You are viewing entries tagged 'care'.
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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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Well, we can add chewing gum to the multitude of things we need to keep away from our dogs. Besides being a nuisance when he doesn’t keep his mouth closed, chewing gum can be also be harmful to your dog. When my eighty pound AmStaff downed a pack the other day, I jumped online to www.justanswer.com to find out the consequences. Turns out sugared gum isn’t too bad and may just cause a bad tummy ache. However, the Xylitol in sugarless gum can be toxic, and can cause liver failure.
So, if there’s a trail of gum wrappers down the hall or your dog is unexpectedly blowing bubbles, get him to a vet right away. |
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When you don’t have the ability to have a dog in your life full time, there are options out there: pet sitting for family and friends, even volunteering at shelters or clinics that care for homeless pets. Ben Stein is right. A good dog can make most problems seem not so bad.
Can’t get one? Then borrow a dog from a friend or volunteer your time to help with homeless pets. You’ll be glad you did. |
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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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Protect your dog from injuries to the pads of the paws. Warmer temperatures are just around the corner, and it is important to remember that blacktop pavement absorbs heat, and can get a lot hotter than air temperature. One way to decide if your dog needs to wear booties is to remove your shoe and place your own foot on the pavement. If the pavement is too hot for you to walk on, it is too hot for your dog. Service dogs and other working dogs are at particular risk for burn injuries. |
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Whether a friend or professional is looking after your pet when you’re away, be prepared in the event that THEY have an emergency and cannot fulfill their obligation. Make sure you have a backup plan that includes the telephone number of a friend or relative who can take over. |
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It’s logical that you would give a pet sitter a written list with your cell phone number and the vet’s number, but you also need to leave your pet’s name, age, and breed because in an emergency the pet sitter might panic. A medical history with any notable issues should also be on the emergency sheet. |
