- Listen to the quiet..Ranking for signal to noise ratio http://t.co/GN7JmQea
- These are all GREAT! 7 Of The Most Shared And Innovative Marketing Youtube Videos From 2012 http://t.co/DdQah0GT via @zite
- New Blog Post: Does Your Cat or Dog Need a New (and Unique!) Companion? Check This Out! http://t.co/ZwJEWWfB
- Yummy food comes with a price..Nearly All Restaurant Entrees Exceed USDA Nutrition Recommendations http://t.co/voUkpa7x via @zite
- If you buy large bags of pet food, pour the food into a storage bin, then throw the bag away, take a picture of... http://t.co/85glCiz6
Who’s More Obedient – You or Your Pet?
Jessie, the well-trained, well-mannered dog: Let’s get down to brass tacks here. Be honest. Are you a responsible pet owner? Sure, you love, adore, feed, and take care of your pet, but how responsible are you…really? My Yorkie-Poo buddy, Bolt, has informed me how much he enjoys his daily walks with his human, but he becomes quite disgusted when he sees other folks out with their dogs on walks, and when the dogs need to “take care of business,” the humans just let it flow and walk on. Wait a minute! Aren’t you supposed to clean that stuff up? We all want to enjoy the walking trails! Besides, I have delicate paws. To step in that filth would ruin my perfectly pedicured nails.
Owning a pet is a huge commitment, and not one to be taken lightly. Sure, when Bolt’s family brought him home for the first time, all three of the young boys in the home “promised” to take extra special care of him. Guess who feeds him, takes him on walks, and makes sure all of his needs are met all of the time? You got it…those two bigger people walking around the house. But they don’t mind. As far as Bolt can tell, they really do care about him because he has witnessed them doing the following, and then some:
*They make sure his food and water bowls are full and at the ready, although they do not over feed him. (That nice lady in the house, however, does sneak him a treat or two when no one else is looking!)
*They groom him regularly. He likes to look good for the ladies in the neighborhood.
*They never leave him outside unattended or in extreme temperature conditions.
*They keep up with regular visits to the vet and make sure that Bolt has all of his vaccinations up-to-date.
*They take him on regular walks to keep him fit and healthy. Besides, there are some pretty foxy ladies on the walking trails these days!
*They keep anything harmful or poisonous out of his reach.
*Bolt has also been neutered. Don’t worry – he’s still a “real man!”
*They give him all the love and attention he can handle…and then some! Bolt has admitted that he does this cute little thing where he lays on the floor with his head on his paws and his eyes looking up at his humans so adoringly. He does it just to get extra attention…and he also knows it works like a charm when that lady is around and the fridge is open! He’s no dummy!
Are YOU a responsible pet owner? Bolt sure hopes so, as he thinks every dog and cat should be living the high life like he is! He does not vacation in the Mediterranean or enjoy skiing vacations in the mountains, but he claims he is far more blessed from the love and affection he receives every day. However, he does want to let it be known for the record that he would not object to a Caribbean cruise some day! He has heard the food is fabulous and available 24/7!
Thanks to dogsaver.org for these valuable tips…and to Bolt who was willing to be open and honest with us!
Mom, Can We Get a Betta?
Yesterday I was talking with a friend and she mentioned her two young children were asking if they could have a dog or cat. She is wise enough not to give in to the pressure, knowing the financial aspects and responsibility adding a dog or cat to the family brings. Most kids do enjoy having pets but don’t know the responsibilities associated with pet ownership.
As a compromise, there are some pets that don’t have large associated expenses and work well for teaching children how to be responsible pet owners. One example is a betta fish. The male betta is quite colorful and fun to watch. Since they are actually a Siamese Fighting Fish, care should be taken if you are thinking of purchasing more than one fish to ensure they will be compatible. Bettas don’t require a lot of special equipment or a large amount of care, but they do require regular feeding and cleaning.
Some birds, like parakeets or budgies, are a little more interactive and can also be good first pets for children. Regular feeding and cage cleaning will be required here.
