You are viewing all 'Adoption & Rescue entries.
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Some people bemoan the fact we’ve started to bring stray dogs from Puerto Rico to the U.S. to find homes. Their argument is that we have enough trouble here. My feeling is a homeless animal is a homeless animal and that, especially since Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S., it’s our obligation to try to help them.
There are over 50,000 stray dogs in Puerto Rico and one group that is doing something practical about it is Save a Sato. “Sato” is a slang term for street dogs. Sato dogs come in many colors and mixes but tend to be smallish and make good family pets. Sato hooks up people who are going to Puerto Rico with dogs that need to be flown back. So the next time you plan a trip to a beach, consider Puerto Rico. You could save a dog’s life and have a great time!
Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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Most likely your dog will enjoy wearing clothes if they are cut comfortably, don’t make him hot, and if everybody tells him how great he looks. My dog Raja would wear a satin Zoro costume if he thought we wanted him to.
But mercy, mercy! You wouldn’t go out looking badly put together. Take a look at your dog’s shape and consider disposition and dress according to physique and character. That way, people on the street won’t mutter, “What did Mommy do to you!?” as they pass, but will exclaim, “Don’t you look adorable, you gorgeous thing!”
Helen Fazio and her dog Raja are world travelers. Click here to visit their blog, click here to follow them on Twitter. |
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Your dog can’t help it. He’s genetically programmed to chew stuff. So to spare your shoes the slobber, you do what any self-respecting pet parent can – you serve up the rawhide bones and chews. And just like that, hours pass and your dog happily munches away, cleaning his teeth while he’s at it. So there you have it, rawhide rules. It would be criminal to take it away. Or would it?
Thanks to a great article by veterinarian Lorie Huston, we got a close look at the pros and cons to consider with our vets. Read on for details to share with yours, and ideas to help minimize the risks if you choose to give your dog rawhide chews and bones.
Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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If you’re considering adopting a dog, shelters and rescue groups aren’t the only places to look for one. Each year hundreds of canines being trained for jobs, such as leading the blind or sniffing out explosives, ‘flunk out’ of school and are offered for adoption.
One such place is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which breeds and trains explosive-detection dogs at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Dogs with medical issues (like allergies or hip dysplasia) are cut from the program, and offered to the public for free. Yup, you heard right. Free. But don’t get too excited. There’s a long waiting list for the 7 to 12 month old Labrador Retrievers and Lab-Viszla mixes.
Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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Some veterinary clinics also do pet rescue, which overburdens staff already tasked with caring for patients. When there isn’t a no-kill shelter in the area or the shelter is full, most vets do their best to care for and find homes for abandoned pets. Having a volunteer come in to spend time with rescue animals, especially on weekends, allows the doctor and their staff to concentrate on getting their patients well while the volunteer deals with the rescue pets. Veterinary schools and hospitals often face the same quandary and would welcome volunteers to help care for pets abandoned at their facility. You get to spend time with dogs and make a difference in the lives of homeless pets. |
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Volunteering at the local animal shelter can be a wonfurrful way to have a dog in your life when it is not possible to have a dog of your own. Shelters are almost always understaffed and having extra an extra pair of loving hands to care for the pups is always welcome. Be prepared to have your heart tugged on every day by pups needing good homes, but you’ll feel better about having given homeless dogs some love and attention while they wait for that special family to take them home. |
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Do not leave tennis balls unattended with your dog. If he or she has strong jaws and chews on the ball it can pop into the back of her throat and cut off the air supply. Also, dogs who chew on tennis balls can wear down their teeth on the tough outer fuzz. |
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Dogs who have been re-homed several times can understandably be nervous and unsettled, at least in the beginning. Any dog will be rattled and need time to settle in after having been moved to several homes with different rules and habits – with different people who give commands in their own ways. |
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If puppies are neutered young, their risk of cancer of the prostate (and of the anus) is reduced dramatically. It’s yet one more good reason to neuter your dog. |
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Don’t scold your dog for submissive peeing. It will only aggravate the situation. Don’t raise your voice or yell at the dog for any reason, because negative vibes have a tendency to make dogs more neurotic and nervous, more likely to continue peeing. Keep everything upbeat and pleasant. |
