMPANY NAME or ORG under my logo! This way we can spread the word of animal adoption, while advertising your business AND (here’s the best part) your purchase will donate to animals in need! What more could you ask for!
You can email me at Lcpooch1@aol.com and I can take your order from there. Prices are the same as on this website. This is a GREAT IDEA for any business, animal organization, rescue, or even dog walkers! Advertise YOUR business, while walking the dogs. These would be a great asset for your employees too!
If you know of someone who might be interested, but isn’t subscribed to this website, please pass this on to them. Together we can advertise, spread the word of adoption, look great and donate too! So, which one are YOU going to buy?
by Lisa on April 21, 2010
Here’s how you can shrink your pup’s environmental pawprint dramatically, without overhauling your life, and your dog may reap some health benefits.
1. Choose eco-friendly dog supplies.
There’s oodles to choose from, and our green product reviews can help you separate what’s worth buying and what’s not. What to look for: material that will biodegrade, has been or can be recycled, wasn’t treated with flame retardants, and is free of plastics. When your dog’s sick of his toys, swap with your dog-parent friends rather than tossing them.
2. Be a green pooper-scooper.
The ideal is to flush your dog’s poop, so it will get the same treatment as human waste; you can even buy flushable, biodegradable poop bags. The runner-up option is tossing a biodegradable poop bag in the trash; composting dog poop is controversial, since its bacteria could make you sick if it’s spread on your veggie garden, but there are instructions on how to do it here.
3. Leash your dog in wildlife areas.
We all love to watch happy dogs running free. But even if your dog doesn’t fancy herself a hunter, chasing and barking at the resident wildlife and charging around their habitat does more damage than you might think. Save the off-leash play for dog parks.
4. When fighting fleas, go with the least toxic options.
How green you go in the battle against fleas depends on how much time you’re willing to spend and how badly you want to keep pesticides out of your home and off your dog. You can download a guide to fighting fleas without pesticides here. If you must use pesticides, go with a topical, spot-on treatment rather than sprays, powders, or collars. If you have real winters where you live, talk to your vet about using the treatments only during the warmer flea season.
5. Cook dog food yourself or buy locally made, organic food.
As much as possible, use organic veggies and antibiotic- and hormone-free meat and dairy. By cutting out the transportation and packaging of commercial food, you’ll do the planet an extra favor. If you haven’t got time to play chef for your dog, check out holistic pet supply stores for locally made, planet-friendly foods.
6. Think before you toss.
Medications, flea treatments, shampoos–all can wind up polluting soil and water if you simply toss them in the trash. To figure out how to get rid of them safely, contact your local solid waste agency (call 1-800-CLEAN-UP to get the number or look in your phone book).
7. Green your kitty too.
Our feline friends do their share of environmental damage. They kill millions of birds each year, and much of the litter they use comes from strip mining–and then piles up in landfills. Cats who do their business outside pollute the water and soil with toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can make pregnant women and the immunocompromised sick.
A few ways to make your kitty more eco-friendly: Keep her inside, which is safer for her as well as the local birds. If you let her outside, you could try outfitting her with a cat bib to prevent her from hunting–bells generally aren’t effective–or only letting her play in fenced areas. As for kitty litter, there are now many more eco-friendly litters to choose from.
by Lisa on April 15, 2010
Wet kisses from man’s best friend could soon be showing us more than love. Researchers have found that the DNA on Fido’s tongue could be the key to new treatments for rare cancers in both humans and dogs.
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), developed the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium, to understand why people and their pets get sick.
The study used saliva, blood and tumor samples of dogs volunteered by private pet owners for testing in hopes that by studying canine cancer, oncologists can determine the cause of human cancers.
“Rare diseases in humans also show up in dogs. By studying the DNA of canines, we expect to more quickly discover the genomic causes of disease and more quickly find ways to better treat dogs, and people,” said Dr. Mark Neff, director of the new TGen-VARI Program for Canine Health and Performance.
