No Tricks...Just Treats!

Can you smell the mischief in the air?  Its Halloween!  Even if you're all grown-up, you probably still get a happy little tingle of excitement from this haunting holiday, but our pets often find it truly scary.  All the spooky decorations, weird sound effects, and people coming to the door dressed in strange costumes can be quite overwhelming and stressful for our furry friends.  Here are a few tips on how to take some of the terror out of this freaky holiday for our pets.

 
1.  Keep Halloween happenings on the down-low:  Before the trick-or-treating starts, put your pets in a quiet room where they will be away from all the Halloween activities and can feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed.  Even if you're just having friends over for a Halloween party, keep your pets away from the festivities.  Masks and costumes change how people look and smell to a pet, so even familiar people may become frightening to them.

 

2.  Stow all the Halloween treats out of pets' reach:  Many of the yummy goodies collected on Halloween such as chocolate, gum and xylitol (a sweetener used in many foods), are hazardous to animals so you want to be sure to stash them in a secure place out of your pet's reach.  Keep these treats away from your children unless you are observing them as they may make the harmful mistake of sharing with their four-legged companions.

 

3.  Steer your pets away from dangerous decorations:  Changes to your home can make your pets, especially cats, nervous or frightened.  Never leave your pets alone with Halloween decorations.  Also, be aware of which decorations pose threats.  Some hazards are obvious, like lit candles, but here are some other dangerous decorations.  Rubber eyeballs (choking risk), glow sticks and fake blood (possible poisons), and fake cobwebs (can choke or entangle pets).

 

4.  Be cautious with pet costumes:  Did you know that about half of pet owners dress their pets in costumes for Halloween?  Although most pets are happiest wearing nothing but their birthday suits, if you do choose to dress up your pet, forgo masks, anything that covers eyes or ears, and everything that might tangle in your pet's legs.  Make sure the costume is comfortable and allows your pet to move freely.  Remove any chewable parts or objects that could come off and choke your pet.  If your pet appears uncomfortable, take the costume off right away.  Signs of discomfort may include folded down ears, eyes rolling back or looking sideways, a tucked tail and hunching over

 

5.  Protect your pets from outdoor dangers:  Bring your pets indoors before dark.  Cats are always safest inside with you, but with all the evil pranksters running about on Halloween, it’s especially important to secure all pets inside.  Opening the door repeatedly for trick-or-treaters also creates plenty of opportunities for a pet to slip outside and disappear into the night.  In case they do escape, make sure that all of your pets are wearing tags with current IDs or consider microchips for them.  

 

Now if you really want to get into the spirit of Halloween and make a PAWsitive impact at the same time, consider adopting a black cat.  Shelters are over-run with black cats year-round but especially at this time of year.  Why?  Black cats are just as playful and affectionate as any other cat and still deserve the unconditional love of a real family.  October 29th is National Cat Day, so what a PURfect time to give a beautiful black kitty cat the ultimate Halloween treat...a FURever home! 

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Are You Smarter Than A Dog Or Cat Whisperer?

Do you consider yourself or someone you know a walking dog encyclopedia?  Well, how about a little "pup quiz" to prove (or disprove) it!  Some of these questions may seem easy, but let's see what you think by the end.  Get all of them correct and consider yourself a dog’s best friend!  The answers are shown below...but DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SNEAKING A PEAK! 

 

1.  How many teeth do normal adult dogs have?
A) 24
B) 38
C) 42
D) 32

2.  Through what part of the body do dogs sweat?

A) Mouth
B) Ears
C) Nose
D) Paws

3.  True or False:  Dogs can only see in black and white.

4.  What is a dog’s most highly developed sense?
A) Taste
B) Smell
C) Sight
D) Touch

5.  A female dog delivers her pups after how many weeks?

A) 36
B) 22
C) 9
D) 16

6.  Which dog breed has a black tongue?

A) Husky
B) Labrador
C) Weimaraner
D) Chow chow

7.  The first dogs registered in the American Kennel Club belonged to what group?

A) Herding
B) Sporting
C) Working
D) Hound

8.  Which dog breed yodels instead of barks?

A) Komondor
B) Otterhound
C) Basenji
D) Basset hound

9.  True or False:  Dalmatians are born with spots.

10.  According to the American Kennel Club’s registrations, what is the most popular dog breed?

A) Golden retriever
B) Beagle
C) German Shepherd
D) Labrador

 

Answers:
1.  C) 42
2.  D) Paws
3.  False.  Dogs can see multiple colors, though not as many as humans.
4.  B) Smell
5.  C) 9 weeks
6.  D) Chow chow
7.  B) Sporting Group
8.  C) Basenji
9.  False.  Dalmatian puppies are born white, their spots come in later.
10.  D) Labrador

 

And for those of you who think you know everything there is to know about cats, let’s put you to the test too and see just how “cat smart” you really are.  If you can get ALL of these questions right, then you must be some kind of a cat genius!  The answers are shown below...but again, NO CHEATING! 