Guinea pigs are another good choice as a first pet for kids. They tend to have easygoing personalities unless they are not handled correctly. If you do opt for a guinea pig, be sure to educate your child on the correct way to hold him. Regular feeding (care should be taken to ensure guinea pigs are fed the appropriate foods) and cage cleaning will be required to keep a guinea pig happy and healthy.
These are just some of the options available to teach your child the responsibilities of pet ownership. Do your research prior to deciding on your child’s first pet to ensure you have the appropriate food and housing. Make a list of the tasks that will be necessary for the new pet and track your child’s follow through before taking steps to bring other pets into your home.
Why People Relinquish Pets
According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, behavorial issues are not the main reason pet owners relinquish pets to an animal shelter. Following are the top ten reasons pet owners in the US relinquish cats and dogs:
Cats
- Too many cats in house
- Allergies
- Moving
- Cost of pet maintenance
- Landlord issues
- No homes for littermates
- House soiling
- Personal problems
- Inadequate facilities
- Doesn’t get along with other pets
Dogs
- Moving
- Landlord issues
- Cost of pet maintenance
- No time for pet
- Inadequate facilities
- Too many pets in home
- Pet illness
- Personal problems
- Biting
- No home for littermates
Since landlord issues appear on both lists, be sure to check on any limits (size/weight of pets, type of pets, number of pets allowed) that might apply before adopting. Most apartment complexes also have a deposit and additional monthly fee per pet.
Another item on both lists is cost of pet ownership. Adopting a pet is a commitment of time and money. The ASPCA estimates the first year costs of dog ownership range from $810 for a small dog to $1,580 for a large dog. First year costs for cat ownership average $715.
After the first year, dog ownership costs range from $420-$780 annually. Cat ownership costs average $575 annually.
Pet ownership can be very rewarding, but having to relinquish that pet can traumatize both owner and pet. Although circumstances may change after you adopt, doing your homework before adopting a pet can prevent problems down the road.
Information for this post from Pets Gone Green by Eve Adamson and Pets and the Planet by Carol Frischmann
Dog vs. Cat – Which is better?
Author Bradley Trevor Greive upset more than a handful of happy cat owners upon the release of his book, “Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats.” However, upon turning the pages of this book, it becomes apparent that Greive is not anti-cat. He is merely pro-dog. In fact, many of those cat owners have now come to embrace the meaning behind this book.
The book, which took six months of work and of intense observation of dogs, sets forth accounts as to why dogs simply make better pets.
Jessie, the dog, interrupts: HA! I knew it! I was right all along!
Bo, the distinguished cat, interjects: It is only one book. I am sure someone is now feverishly penning a title to the contrary!
Along with Greive’s prose, the works of famed photographer Rachel Hale were used to present a collection of complementary images. The working relationship between these two was nothing short of fantastic and supported the grand evidence of how modern technology works wonders. Greive was at home in Tasmania recovering from shoulder and knee surgery while…
Bo: What? Did some angry cat rip him to shreds?
Jessie: Be quiet…I want to hear more!
….as we were saying…while Hale got married in New Zealand. She worked from illustrations to build sets and then took various photos to accompany Greive’s written portions.
Despite Greive’s obvious preference for the canine kind, he does point out a few down sides to such pet ownership: the intense time needed to care for them and the money it takes to feed them are just two examples.
Greive will admit that cats are attractive to look at, and, “when possessed by their own frisky demons, hilarious to observe.”
Jessie: Hey, Bo…you demonic thing you! What’s up?
Bo merely glares devilishly at Jessie.
Despite the humorous tone in this book, Greive does note that before one decides to own a dog, he or she has to take into consideration the responsibilities that come along with that role.
Greive continues to live with his three wonderful dogs and has no plans to introduce a cat to the clan anytime soon. Nor does he foresee a feline rebuttal in the works, at least from his pen!
Bo quickly runs off and turns on the computer to open a Word document! Let the games begin!
For more about Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats, go to http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/products/?isbn=0740785133
The experts at My Joy of Living Pet Sitting in Kansas City had the unique opportunity to visit with Mr. Greive when he was in town recently. My Joy of Living will refrain from providing its preference between cats and dogs. These pet sitting experts tend to both wonderful creatures!
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