The testing will be animal-safe, and is approved by the American Kennel Club and Morris Animal Foundation. Funding will be supported by private donors, and by a $4.3 million dollar federal stimulus grant.
Cancer is the cause of death for nearly 50 percent of all dogs older than 10-years-old.
“We’re proud to be part of such an innovative approach that fully supports our mission of providing total lifetime care for pets, and one that will offer hope to people and dogs who are suffering from these illnesses,” said Phil Francis, executive chairman of PetSmart.
(foxnews.com)
April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress has always been around but it is somehow different than it was 50 or 100 years ago. Life moves at a faster pace. Adults and children are more aware. Many diseases are linked to “stress” and stress has been shown to shorten life expectancy.
So what about our pets? Do pets get stressed out, too? The short answer is yes. Stress affects pets, too.
Some pets are more stressed out than others – sort of like people. Different pets have different stress levels and, like us, they all handle stress in different ways. You can put two people in a similar situation – say a fender bender – the accident may send one of them over the edge while the other takes it as just another bump in the road.
Dogs are like that, too. Some dogs are just innately “wound up” and very vulnerable to stress. Some are very in tune with their people. For these pets, our stress also stresses them out. Our pets pick up on our emotions and react to the chaos in our lives. When we’re tense, they’re tense.
So, how can we help our pets “distress”? Interestingly, research shows that some music can actually soothe pets (just like music soothes people). Studies prove that music helps relax our pets and researchers have even pinpointed some very specific characteristics in the music that work best.
Some pet owners feel guilty about leaving their dog home alone so they leave the TV or radio on to keep the dog company. But studies show that this actually does more harm than good. Leaving the TV or radio on will certainly create “noise,” but it won’t necessarily create a relaxed environment for your dog. It can actually CREATE stress for our pets due to the drastic changes in programming content, volume level and the random mix of musical styles.
Dogs and cats prefer classical music. Cats tend to relax in front of the speakers when classical music is playing. Dogs will actually bark less – especially when they listen to the music of Bach. Classical harp music has been shown to help alleviate stress and heal sickness in cats, dogs, chimpanzees and other animals.
In recent pet anxiety studies, house pets responded favorably to classical music under stress-inducing situations, often slipping into a very serene and peaceful state of mind after only a few minutes of listening. Certain instruments and sounds were more effective than others. For the music to actually calm our pets, it must create a consistently smooth, soothing dynamic from start to finish. That means there should be no abrupt changes in tempo, volume or rhythm. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case with radio broadcasts or most “off-the-shelf” classical music CDs. So find yourself a soothing CD, and see what it can do for your stressed pet. On a final note, I’ve heard of one pet owner whose dog suffered from carsickness and anxiety on long road trips found that playing a CD in the car helped her dog to relax.
(petplace.com)
Pet Astrology may sound like a very weird concept but there are many who believe in this concept. Some of them are of the view that the time and the date of birth make a significant effect on the behavior of the pet. Their mood and nature have unique characteristics which is different from the others. Therefore each zodiac sign has some features that determine the behavior of the pet.
1. Aries – Pets that fall into this category are always active and touchy. They respond to the environmental changes in a positive way. Also they are oversensitive and soft hearted.
2. Taurus – These pets are very faithful and they can go to any limit to defend either there mates or the family members. In short they are family oriented pets. Once they get into fight they don’t come out before a result is reached.
3. Gemini – As these pets are usually very intelligent therefore it is easy to train them. They are quick learners and also want to get lots of attraction from the people. They enjoy the company of the people whom they know and admire.
4. Cancer – They are too sensitive and gentle. They don’t get attached easily to anybody but if they do so then it is long life attachment.
5. Leo – Leo pets love to be free and self dependent. It is a bit difficult task to train them as they don’t want to learn or become leaders. Therefore they have a lazy attitude over everything.