 

1.  On average, how many whiskers does a cat have?
A) 8
B) 12
C) 16
C) 24

2.  People have about 650 skeletal muscles.  How many do cats have?
A) 500
B) 650
C) 800

3.  On average, how many years do outdoor-only cats live?

A) 3 to 5
B) 7 to 10
C) 12 to 15

4.  A term for a group of cats is:

A) Caggle
B) Covey
C) Clutch
D) Clowder

5.  A term for a group of kittens is:

A) Kaggle
B) Kindle
C) Nook
D) Kaboodle

6.  True or False:  A cat, standing in a still position, can jump up to 6 times its own length.

7.  Which of the following is NOT the name of a cat breed? 

A) Balinese
B) Beauceron
C) Birman
D) Burmilla

8.  The thick hair around the face of some cats (such as Persians) is called:

A) Mane
B) Ruff
C) Pelt
D) Shock

9.  How much of their waking hours do cats spend grooming themselves?

A) 11%
B) 33%
C) 66%

10.  Which of the following do cats NOT taste? 

A) Sour
B) Sweet
C) Bitter
D) Salt

 

Answers:
1.  C) 24 whiskers
2.  A) 500 skeletal muscles
3.  A) 3 to 5 years compared to around 15 years for indoor cats!
4.  D) clowder
5.  B) kindle
6.  True
7.  B) Beauceron is the name of a dog breed, not a cat breed
8.  B) ruff
9.  B) 33%
10.  B) sweet

 

OK, how did you do?  Tell me in the comments section.  Meanwhile, share with your family and friends and see how well they know their dog and cat trivia!  Better yet, impress them by whipping out some of these little tid-bits of information at the next social gathering.  What a great conversation starter!  Have fun with these facts about our favorite furry friends! 

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Our Pets Say, "It's Time To Play!"

Playing with our pets is a lot more than good old fun, although it is that too!  Playing and having fun helps us to eliminate stress, and the same is true for our pets.  Incorporating various forms of play into our pets' daily routine is vital to helping them develop confidence, good health, and mental well-being.  Here are just a few of the many ways both dogs and cats and, yes, even humans  can benefit from regular playtime activity.

 

* Behavioral benefits:
If a pet gets bored, they’re very likely to take out their frustrations by acting out in a negative manner.  Some pets scratch furniture, some soil in the house, and some chew anything and everything in sight.  Setting aside playtime each day lets pets know that they’re loved and cared for and keeps them from getting too bored.  Want a well-behaved pet?  Play with them every day!

 

* Physical benefits: 
Playtime almost always includes plenty of physical exercise, so it’s benefiting our pets' body and overall health.  Pets who spend their days romping around on the floor are burning calories without even realizing it; keeping their weight in check, their muscles strong, and their joints flexible and healthy.  This is also a good way for us humans to fit some exercise into our daily routine as well, so I'd say this is a win-win for all!   

 

* Mental benefits:
Don’t forget about the mental benefits of regular playtime with our pets.  Playing games helps keep reflexes sharp and reaction times quick.  Searching through a homemade obstacle course, finding hidden treat treasures in various corners of the house, or playing hide-and-seek with other family members keeps our pets' brains sharp and focused!  Pets who sit around doing nothing all day are letting their bodies and minds get stale - avoid this by enjoying  a play session every day.

 

* Socialization: 
When our pets play with other animals and/or people, it helps improve their overall social skills.  They learn basic rules and how to play by them - well, at least some of the time!  

 

* Pet owner bonding:
Of course, daily playtime with our beloved pets is about more than physical, mental, or behavioral benefits; it serves as quality pet-owner bonding time as well.  Any healthy pet needs regular attention and care from their owner, and daily playtime is perfect for this.  The time we spend with our pets, even if it's only a few minutes a day, will allow us to learn about each other’s personality and mannerisms, strengthening the very special  and unique life-long bond we share with our furry friends.

