Helpful Pet Care Tips

Cat Tips

Cars - Thousands of cats get hit by cars every year. If they are lucky, they die instantly.

Car engines - Cats seek warmth. In the winter they tend to climb up inside car engines where they can be subsequently ground up.

Anti-freeze- Cats like the sweet taste of anti-freeze, and they will lick it if able. Anti-freeze is extremely toxic and your cat will die a painful death within hours of ingesting it. It can take less than a teaspoon to kill a full-size cat or dog!

Poisoning - There are people who don't like cats and will set out poison on their property. Others may put poison out to get rid of other wildlife that wanders onto their property and your cat may accidentally ingest it.

Fighting -Your cat could be killed by dogs, raccoons, or other wildlife. Some people train their dogs to attack and kill cats. Believe it or not,cats can kill each other during their fights.

FELV - Feline Leukemia destroys a cat's immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids. Even a sneeze can pass the virus from one cat to another. The vaccine for FELV is only 70 to 75% effective. Cats infected usually die within two years.

FIV - Feline Immunosuppressive Virus also destroys a cat's immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids and cuts a cat's lifespan in half. There is no vaccination for FIV.

FIP - Feline Infectious Peritonitis. FIP is always 100% fatal. Tests and vaccines for FIP are not reliable.

Animal Abuse - Cats are often shot with BB guns; burned with lighters,firecrackers; tortured by people causing loss of limbs, eyes, etc.

Starving to Death - People think that because they have lived in the same house for a number of years that their cat is too smart to wander off and get lost. NOT TRUE.

People also think that because their cat has never left the front yard that it won't go any farther. NOT TRUE.

Getting Trapped - Your cat could get lost in somebody else's garage or utility shed. He could suffer brain damage if trapped in extreme heat or could suffer frostbite if trapped in extreme cold.

Research Labs - Your cat could get stolen and sold to a research lab. This practice does go on, even in your home town!

Parasitic Infections - Your cat could eat something (rat, mouse, bird) and die of a parasitic infection.

SPCA- Your cat could get taken in by someone thinking it is a stray. They might keep your cat or take it to the SPCA where it will be euthanized.

Unintentional Poisoning - By pesticides, lawn products, etc.

Fleas, ticks, worms, ringworm - Your cat could transmit these to other pets and people in the household.

Drowning - Your cat could accidentally fall in a swimming pool and drown.

Steel-Jaw Traps - People who live in the country think it's great to let cats out to roam. But many times domestic dogs and cats get caught in steel-jaw traps intended for other animals.

Spraying - When cats go outside they smell other cats' territorial markings. This may prompt your cat to start spraying inside the house to mark his territory.


Lost and Found Hints

If you've lost a pet, here are some helpful tips:

Search your neighborhood leaving the description of your pet and your name and phone number with as many people as possible.


Post signs in the area where your pet was lost that includes a photo,detailed description, date and how you can be contacted. Note: be aware that some city ordinances prohibit posting of signs. Check with the authorities before doing this.


Visit your local animal shelter. Ask them if they have a message board that you can post a message on.


Keep looking for and asking about your pet. Often, kind-hearted neighbors may not take your pet to a shelter right away in the hopes that they'll be able to find the owner on their own.


Post a prominent advertisement in your local paper with a photo, detailed description, date and and how you can be contacted.


Besure to read the "Found" ads in your local paper regularly. Remember that others may not describe your pet the way that you would so it's important to check out any possible leads.


Found a Pet?



If you've found a pet, here are some helpful tips:


Post an ad in your local paper.


Ask all of your neighbors if they recognize the animal.


Post signs in the area where the pet was found that includes a photo,detailed description, date and how you can be contacted. Note: be aware that some city ordinances prohibit posting of signs. Check with the authorities before doing this.


Be sure to read the "Found" ads in your local paper regularly.


Barking Problem

Barking is generally considered a normal behavior that most dogs display. Some breeds tend to bark more than others, and domesticated dogs seem to bark more frequently and for different reasons than wild dogs. Barking is, after all, a method by which dogs communicate with one another and with their human companions.



However,dogs that bark in excess can become annoying or downright disruptive to the general peace. Some cities have ordinances to govern the barking of dogs and assess fines or other penalties to people who own dogs that bark excessively. Barking has even been known to cause neighborhood disputes and subsequent court battles.


It is prudent, therefore, to learn how to control your dog's barking. Todo so, it is important to understand the reasons that dog bark.


Why Do Dogs Bark? We've identified seven general reasons for barking. Each generates a different kind of bark with a unique sound.



1. Barking to induce play.


This bark is generally muffled, with accompanying tail wagging and thecharacteristic crouching with head lowered to the ground, hindquarters raised. Dogs will stop barking as the play proceeds. If you do not play with the dog, the animal will eventually give up and stop barking.


2. Barking to discipline young.


This sound usually involves a snap and a sharp bark, uttered when puppies or younger dogs do something that irritates an older dog. The bark itself generally does not persist, as one or two warnings usually stop younger animals in their tracks.


3. Barking to warn of danger.


This is a deep, repeated bark. The dog's tail will be motionless or lowered to the ground and the dog's forelimbs will be widely spaced on the ground. The barking will generally persist until the source of danger is removed or until the dog is able to retreat to a position of safety.


4. Barking to threaten intruders.


This bark may include an angry growl. The dog may raise its hackles and the hair on its back and tail. The dog will plant all four feet squarely and assume a fighting stance. As the dog barks, the teeth and gums will be readily visible. To stop such a bark, you must either remove the intruder or remove the dog from the situation. Sometimes, stepping to the dog's side and assuring it that all is well will cause it to stop barking.


