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Pets for the Holidays: Not the Ideal Gift

By Guest Author on Monday, August 30th, 2010 | No Comments

The holidays are without a doubt the worst time of year for new pets.  Parents, children, and friends suffused with the joy of the season eagerly choose a puppy or kitten to give as a gift with visions of the overjoyed look on their loved one’s faces as they open the box and see their furry little friend.  And indeed, there is nothing better than the unconditional love and companionship that a pet can provide.  Unfortunately, most of these gift-givers neglect to consider that they are also handing over a huge responsibility, one that may last for several years.  Pets are not toys to be played with and discarded after the initial flush of newness wears off.  They are living, breathing, feeling creatures that require care.

There are immediate needs to be met, especially if the animal is still a baby.  First and foremost, they will need food, bedding, and a place to go to the bathroom.  From there, they will require a lot of attention and probably some sort of training, not to mention visits to the vet, a series of shots, and eventually, an operation to spay or neuter them.  This not only means a huge commitment of time, but it could also demand a lot of money.  For a family that is strapped for cash and short on spare time, a pet could be more of a burden than a blessing.

So what becomes of these holiday pets?  In all honesty, most will end up in shelters, the victims of anonymous drop-offs from families that either can’t or won’t keep them.  This is not only unfortunate for the pet-owner, who no doubt feels terrible about not being able to care for their new pet (there’s nothing like the gift of guilt), but also for the animal in question.  Not only will these animals spend the foreseeable future in a cage, they must undergo the trauma of being bustled from place to place, with no sense of stability, and they may face euthanasia at overcrowded and underfunded animal adoption facilities.

Now, there are certainly times when it is acceptable to give a pet as a gift.  For example, if you know that someone has been lonely and they have the time and money to care for an animal that needs a home, you may want to discuss the prospect of adding a fuzzy companion to their life.  If it’s something they’re interested in, then there is no reason you shouldn’t take them to a shelter to save the life of a newfound friend and help them to form a relationship with an animal that will be mutually beneficial to both parties.  Or if parents are keen to teach their kids the joy and responsibility of pet ownership (and are willing to pick up the slack and care for the animal if their children can’t), then a puppy or kitten may fit the bill.  However, the key in each of these situations is that the parties involved are not only informed, but are willing and able to make a commitment to love and care for a dependent animal.  Only then is it truly a gift.

Marissa Montague writes for Christmas Songs, your comprehensive resource for the best in holiday music.

How to Date When They Don’t Love Your Pets (or Vice Versa)

By Guest Author on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 | 1 Comment

You’ve been dating for awhile with mixed results.  You’ve been set up by friends, you tried online dating, heck, you even asked out the cute guy at the coffee bar.  And just when you think you’re ready to throw in the towel, you meet the guy of your dreams.  He’s devilishly handsome, sweet, romantic, and funny, to boot.  Not only that, but rather than rushing into things, he wants to take the time to get to know you before it gets serious.  Is this guy for real?  But of course, into every life a little rain must fall.  Just when you think you’re ready to take it to the next level, you bring him home only to discover that he has an aversion to pets.  Whoa!  Hold the phone!  Whether he’s scared of dogs, allergic to dander, or he just doesn’t seem to get along with your best friend, you’ve got a problem.  The real question is: how can you love someone who doesn’t love your pets?

The inability of a potential partner to get along with your furry companions can be a deal-breaker in terms of prolonging a romantic relationship.  If he can’t abide by your dogs or cats and you are unwilling to throw them to the wolves (so to speak), then you have apparently reached an impasse.  Face it: you need someone who loves pets as much as you do.  Of course, the problem could also be your pets.  Perhaps you’ve met someone who has no problem with your cat, but for some reason she gets all hissy whenever he enter your domicile.  This can be an equally frustrating situation since it not only makes your gentleman caller uncomfortable, but it’s also causing Fluffy some undue stress.  While either situation can leave you at your wits end, there is almost always a compromise that can be reached to allow you to have your cake and eat it, too.