 

With all this talk about the benefits of quality playtime with our pets and the importance of socialization, I should also point out a few of the fun pet-friendly events Pet Pal Animal Shelter has coming up.  Enjoy Dog Day at the Rays at Tropicana Field this coming Sunday, September 20th; the "Totally 80s" Party for the Paws at Fergs Sports Bar on Saturday, September 26th; Yappy Hour at World of Beer on Thursday, October 8th; and Pet Pal's annual doggie reunion at Fort DeSoto Dog Beach on Sunday, October 11th.  For more details on these or any other upcoming events, please call 727-328-7738 or visit "petpalanimalshelter.com".

 

So why are you still sitting there reading this blog?  Your pets are patiently waiting for you to come out and play with them!!! 

 

Happy Tails to you until we meet again!  

The Spirit of Special Needs Pets

All animals need plenty of care and love, but pets with special needs often require a little extra TLC, especially as they get older and the disabilities become worse.  Special needs can encompass various disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and behavioral issues.  Some common problems among cats and dogs include missing one or more limbs, hind limb paralysis, deafness and or blindness, diabetes, allergies, and lack of socialization.  Some pets might require diapers, ramps, regular medication, or dog training and/or pet socialization classes.

 

All to often dogs and cats in shelters are overlooked because of “the defects” people see on the outside.  People usually don't take the time to see the wagging tail of the deaf dog chasing the ball across the yard, or the blind dog going up a flight of stairs to get the treat or hug they know is waiting for them, or the 3 legged dog running like the wind and enjoying life. 

 

Animals with disabilities are incredibly adaptable and, despite their impairments, can still be functional and even find a way to play.  In fact, sometimes they pull off tremendous heroic and athletic feats!  Blind, one-eyed, deaf and three-legged pets can live full and happy lives – just spend some time with one and you’ll see how much they can enjoy a wide range of activities and can certainly give just as much love as any pet.

 

Caring for special needs pets does not have to be a burden - it can be a richly rewarding experience.  Here are some general tips to help you if you find yourself caring for a disabled animal.  Of course there are also plenty of web sites dedicated to providing resources and support to assist you in caring for a pet with special needs including "petswithdisabilities.com" and "specialneedspets.org" just to name a few. 

 

People do not have to do much to accommodate a blind pet’s needs.  Dogs and cats use their senses of smell, hearing and touch to get around.  However, owners of blind pets should be careful to keep all furniture in the same place at all times and even pad sharp edges of furniture.  Food and water bowls, litter box, pet bed, and toys should all be in the same place for the pets to easily find what they need.  For cats and small dogs, people should also be careful about carrying their pet from one room to the next.  Animals memorize their paths through the house, so the ride in the owner’s arms can leave them disoriented when set back down – unless it’s in a very familiar place.

 

Since dogs and cats normally have such a tremendous sense of hearing, it would seem that a loss of this sense would be devastating.  However, dogs and cats adapt quite well, and become more sensitive to vibrations they feel.  Just like all dogs and cats, they are excellent readers of body language, so communicating with them is not as difficult as you might imagine.  Deaf pets may not respond to their owner’s spoken words, but they read the signals like any other pet.  The owner may call their pet by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. Some people may also use a flashlight for visual commands.

 

Seeing a three-legged dog or cat may make you feel very sad, but most of them are perfectly adept at doing everything four-legged dogs and cats do.  Most three-legged dogs and cats don’t need any special accommodations to live normal lives – other than making sure they maintain a healthy weight.  Their body weight has one less leg to bear it, which puts more stress on the other leg joints.  Also, dogs need to have their nails trimmed regularly (as all dogs should anyway) to give them the best footing on hard surfaces.  Three-legged cats like to jump up on high surfaces like any other cat, but it’s the jumping off that can be a problem if there is only one front leg to take the impact.  For this reason, the owner should make sure all cat-accessible surfaces are a safe distance from the floor.

 

Every dog or cat deserves to have a good life in a loving home, and should not be ignored because of a disability.  A disability doesn’t necessarily mean the pet will be harder to care for, and it certainly won’t make him or her any less lovable.  So when you come to Pet Pal Animal Shelter to find your next furry friend to love, please be open to the idea that your perfect pet may have some imperfections!  Be a voice for the unbroken spirit of disabled pets.  They truly give us a chance to witness miracles of spirit!

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Adopt a Mutt...the Perfect Family Pup!

Hello again!

 

Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post and I sincerely apologize for my extended absence.  I've been dealing with a lot of health issues and complications related to my surgery back in June, but I think I'm FINALLY past the worst of it...YAY!  So now I'm back and, thanks to all of this idle time recently, I've got lots of new ideas for future blog topics and I'm ready to write!  