6. Virgo – They prove to be good companion and have large number of amazing features.
7. Libra – They have a cool attitude and so can easily adjust themselves in any environment. So they make a good family atmosphere where everybody loves them. As they are lazy they tend to put up weight.
8. Scorpio – Scorpio pets are selfish but at the same time they are loyal also.
9. Sagittarius – Because of their wonderful nature they are loved by all. They are intelligent and also fun loving. As they are quite active so it may become a problem if people are not used to that.
10. Capricorn – They have tender hearts and always remain as they are even also when they grow old.
11. Aquarius – It may sometimes become very hard to handle them.
12. Pisces – These pets can very well read the minds of their masters. They have the ability to understand the moods of people. They have a calm nature so is the most suitable pet for a family.
Please leave a comment and let me know if this fits your pet. It would be fun to hear.
(reposted from arcamax.com)
by Lisa on March 26, 2010
(The above picture is of STELLA, who is available at the Baldwin Park, CA shelter)
You know the Saying….Adopt, Don’t SHOP! It may be cliche’ but it is oh so true. Below are 5 reasons from the Humane Society of the United States as to why you should adopt!
1. You’ll save a life
Sadly, between 3 and 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the United States simply because too many people give up their pets and too few people adopt from shelters. Because there is limited space at shelters, staff members sometimes need to make very hard decisions to euthanize animals who haven’t been adopted.
The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. By adopting from a private humane society or animal shelter, breed rescue group, or the local animal control agency, you’ll help save the lives of two animals—the pet you adopt and a homeless animal somewhere who can be rescued because of space you helped free up.
2. You’ll get a healthy pet
Animal shelters are brimming with happy, healthy animals just waiting for someone to take them home. Most shelters examine and give vaccinations to animals when they arrive, and many spay or neuter them before being adopted. In addition to medical care, more and more shelters also screen animals for specific temperaments and behaviors to make sure each family finds the right pet for its lifestyle.
It is a common misconception that animals end up in shelters because they’ve been abused or done something “wrong”. In fact, most animals are given to shelters because of “people reasons,” not because of anything they’ve done. Things like a divorce, a move, lack of time or financial constraints are among the most common reasons why pets lose their homes.
3. You’ll save money
Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is much less expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through other sources. In addition, animals from many shelters are already spayed or neutered and vaccinated, which makes the shelter’s fee a real bargain.
4. You’ll feel better
Pets have a way of putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Not only do animals give you unconditional love, but they have been shown to be psychologically, emotionally, and physically beneficial. Caring for a companion animal can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment and lessen feelings of loneliness and isolation in all age groups.
Pets can help your physical health as well—just spending time with an animal can help lower a person’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and dog walking, pet grooming, and even petting provide increased physical activity that can help strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and slow the loss of bone tissue. Put simply, pets aren’t just good friends, they’re also good medicine and can improve a person’s well-being in many ways.
5.You won’t be supporting puppy mills and pet stores
Puppy mills are “factory style” dog-breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Most dogs raised in puppy mills are housed in shockingly poor conditions with improper medical care, and the parents of the puppies are kept in cages to be bred over and over for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family. And after they’re no longer profitable, breeding dogs are simply discarded—either killed, abandoned or sold at auction.
Puppy mill puppies are sold to unsuspecting consumers in pet stores, over the Internet and through newspaper classified advertisements to whoever is willing to pay for them.
by Lisa on March 24, 2010
On April 30, the Postal Service will issue a 44–cent, Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamp series. With the 10 stamp designs — five cats and five dogs — the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise awareness of the need to adopt shelter pets.
The pets depicted on the stamps were photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce near her home in New Milford, Connecticut. All had been homeless at one time; all but one had been adopted when they were photographed. The stamps were designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, DC. In celebration of the new Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps, the Postal Service, together with Ellen DeGeneres and her dog food company, Halo: Purely for Pets, will be donating a million meals to animal shelters around the country.
