Officials are pleading with residents in parts of the Carolinas and Virginia to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Florence, but certain city dwellers aren't able to leave Namely, the lions, tigers and giraffes at the Virginia Zoo, and the more than 100 dogs and cats at the SPCA shelter in northeastern North Carolina. "I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best," said Judy Anthony, the manager of the SPCA shelter, which is in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. To read more on this story, click here: Lions,Tigers and Shelter Pets Will Ride Out Hurricane Florence in Place
It's inevitable that you will need to leave your pup home alone. Some pets handle this well while others react with anxiety, fear and plain-old boredom when they have been left behind. What’s a loving pet owner to do? Veterinarian Katherine Miller of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers her advice. Understand doggy nature Dogs are a social species and evolve with packs. They bond very strongly with their human companions. The more strongly bonded the dog is and the less experience he or she has being left alone, the more stressful it will be. “Leaving domestic dogs home alone all day is a really modern situation,” says Dr. Miller. “Typically, they had things to do, because they were following people around or working on farms. They aren’t evolved to deal with what to do with themselves when they’re alone.” Teach pets to entertain themselves Too often, people shower new pets with attention, giving the pup days on end of constant interaction. When the daily grind goes back to normal, the dog is left wondering where his playmate went. When settling a new pet into your home, it’s essential to get the animal acclimated to being alone for increasingly longer time periods so they can to cope with the separation. Give the pet toys to play with, especially ones to chew on, so he or she is less likely to nibble your favorite slippers. Crate-train to start It’s important that your pet be content in a small space such as a crate, just in case you need to confine the animal for their own safety. “You want your dog to earn house privileges and show he can be trusted,” says Dr. Miller. If you give the dog the run of the house right away, he or she is much more likely to get into things. Wear the pet out If the pet is going to be alone all day with little stimulation, make sure it has plenty of stimulation before you go. Go for a long walk or jog or play outside so the pet is thoroughly pooped — even if it means an early morning for you. “If he’s not well exercised, he’ll get bored and get into stuff,” says Dr. Miller. Stick to the routine Dr. Miller’s dog has had the same schedule since puppy hood and they have never had a problem. “In the mornings, we go out for a run, then she’s confined in the kitchen where she gets a toy that has a treat inside,” Dr. Miller says. “Later, the dog walker comes and she gets let out, and treated to another toy that I’ve filled with wet food and frozen.” Bottom line: Being consistent is key. Follow the 8-hour rule Dr. Miller recommends not leaving your pet alone for more than eight hours. You may need someone come let the dog out in the middle of the day or figure out another way for your pup to have a break. “It’s more humane for a dog’s well-being, not to mention their bladder and bowels,” she says. And when you’re home for the evening, set aside some time for your pooch to exercise and socialize so they aren't pining for attention while you’re away.
The big guide for small pet lovers and everyone who loves little nose twitches, big floppy ears, or soft furry feet. Small pet fun facts, a printable daily care checklist, and everything you need to know about how to love and care for: Rabbits, Guinea pig, Gerbil, Hamster, Rat, Mice Specialty Pets, like Chinchillas, Hedgehogs, and Ferrets To get your copy, click here:Big Guide For Small Pet Lovers
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No matter how well trained your dog is, and how diligently you keep to your potty-break schedule, sometimes pee happens. Whether on the carpet, hardwood floor, or anywhere else, prompt action is the best way to make sure that dog urine won’t leave a lasting impression . . . and smell. And even if you come upon a dried urine puddle or stain, there are still things you can do to remove the smell. New Urine Stains on Carpet or Fabric Your dog just peed on the carpet. Now what? Luckily, you probably have the tools for the job right at hand. Place a thick layer of paper towels over the wet spot, and, if possible, under it, as well. Cover that with a thick layer of newspaper. You can stand on the paper for a few minutes to help it absorb the urine more quickly, or just leave the paper until most of the urine is soaked up. Then remove all the paper and rinse the area with cool water. Blot up all the water, either with towels or a wet vac. Fair warning: the soggy towels are probably going to stink, which is a good thing, because it means you’re drawing out as much of the urine and its odor as possible. To read more on this story, click here:Uh Oh! My Dog Peed on the Floor! How to Get Rid of the Smell of Dog Urine
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I did not write this post, it is a “Reprinted from StubbyDog.org” . About: StubbyDog StubbyDog is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), focused on changing public perceptions of pit bulls. Our vision is a world where every pit bull has the right to a good life. Our mission is to help people rediscover pit bulls as lifelong friends.
