| Are you a Responsible Pet Owner? How to be a responsible Pet Parent When you decided to bring a pet(s) into your home and life, you have taken on the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of a living being. If taken care of responsibly, you can count on years of unconditional love and companionship in return. What to expect being a Pet Parent If you are new to being a Pet Parent, then you should research the specific type of pet so that you know what to expect with potential health problems, temperament issues, recommended training, and living requirements such as the amount of exercise required, toys, treats, as well as optimal nutrition, health and hygiene, etc. Spaying and/or Neutering Back yard breeding, puppy mills, pet stores and irresponsible unplanned breeding are all root causes for the overpopulation of unwanted pets. This overpopulation results in the senseless euthanasia of over 5 million pets a year. Veterinary Care Your pet’s healthcare should be your top priority to ensure a quality healthy life. Your pet should be examined by a veterinarian immediately (within 24 hours) for a thorough physical when you first bring them into your home and annually for preventive care. Always seek veterinary care immediately when your dog is injured or sick. *If you notice an odd behavior, anything out of the ordinary, limping (even if periodically), loss of appetite, diarrhea, loss of weight, whimpering, acting lethargic, drinking more than usual, peeing more than usual, gooey eyes, etc., seek veterinary care right away to ensure that there is not a severe underlying problem. Exercise Your pet(s), regardless of size, requires plenty of fresh air and exercise. Exercise is a good outlet for pent up energy and will help avoid unwanted behavior some pets display due to lack of exercise. Interacting with your pet is highly recommended as it reinforces the bond you have with them. Remember to bring disposable baggies to pick up after your pet if necessary. Training and Obedience Many dogs’ owners surrender a pet because they never took the time to properly train them. When bad habits go unchallenged, the bad behavior is encouraged to the point the owner no longer wishes to deal with it. Training your dog builds and strengthens a healthy and appropriate relationship with your pet. It allows a clear method of communication so you know what to expect from your dog and for your dog to understand and respect what you expect of him/her. Training also lays down the rules and boundaries, allowing your pet to be a responsible member of society and preventing the unacceptable or bad habits. Elimination A sanitary and clean environment for you and your pet ensures a healthy lifestyle for all. Be sure to keep your pets’ environment as clean as possible, as bacteria and disease festers in fecal matter and urine. Household Accommodations If you do not own your home, be sure to check with your landlord on any restrictions they may have on pets. If you plan on moving, take your pet into consideration as how a landlord or neighbor may view your pet and make appropriate arrangements. Too many animals are dropped off at shelters due to their family’ s moving and unable to accommodate them any longer or the pet just simply does not fit into their lifestyle any longer. There is nothing more heartbreaking than senseless excuses as these. Safely Confine Your Pet The safety of your pet is crucial to a quality life. When a pet is allowed to roam freely outdoors, it poses a greater risk of them falling victim to attacks (by other animals as well as humans), theft or a traffic accident. Annually, thousands of pets are severely injured or killed due to these risks. Spare yourself this heartache. Also, keep in mind that tethering (tying your pet up) is not a recommended device for confining your pet while unsupervised. Many animals wind up strangling themselves. If you choose to use a fence or kennel, please consider the appropriate height and material used so that your pet can not jump over, climb or get hung up on it trying to escape. ID and/or Microchip Your Pet Regardless if you have an indoor pet or one that is always “penned up”. Pets have their sneaky ways of escaping confinement. We recommend providing both a microchip as well as an ID tag for your pet. An ID tag can bring your pet quickly and safely home by anyone who finds them and does not have a microchip reader. A microchip is an excellent backup should your pet lose its collar or escape due to a lack of a collar or slipping out of its collar. Without proper identification, it is nearly impossible to reunite pets and their companions should they get lost. It could be the difference between life and death for your pet. Know who your pet comes into contact with If you are looking for a veterinarian, trainer, groomer, pet-sitter or kennel, be sure to check references before leaving your animal in their care. Additionally, be sure to check their name in the Pet-Abuse.Com database to insure they do not have prior charges of animal cruelty. |