Here are some more descriptions on the dogs…
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Teddy, a wired-haired Jack Russell terrier: The owners of Teddy’s mother were surprised when she gave birth to another litter. They couldn’t afford to raise more puppies, so they gave Teddy and his siblings to a shelter. Today, Teddy lives with a loving family, their other Jack Russell, and a cat.
Trevor, a yellow Lab: Trevor and his litter mates were found abandoned at 8-10 weeks of age at a new home construction site. They were rescued by Labrador Retriever Rescue of CT, Inc. Trevor was adopted by a couple who are a perfect match for his outgoing personality.
Buddy, a golden retriever: Buddy is a pure-bred golden who was purchased from a pet store. At only eight months old, he had such bad hips that his family gave him to a shelter. Now, Buddy is flourishing with his family who have improved his health through regular exercise and a good diet.
Bindu Su, an Australian shepherd: Bindi Su’s mother was handed over to a rescue group when her owners found out she was expecting. Bindu Su was adopted at eight weeks old. Now she competes in agility events and visits a local nursing home weekly.
Jake, a Boston Terrier: Purchased at a pet shop on Thanksgiving when he was eight weeks old, Jake’s original family quickly realized that they couldn’t take care of him. The pet shop had a no-return policy, so Jake was turned over to a shelter.
(info from dogtime.com)
by Lisa on March 16, 2010
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This is Scruffy. Here is his story. My co-worker Mark had been looking for a dog. He knew he wanted a smaller dog, and sent out some applications online for a rescue. He did not hear anything back. In between, I kept looking online for dogs for him. I saw Scruffy at Winnebago County Animal Services and showed his picture to Mark. I told him “You just HAVE to go see him today! It’s a holiday weekend and that is the lonliest time for dogs. Look how cute he is”, etc. etc. Well, Mark ready to be a dog parent left at lunch to check him out. 45 minutes later he came back to work with Scruffy. This poor dog had matted hair, his nose was messed up. He had no hair left on his ears. The story was that he lived with another big dog and a cat, but they couldn’t keep him. To us, he looked like he’d been left outside.
Mark and I cut all of his matting off his body, and Scruffy was so good through it all. I think he knew he was being saved. Mark took him to get groomed, vet checked, all the things a good pet parent should do. He came to work every day with him, and got to run around. Here is a picture of Scruffy 6 months later.
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Now Scruffy has a beautiful coat. He has gained weight, his nose is better and he has hair all around his ears again. He loves his dad and mom and is spoiled and happy. He's a new dog and loves the people that saved him. He still has some anxiety issues, is wary of most strangers, but for the most part he is a happy boy, who could have been left in the shelter. This is what Donations from SaveAPett do, they go to places like shelters and rescues and small animal organizations so that these animals may be saved. This is just one saved dog story....there are many more out there. Please visit your local shelter or rescue and find your own "Scruffy" today.
by Lisa on March 10, 2010
Dog massages? Sure, why not?
Massage is thought to be beneficial to dogs and may increase flexibility, encourage a better sense of wellness and calmness, reduce pain and increase circulation.
A properly performed massage can help release pent up stress and negative energy, resulting in a calm and more peaceful pet.
The sensation of simple touch of the fur (skin) and the manipulation of muscles has been shown to enhance the human animal bond, and sometimes even establish it. For the inactive and older pet, as well for the young or working pet, the owner can provide a gentle comforting touch. This helps provide security and calmness and will aid in relieving stress. The benefits from massage are many:
Increased flexibility
A general sense of wellness
Reduction of pain
Increased circulation
Calmness
Massage should always be a calming and gentle activity. Here are some tips to get you started:
Before you begin, make sure your dog is in a comfortable and quiet place. A table, the floor or even the couch are good places. The area should be padded and clean, and have plenty of fresh water available. This will allow the pet to receive the most benefit from the massage.
The most important part of a massage is relaxation. Soft music or soothing sounds will quiet many pets. We have good results with the Music My Pet CD.