Pit bulls “suddenly snap.” It’s true. One minute they are lying upside down on the couch snoring, and the next minute they hear the word “walk,” or “rawhide,” or “ball,” and they suddenly snap. From 0 to Mach 90, they are doing zoomies down the hall, tongue flapping, tail tucked for turning aerodynamics. Jump in front of this joyful train, and you could indeed accidentally get knocked down! (photo by Donna J. Griffin)
Pit bulls’ jaws are unlike any other dog. Again, it’s true. Bullies have a singular type of jaw that enables smiling unlike any other! The lips curl up and wrinkle, and you can’t help but laugh at that happy pink tongue bobbing with each big breath, those shiny white teeth and those big twinkling eyes. (photo by Ronny A. Roberts)
Pit bulls are tenacious fighters. Ever try and fight a pack of pit bulls for the couch? The bed? A soft, cozy blanket? It’s true, they love a comfortable place to sleep and would rather lie right on top of you or each other than be alone on the cold, hard floor. (photo by Janet Podczerwinski)
Children beware. If your child has a phobia for canine kisses, then he or she definitely better stay clear of pit bulls. Pit bulls have a special radar just for children. Smell one, and they start to lick their lips. They can’t wait to find that little kid and cover them in kisses. (photo by Colleen S Moore)
Pit bulls are the ultimate guard dogs. Maybe all robbers need is a little love? If this is the case, then yes, pit bulls make excellent guard dogs. Most will be happy to greet robbers with their wiggly butts. They may even show them where the couch (and TV) is, where the coziest bedroom (and jewelry) is, and invite them to stay and cuddle awhile. (photo by Cristina Falcon Seymour) Those of us who really know pit bulls, know that they’re just dogs (OK, maybe they’re especially cuddly and goofy dogs). Now let the world know the truth about pit bulls!
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Do you know what to do when your pet has died at home? A recent incident that happened in the Dale City area of Northern Virginia has prompted me to share this story with you. In February, 2011, I allowed my little Shih Tzu, Domino, who had cancer to die at home. I was with him when he crossed over. I had already made preparations because I knew his time was near. The animal hospital a few miles away had told me that if he passed and they were closed (they close at 6:00 p.m.) that I should take him to a 24 hour animal hospital immediately. Domino passed about 4:00 p.m. My husband wrapped him in a blanket and we took him to the animal hospital, where they immediately took him to the back to prepare him. I had already planned for cremation. I received his urn a week later, and his urn now sits in my curio cabinet next to his sister, Sugar. Cremation for a pet can be very expensive, especially if the pet is big. Domino was down to about 8 pounds when he passed. His sister, Sugar crossed over in 2008, she was about 12 pounds so of course, it cost me more to have her cremated. Everyone can not afford pet cremations…and some don’t choose to do so. Some bury them in their backyards. In the case in Northern Virginia, the pet owner tried to cremate his dog himself in his yard and set his house on fire. Firefighters say Charles Harris was trying to cremate his 11-year-old Rottweiler in the backyard of his Dale City home. Authorities said he used gasoline to get the fire going, but it quickly spread to his home. The Associate Press reports that the man tried to get several animal shelters to help him dispose of his dog’s body, but they all told him the Rottweiler was too large. Firefighters have not said how extensively the home was damaged. No injuries were reported. If you have this situation, please do not try and cremate your pet in your yard. Consider contacting your Vet, animal control, animal hospitals and animal shelters. Please have this conversation with your Vet while your pet is alive to get an idea of what you should do when the time comes, especially if you have big pets. Also, for more information on what to do, click here:What to Do if Your Dog Dies at HomeorWhat do you do if your cat dies in your house? What do you do with the body?
We all love to dye out hair, but for our beloved four-pawed friends it’s really not such a good idea at all, the US animal group is warning about the dangers of pet owners using human hair dye on their dogs… The life-threatening injuries it created on this poor little doggie were more than horrendous, see for yourself… Based in Florida the Pinellas County Animal Services (PCAS) shared on its Facebook the disturbing photos and the story behind what happened to this sweet white Maltese mix doggie. Please be warned that the images are graphic and to see what this hair dye has done to this poor sweet doggie will make you feel truly awful, but not as much as Violet! To read more on this story, click here: Owner Dyed Dogs Hair, It Turned Out Much Worse – He Almost Died!