5. Curiosity barking.


In general, this bark is displayed when there is some activity near a dog,but in such a place where the animal cannot have a good look. It is as if the dog is saying, "Hey, what's up?" The dog will display excitement and tend to pace erratically with a slightly wagging tail. To stop the barking, all you have to do is let the dog see what it is curious about.


6. Barking for companionship.


This is an incessant, repetitive bark, accompanied by a relatively motionless tail and concentration toward the area most associated with the dog's owners. The solution to this type of bark is to spend more time with the dog and to allow the dog access to the area where humans spend their time. This bark is often displayed by dogs that are ignored, tied out by themselves or locked up alone.


7. Barking for reward.


Finally, dogs can be inadvertently trained to bark and will persist with remarkable resistance. Barking can become associated with almost any activity that leads to reward. For instance, a dog that barks at garbage trucks because they intrude within its territory will learn that persistent barking leads to the disappearance of the trucks. This rewards the barking behavior, and a cycle is begun that is difficult to break. Persistent barking can then generalize to other objects-schoolbuses, neighbors walking by, children on the way to school, the paperboy, mailman, milkman and so on. To break the cycle, it is necessary to interrupt the natural system of reward.


Solutions to Barking:


The first five reasons for barking are rarely the cause of "excessive" or"annoying" barking. They are usually specific to certain situations and short-lived. The sixth and seventh reasons are those most likely to be considered problem barking, and they are not unrelated.


Barking for companionship can turn into barking for reward: The dog barks to get its owner's attention, the owner comes to the dog to tell it to be quiet, perhaps petting it or playing with it, and goes away again. The dog is quiet while the owner is there, but has learned that barking will bring the owner back. Thus the system of barking and reward is established. A solution, again, is to spend more time with your dog and have it near you rather than tied up somewhere separate from you. However, if your dog is separated from you and it begins to bark to get your attention, do not immediately go to the dog. It must learn that barking will not guarantee your presence. By spending more time with the dog at regular intervals not instigated by barking, your dog will feel more assured that it will get sufficient attention from you and will not have as much inclination to bark for companionship.


How do you teach a barking dog to distinguish between friends and strangers? The solution is to show the dog that certain individuals(garbage collectors, mailmen, milkmen) are, indeed, friends. To accomplish this, the dog has to be introduced to these people and given an opportunity to get to know them. While this is not always practical, it is nonetheless a potential solution. As you restrain your dog, stop delivery people and have a short conversation with them, letting them meet the dog for a brief period. Repeat and lengthen the process over the next few weeks. Eventually, your dog should accept these individuals and all will be well until your regular mailman is sick and another takes his place.


What do you do with a dog that barks at guests in your house? Onesolution is to take the dog to another room and give it something to do. Or, if the guest comes to your home often and you don't want to have to lock up the dog every time, work to gradually introduce one to the other. Have the guest get on his knees, pet the dog, offer it a treat, and more or less become part of the family. Let your dog establish the speed at which this relationship develops: Don't force it, or your dog may become alarmed by a "pushy" guest.


How do you deal with a dog that barks at the phone? This is simply a case of a dog that has been reward- ed for barking at the phone ringing. When the dog barks, someone eventually answers the phone and it stops ringing. To stop your dog from doing this, have a friend call and lett he phone ring until the dog loses interest. Continue over a period of days, and in time the dog will learn that barking at the phone accomplishes nothing.


Finally, what do you do with the dog that barks while you are away from home? There are several possible solutions. One is to act as if you are leaving, then stand outside the door until the dog barks. When it does,return and scold it verbally. Another is to get your dog a companion -but you might end up with two barkers! A third is to use a sound-activated tape recorder. When the dog barks, the sound switch turns on the tape recorder for a minute. The tape plays your voice scolding the dog. Some systems can repeat as many as 45 times while you are away.


The best way to reduce your dog's barking is to pay attention to the reasons for the bark. The best solution is prevention, so be aware of the possibilities and work to stop problem barking before it starts.




Helpful Dog Hints

Your dog gives you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship. In return, she counts on you to provide her with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, exercise, companionship,and more. Take care of these ten essentials, and you'll be guaranteed to develop a rewarding relationship with your canine companion.



Outfit your dog with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there's a chance your companion may become lost. An ID tag greatly increases the chance that your pet will be returned home safely. Follow local laws for licensing your dog and vaccinating him for rabies.


Check with your local animal shelter or humane society for information regarding legal requirements, where to obtain tags, and where to have your pet vaccinated. Follow this simple rule: off property, on leash. Even a dog with a valid license, rabies tag, and ID tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your community, and your dog to keep your pet under control at all times.


Give your dog proper shelter. A fenced yard with a dog house is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs;however, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended periods of time. Dogs need and crave companionship and should spend most of their time inside with their family.


Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups. If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral and check out our information on choosing a veterinarian.


Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs who have this routine surgery tend to live longer, be healthier, and have fewer behavior problems (e.g., biting, running away). By spaying or neutering your dog, you are also doing your part to reduce the problem of pet over population.


Give your pooch a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your pet.


Enroll your dog in a training class.Positive training will allow you to control your companion's behavior safely and humanely, and the experience offers a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you share with your dog.


Check out our information on choosing a dog trainer. Give your dog enough exerciseto keep him physically fit (but not exhausted). Most dog owners find that playing with their canine companion, along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient exercise.


If you have questions about the level of exercise appropriate for your dog, consult your veterinarian. Be loyal to and patient with your faithful companion. Make sure the expectations you have of your dog are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. If you are struggling with your pet's behavior, contact us or your veterinarian for advice.