 

Do you know what doggy-related awareness day is soooo necessary that its celebrated on both July 31st and December 2nd?  Since 2005, National Mutt Day has been observed to raise awareness about all of the mixed breed dogs in shelters and to remind potential pet parents that it’s the personality and not the pedigree that truly matters when adopting a family pet.  Of course purebreds are attractive because they tend to have distinct traits and physical characteristics, but mixed breeds may offer more benefits that are appealing to the average family.  So before forking out big bucks to a fancy breeder for a purebred pup, please consider the following reasons to be pro-mutt!       

 

1.  Feel good about saving a canine life.
If you adopt a mutt from a shelter, you're literally saving a life.  Even if you aren't adopting from a kill shelter, you've just freed up space for another homeless canine to come in instead of being shipped to the pound or worse.   

 

2.  Mixed breeds are truly unique.
You can look a purebred dog owner in the eye and say with complete confidence that they will never be able to find a dog that is exactly like yours!  Mutts are truly one-of-a-kind!  Even littermates can look very different from one another. 

 

3.  Mixed breeds are full of personality.
Mixed breeds tend to have lots of personality!  Even more importantly, many are easy to train because they have a blend of characteristics rather than all traits of just one breed.

 

4.  Mutts usually have fewer genetic health risks and are healthier overall.
Most purebred dogs include a list of potential health problems in their breed profiles.  These conditions are less common in mutts because they are mixed breeds and are less likely to carry the defective genes.  The average lifespan of a mutt is longer than that of most purebred canines.  Of course the difference will vary by breed, but it is still something that gives mutts an advantage in the eyes of potential adopters.  If you'd rather have a loving companion with fewer health concerns, then a mutt is a great way to go! 

 

5.  Mutts are more affordable compared to purebred pups.
It’s been mentioned before, but it’s a significant factor to consider.  If you adopt a purebred pup, expect to pay for it - and that’s only for adopting the dog and not the vet checkup or puppy shots he or she may need.  Along with that adoption fee, purebreds also tend to have specific needs that make them rather expensive to own.  This will vary based on the individual breed, but grooming and vet care can get well into the hundreds or even thousands.  In most cases, you'll spend less on a mutt over it's entire lifespan.   

 

6.  No need to analyze breeders when adopting a mutt.
Families searching for a purebred must spend a lot of time investigating breeders to make sure they are up to par.  With a mutt, all you have to do is go to your local dog shelter and you have a variety of quality pets to choose from without the extensive breeder background checks!

 

7.  You don't need a show dog. 
Unless you want a show dog, there’s no sense in shelling out a lot of money for a purebred pup.  Some communities have started hosting casual mixed breed shows, so you may still have some opportunities to participate even if you do own a mutt.

 

8.  Fewer preconceived notions about dog behaviors.
Some people see a pit bull or German shepherd and immediately become fearful.  Others see a toy breed and assume the dog is friendly and huggable.  It is harder to make these assumptions with a mutt, which means your dog gets a clean slate when meeting new people!  There are also fewer preconceptions about specific breed features and attributes.  No one will ever tell you that your dog’s posture, fur pattern or ears are “wrong” based on breed standards.  Your mutt sets his or her own standards! 

 

9.  Dog theft is far less likely.
Some purebred dogs are considered very valuable which attracts the attention of thieves.  Fortunately, mutts aren’t viewed this way so they are far less likely to be stolen for monetary gain.  

 

10.  Mixed breeds tend to have more intelligence and common sense.
Since they get the best of both worlds, mixed breeds tend to be trainable, intelligent and have a generous amount of common sense.  While these traits will vary from one dog to the next, this is the general rule in most cases.

 

The purpose of National Mutt Day is to embrace, celebrate and help save the lives of mixed breed dogs.  There are soooo many of these lovable creatures in shelters who are waiting patiently for a family to take them home, so let's help them out by raising awareness about how awesome mutts truly are.  Adopt a mutt - the perfect family pup!  

 

Happy tails to you until we meet again! 

Do Our Pets Understand Us?