Do not force your pet to submit to a massage if he really isn’t interested. As with anything else, there may be times when massage does not help.
A couple of basic techniques that you can use at home include effleurage and passive touch. These are applied only three times during each session.
Effleurage – Effleurage is a gentle long stroke, which helps to warm the tissue. The amount of pressure applied to the animal is about 5 grams to a pound. This is a very, very light touch. One hand is on the pet at all times, while the other hand slowly slides down over the face, head, body, tail and outside of the legs. Make sure to go in the direction of the hair growth. Next, gently stroke up the inside of the legs, against the hair growth. With hand-over-hand effleurage one hand starts a stroke as the other hand ends a stroke. This leaves one hand connected to the animal at all times. Centripetal effleurage is a circle motion toward the heart. Be careful not to pull the hair.
Passive Touch – When passive touch is applied it is done with no pressure at all. Your hand is held on a muscle group only. A hand is held on the head, shoulder, along the side or the thigh and hip. This is done for a few moments. It will produce calmness, and help to relieve some pain. Your pet will be comforted by this weightless touch. Passive touch can be done anytime, while watching television or while out on a walk.
Another easy technique is using a massage tool like the Rubby Buddy. The Rubby Buddy is a massage tool that allows you to spend time with your dog and give him a massage that increases his circulation and makes him feel good! It makes giving a massage easy and fun. One of our staff veterinarians, Karin Szust, tested it on her dogs and they LOVED it.
Be sure not to touch any open wounds, lumps or injured areas!
(repost from petplace.com)
Bubba Davis..gone but never to be forgotten!
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet can be difficult. Many of those who have experienced the death of a pet compare it to losing a family member. Animals provide emotional support, companionship, and unconditional love to their owners, so when they pass away, feelings of sorrow and expressions of grief are normal and should be expected.
Accept your feelingsPeople often feel that the death of a pet is somehow insignificant or less important than the death of a loved one. Comments such as, “Oh, he just lost his dog” are common. When coping with a pet’s death, however, you must acknowledge the deep grief and profound sense off loss that you feel. Coming home to a quiet house or seeing a pet’s empty bed can trigger feelings of sadness. Do not be afraid to accept and express these negative emotions even when others many see them as trivial.
Help children cope
The death of a pet can be a traumatic experience for children, and long bouts of illness or euthanasia can be even harder for kids to understand. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends having a memorial service to allow children to honor and remember the pet: “Sitting down with the family and sharing memories of your pet can make your children sad – but it can make them laugh, too, and will help your child understand that everyone is feeling the loss as well.”
Acknowledge that the grief may linger
Many people expect that the mourning process for a pet’s death will be relatively short. Many times, however, the grief tends to linger for months or even years. Mark Ingram, a military service member who lost his dog in 2005, says, “I never really got over Harley’s death. I got used to it and learned to deal with it, but it hasn’t gone away. I think about him all the time.”
Expect behavior changes in other pets
Surviving pets may display behavior changes or even refuse to eat or drink when a companion dies. Moira Anderson Allen, author of “Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet” and former editor of “Dog Fancy” magazine notes, “You may need to give your surviving pets a lot of extra attention. If you are going to introduce a new pet, your surviving pets may not accept the newcomer right away.”
Don’t get a new pet too soon
Allowing a sufficient grief period to adjust to the loss of a pet is important. Many people rush into getting a new pet in an attempt to fill the void. They often end up comparing the new pet to the deceased one, however, and are unable to form fresh bonds and appreciate the new pet in its own right. Veterinarian Jeff Feinman says, “Some pet owners find great comfort in acquiring a new pet soon after the loss of another. Others, however, become angry at the suggestion of another pet.”
Once you have adjusted to the loss of your pet and you are ready to move forward, take your time selecting a new companion. Remember that this is not a replacement, but a new friend who needs a loving home, and you’re sure to have years of happiness together.
(reposted from www.pawnation.com)