You’ll need to start by trying to get to the root of the problem.  If your man’s fear of dogs comes from a childhood attack, see if he’s willing to undergo counseling to correct the issue, or try to set up a situation where he feels safe interacting with your dog in order to build up his comfort level.  If allergies are the culprit, he may have to seek treatment in order to go on seeing you.  If, on the other hand, he seems unwilling to take any measures to compromise and insists that it’s him or your pet, you’ll have to show him to the door.  Frankly, there’s something wrong with people who don’t like pets and you’re probably well rid of him.  As for pets that have issues with the people you bring home, it’s likely that there is training available to help them adjust to new people.  Otherwise, you will simply have to put your cat or dog in a room where they feel safe while you have your male friend over for a visit.  Over time, they will no doubt become accustomed to his presence (and a few treats administered by him in a non-threatening manner could really help to speed the process).

Jennifer Kardish is a writer for Pick Up Artist where you can find great tips and advice on dating.

How to Pet-Proof Your Home

By Guest Author on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 | 1 Comment

The decision to adopt a pet is not one that is made lightly.  You must first consider what type of animal you are keen to bring home, then decide on breed, age, approximate size, gender, how many pets you plan to adopt, and so on.  Younger pets will require a lot of time and attention whereas older ones may be content to nap all day while you’re at work.  Male pets may spray while females are often prone to fighting.  And besides all the hallmarks attendant to particular breeds, each animal is going to have its own unique personality to contend with, which may affect not only how they fit into your household, but also their ultimate trainability.  It can be a lot to think about, but do not get so caught up in considering which pet to take home that you neglect to prepare your house to receive the animal that is destined to be a long-term companion.  Here are a few ways to make sure that transitioning a new animal into your home goes as smoothly as possible for all involved.

  1. Get on their level.  Much like preparing a home for the imminent arrival of a baby, you must be aware of what is on the level of a much shorter individual.  Like babies, pets are curious and they will almost certainly check out everything within reach.  For that reason, you should remove (or make inaccessible) anything harmful that they could potentially ingest, damage, or hurt themselves on.
  2. Secure harmful items.  Once you have identified items that could harm your pet, they must be secured.  For example, many pets can use snouts, paws, and so forth to open cabinet doors, so those that contain food, trash, cleaning products, etc. should be secured with child locks to keep your pets out.  As for those items that your pets might be tempted to chew or mark as their territory (anything from books to shoes to your Playstation), you may want to move those off the floor and higher up or put them in a cabinet or closet.
  3. Consider bumpers.  While pets tend to be less wobbly than infants, you may still want to think about whether or not your furniture could cause them undue harm.  Coffee tables with sharp edges and spindly chairs or side tables are almost begging to be bumped into and knocked over, ultimately bruising your new best friend.  So if you’re not willing to replace them with pet-friendly alternatives, at least add bumpers or secure them in some fashion to protect the hide of your furry friend.
  4. Don’t forget the outlets.  Outlet covers are an absolute necessity!  Curious pets don’t know any better than to stick paws, noses, and tongues into inviting holes in the wall, so spend a few bucks on plastic covers to pop in so you don’t end up with any crispy critters.
  5. Work from the ground up.  Now that you’ve done all you can to make the ground level safe for your new pet, let your eyes drift upward.  Plenty of animals will climb or simply bump into furniture, so try to determine if they might knock over books, knick-knacks, or electronics in the course of their exploration or play.  Smaller items can be moved away from edges while heavier electronics can be secured to the wall with straps.  This will guarantee that your fluffy friend avoids death from above.

Kathleen Macky is a writer for Tampa Homes 24-7, which specializes in Riverview Real Estate.

Pet Hooligans Interview: Jana from Dawg Business

By Alison Wood on Friday, August 13th, 2010 | No Comments

For today’s Pet Hooligan’s interview please welcome Jana from Dawg Business.


Firstly, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about where you are based, for example in which country and part of that country?
My name is Jana Rade and I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.


Please tell us about your pet website and how it came about?
As a graphic designer by profession I never aspired to learning about dog health issues until I met Jasmine. Unfortunately, I have received a crash course on the subject due to Jasmine’s many health problems. More importantly, some of her early issues never got diagnosed in spite of our more than frequent vet visits. I believe that a lot that happened in the last two years wouldn’t have had to were the initial issues diagnosed. That is all very disturbing to me and I started my blog in an attempt to prevent this from happening to other owners with their dogs. I came to realize that owner education is the key to healthy dogs. At the end, our dog’s health is in our hands. We are the ones that do or do not see early symptoms and do or do not pay attention to them. We are the ones that choose our vet and do or do not look for a second opinion when we feel that our vet might be missing something. We are the ones who ultimately have the power to choose the treatment. We are the ones who do or do not follow through with the treatment or prevention. The ability to make the right decisions is rooted in our knowledge.