     As some of you may know, I’ve been away from Pet Pal for the past month or so while recovering from surgery. During this time, I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my parents’ 1-year-old yellow lab name Cooper and I’ve been wondering just how much of what we say he actually understands. It seems as though he comprehends just about everything we say, but I think every pet owner probably says that about their furry friend. So, with all of this free time on my hands now, I decided to do some research on this topic and share what I’ve learned with all of you.
    Pet owners all over the world use words to get their pets to perform commands and, although they can't speak in the human sense, dogs and cats do display varying degrees of understanding and they associate our verbal sounds with actions. It's not so much what we say but how we say it. Cats and dogs don’t actually understand the meaning or content of individual words; they learn through operant conditioning which is a method of learning through rewards and punishments for different behaviors. Associations are made between a particular behavior and the consequence of that behavior. They simply hear a sound and know that a certain response is required. Animals respond more to the energy of the person speaking than to what they’re actually saying. For example, you could yell “good boy” in an angry-sounding tone and your dog would think you’re mad at him, or you could say “naughty girl” while holding a piece of fish and your cat would think she’s being rewarded.

    With that said, our pets can learn to identify and understand many common words used in training exercises. On average, dogs can learn about 100 words whereas cats can understand about 25 to 35 words. This often leads people to believe that dogs are smarter than cats, which would be wrong if you only base their intelligence on understanding. Some people believe cats understand plenty, but choose to ignore us anyway. Maybe cats are just frustrated because their humans don’t listen very well! Cats have been proven to be pretty wordy too when they feel like it!

   Here is what we all need to know about the difference between dogs and cats and their communication skills. Dogs might be better listeners and capable of grasping more words, but cats are better talkers and capable of communicating more with their human friends. Dogs may know 100 words, but they can only vocalize about 15 different sounds. Cats may only understand 25 to 35 words, but they can make about 100 different vocalizations. Perhaps cats are desperately trying to make first contact with us, as they only make these sounds around their human friends and not around other cats. And since very few of us even try to train our cats, how do we know what they are truly capable of?

   Interestingly, cats and dogs are also entirely capable of understanding more than one language. For example, dogs may be required to understand commands in more than one language if they are to have more than one handler. In military scenarios, dogs are required to understand commands in more than one language. In fact, many English-speaking handlers choose to teach their dogs in German because the language contains more hard consonants than English. Using different languages is also a neat way to differentiate between work and play for the dog.

    So I guess it’s a combination of training our pets and really listening to what they are trying to say to us that will help us best connect with them. They are certainly trying to understand our language, so we need to listen more and try to understand their “language” a little better too! And speaking of listening to and understanding our pets, I’m understanding that Mr. Cooper is ready for some playtime now as he’s bringing toy after toy to me and dropping them at my feet! Guess I can’t really miss that hint!


Happy tails to you until we meet again!

Pet Appreciation Week

Although we should be letting our pets know how special they are to us every day, June 7th through June 13th 2015 is National Pet Appreciation Week. This is the "PURfect" time to celebrate just how much our favorite four-legged friends mean to us.

Some of us are cat people and some of us are dog people but, regardless of which category you or I fall into, most of us are just plain crazy about our pets. The connections we form with our cats and dogs are often the longest and strongest relationships in our lives. These kind creatures are our soul mates, our best friends, and sometimes even our surrogate children.

So what makes our pets such key members of our families? Perhaps it’s because our beloved pets have long provided us with comfort, camaraderie, and unconditional love. Cats and dogs are our unending source of kisses, cuddles, slobber, claws, and laughs. They make great companions for anyone at any age and can even be excellent exercise partners...well, at least for those of us who actually want to exercise!

This week is about going that extra mile and really showing our furry family members just how much we love and cherish them. And to help us out with this, here are a few suggestions from a pet's point of view on how they would like us to celebrate this week with them.

1. "Make sure we have a proper and up-to-date identification tag." What a great time to make sure your playful pup or curious kitty can make it home easier if he or she is ever lost.

2. "Treats and LOTS of them ...we pets don’t mind at all when you show us how much you love us with our favorite treats!"

3. "LOTS of hugs and kisses...just because we deserve it!"

4. "Make sure we are eating the right food. Food is very important to us, and we always let our humans know if we're unhappy in this department!" This is a great time to make sure the food your pet is eating is appropriate for their age and weight.

5. "More toys! Have you seen some of the super cool new toys in the pet stores? Some of them are really challenging and make us pets think while we play!"

6. "Take us on a special outing!" This could be visiting a new park or beach, switching up the walking route, attend a pet-friendly social event, etc.

7. "Did we mention treats?"

"Just a few ideas to get you thinking about treats...ooops, we mean Pet Appreciation Week! WOOF-WOOF, MEOW-MEOW!" Happy tails to you until we meet again!