Have you always loved animals and pets?
I always liked animals and pets, not necessarily in my own house … :-) That has all changed with the arrival of a little Rottweiler puppy who we named Jasmine. She changed my life completely.


Please tell us a little about any pets that currently live with you and if they ever get into any mischief?
We have two dogs, Jasmine, and J.D. aka Jasmine’s Dog (because that’s what he is, we got him for her). Jasmine is too smart to get into mischief, she is also too smart for our own good too, though! J.D. does get into mischief, he is quite an air-head–he’s a male! ;-)


What first interested you in setting your pet related website up?
I felt that if my blog can save one dog from suffering the way Jasmine did, her pain wouldn’t have been in vain.


How long now has the site been established?
The blog is actually quite young, I started at the end of December 2009.


How do you find your inspiration and the content that you blog about?
First I started writing about our experiences and the things Jasmine had gone through. But there is so much more to address, I don’t think I’ll ever run out of content! I publish stories of the health struggles people had with their dogs and explanation of respective conditions.


Tell us a little about your typical day and what is involved in running the website?
Well, I still have to put bread the table, we are still quite in debt from the recent vet bills. So I do have to devote good part of the day to work. The rest of the time I spend writing, reading other blogs and dog health articles, researching for mine, connecting with people on twitter and facebook. Of course the most important part of every day are dog walks!


Do you have any plans for the future in terms of expanding the website or featuring any other areas?
I don’t know if my website needs expanding, but I do plan on writing e-books. I do not plan to venture into other areas, there is so much to be covered I won’t run out of things to write about.


Finally, if people want to learn more about you and your website do you have a Facebook page or Twitter profile where they can learn more?
Yes, I am on twitter @DawgBlogger http://twitter.com/DawgBlogger; facebook http://www.facebook.com/DawgBlogger; and I also run a Dog Health Issues group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132431313454015&ref=mf

Wild Animal Domestication: Is it Ethical?

By Guest Author on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 | No Comments

If you think about it, all animals were at one time or another wild.  Pets that we bring into our homes (dogs, cats, birds, etc.) and livestock that we use for food (pigs, chickens, cattle, etc.) were free-range animals that had little or nothing to do with humans, once upon a time.  And then we began to colonize the Earth, the agrarian revolution allowed us to form permanent homes, and the practice of domesticating animals became commonplace.  Today, certain types of animals are expected to be domestic and indeed, many would not survive without the aid of humans as their natural proclivities for self-defense have been virtually bred out of the species.  But what about animals that remain wild to this day?  Although humans certainly have the means to subordinate any animals we wish, it might be more than just a bad idea; it may be completely unethical.

Now, for the layman, ethics are basically an issue of knowing what is right from what is wrong, and in the eyes of many people, might makes right.  Unfortunately, this has led to widespread caging of wild animals for our amusement.  Consider for a moment the entertainment industry.  Bears, lions, monkeys, elephants, deer, raccoons, and virtually every type of animal that we would categorize as wild has been used as a spectacle for human audiences.  While most are taken at birth and raised by humans, and are often docile for their handlers, it should come as no shock that many eventually show their true nature, which can often be harmful to humans even if is not meant as an attack.  Remember the case of Siegfried and Roy a few years back in which one of their famed white tigers bit Roy’s neck?  Experts agreed that the actions of the tiger were most likely protective in nature since the cat tried to drag Roy to safety by his neck after he fell, much as any mother tiger would do with a cub.  Unfortunately, humans do not share the thick skin of a wild cat.  This particular animal was saved from retribution by the victim, who is an advocate for wild animals in captivity, but most instances of animal “attacks” on humans result in euthanasia.

Further, it just seems wrong to take animals from their natural environment, no matter the reason.  Clearly there are instances, such as rescue situations, when to leave them to the elements would mean almost certain death.  In these cases, however, the animals are generally captured, cared for, and then released into the wild to resume their natural lives.  Those who practice animal husbandry in this capacity are often very aware of their ethical responsibilities and do everything in their power to ensure that the animals do not become domesticated.  However, if people persist in bringing wild animals into their homes, they should be aware that they are probably doing more harm than good.  They are not only putting themselves in danger, should the animal attack, they are also endangering the animal, which will probably never live a full life as it would in the wild, and may face dire consequences simply for acting on its nature.

Lisa Gables works for Discount Vouchers where you can find Comet discount vouchers.

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