‘Tis the Season… To Get Rid of Your Pet?

Appalled by the title? Me too.

Unfortunately, this is the time of year when people find they can no longer afford their pets or don’t have the time to dedicate to caring for them, and end up bringing them to the local animal shelter. So, at one of the most family-focused times of the year, these dogs and cats (through no fault of their own) find themselves looking for a new home. A home where someone will love them and care for them and in some cases, train them.

I was walking dogs this past weekend at the shelter I volunteer at and saw so many worthy dogs that deserved a second chance at a home. I saw two Golden Retrievers under 2 years of age who look to be purebred but were given up because their owners had no time – just imagine the potential of these dogs if someone had the time!

I saw so many little dogs… Rat Terriers, a Dachshund and even a Cocker Spaniel – all looking for new homes because their owners were moving and could not take them with them. So many people want little dogs to cuddle with at home. How much better would it be to give a dog a home that needs one desperately? How awesome would it feel to know you rescued a dog who due to the economy ended up at a shelter (not because their owner didn’t love them and care for them, but because financial circumstances forced them to give up their pet)?

I don’t know about other shelters or rescue organizations, but we are full up at our shelter. And, the kicker is most of these dogs are there due to financial circumstances not because of behavior problems.
So, unfortunately… ‘Tis the Season.

Jasper’s New Love – Her name is Henrietta

Thanks to Gracie and her mom, Leslie (blogger for Raise a Green Dog and The Days of Johann, an Agility Dog, I came across a new toy that my dog Jasper absolutely loves! Her name is and she is a plastic toy chicken.

I will warn you that she makes the most godforsaken sound when squeezed (kind of like a duck+chicken call), but I think that’s what has Jasper so entranced with her. He loves it! In fact, he loves it so much that I have to take it away from him when he’s done playing with it because he wants to chew her head off! I would hate for Henrietta to meet such a violent end.

Henrietta the Chicken is a great toy for any dog that loves a toy that makes noise.

Check it out at Chimpfeet.com!

Desperately Seeking Jasmine (er, Casey?)

I have fostered four dogs over the past few years. Of the four, I have been fortunate enough to know where three ended up. I know how they are doing.

Daisy, my first, lives with me and is doing very well despite a rough beginning. Clyde (formerly Pixel) is a Dalmatian and came to me scared, unsocialized and very attached to his sister. He is a wonderful dog. I really had a hard time giving him up. Fortunately, he was reunited with his sister, Bonnie (to which he is very attached), and both were adopted together. They now live with a wonderful woman who has been patient, understanding and kind with both of them. I even get to see them on occasion at the dog park!

My last two foster dogs, Jasper and Jasmine, are Shelties and were purchased by a kind woman who just wanted to get them out of a pet store that was in a deplorable condition. Both came to me scared, unsocialized and very attached to one another. I considered adopting one, but couldn’t choose between them so I eventually returned them both to the shelter to be adopted. As luck would have it, Jasmine passed her assessment with flying colors and was adopted right away by a couple. However, Jasper did not pass his assessment. He was too afraid to do all the things necessary to be assessed properly (he prefers to eat his food in private). So, he came back to live with me and Daisy. They have since become great friends and companions.

As a foster parent it is always hard when you have to say goodbye, but the “not-knowing” is the worst part. You can’t help but wonder how they are doing in their new homes with their new parents. Are they okay? Do they miss their sibling? What do they look like now that they are healthy and grown up?

All I know about Jasmine is this… she attended doggie daycare one day (soon after she was adopted) at a facility where my friend works and her name had been changed to Casey. That’s it. Nothing else.

So, day after day I look for her. Every time I see a Sheltie that looks like Jasmine my heart jumps a little. “Could that be her?”, I wonder. My deep desire to know how she is doing makes me approach the owner to ask “Is your dog’s name Jasmine or Casey?” Time after time the answer has been a curious “no”. It is then that I explain the purpose for my question. Everyone is kind and understanding, but unfortunately, they cannot help me. And so, I continue to search.

It is my one great desire to see her again, to know she is okay. It would be great to reunite her with her brother, Jasper, just for a play date, but I would be happy with just knowing how she is doing. So I continue to desperately search out that one dog, that one Sheltie, that looks like Jasmine in hopes of finding the answer to my questions. My hope is that I will someday I will get my wish.

Dog-Friendly Vehicles: It’s Elemental My Dear Watson

My 2005 Honda Element

This week I had to take my 2005 Honda Element into the dealership to get the lock on the back hatch fixed. While I was waiting for it to be fixed, I decided to take a gander at the new 2010 Honda Element. You know, the one with the cool Dog Package.

All I can say is WOW.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Honda Element. It’s perfect for my pet sitting business and it works great for hauling my two dogs to and from the dog park or back home to see family and friends. It’s durable, easy to clean and easy to maintain (the seat fabric is washable and so is the floor!), but the 2010 Honda Element is far more advanced and driver friendly than my older model.

Like my 2005, the 2010 has the same easy to clean fabric and flooring. It also allows you to lower the back seats to form one long bed in the back or you can hang up along the interior sides of the vehicle or take them out completely. It’s also hardy and can handle dirt roads like my Element. And, it has a lot of room and storage space.

What caught my eye were the additional accessories available to dog owners. Amazing!

Two cute videos: Kitty and Puppy

I found both of these videos today and couldn’t resist sharing. The kitty one is just plain cute and made me giggle. The dog one had me laughing out loud. Enjoy!

Buy a Pet for the Holidays? Think Again.

So you might be thinking that giving a pet for Christmas would be a good idea. I mean who wouldn’t love a pet for the holidays? Right?

Before you jump on that idea and head on over to the local animal shelter, think again. Many pets bought as gifts for Christmas end up back at the shelter again. Why? The reasons are many, but here 5 reasons why you should not get a pet as a gift during the holidays:

1. A pet is not what the person wanted. Owning a pet can be a pretty big commitment. Pets require lots of time, money, care, and in some cases, training. The recipient of your “gift” may not want that kind of responsibility. Even though Grandma is living all alone and could benefit from having a companion, it may not be what she wants or needs right now.

2. The pet you adopted for them is coming at one of the most hectic times of the year. Holiday movies often depict (accurately in most cases) the chaos that occurs during the busy holiday season. There’s the family to deal with, gifts to buy, travel plans to make and the multitude of other other things that we must do and take care of during this busy time. All of this “business” creates chaos and all of the emotions that come with it. Bringing a new pet into a household during this time can be stressful – not only for the pet but also for the new owner.

3. The person receiving the gift may be allergic to the pet. As a volunteer at the local animal shelter, I have seen many pets surrendered or returned because the person who adopted them discovered he or she had an allergy to the particular pet they adopted. I only discovered this myself after I had adopted my two cats. It turns out that I was highly allergic to them – who knew? Luckily, I was able to take precautions (and medication) to prevent me from having to give them up. But, not everyone is so lucky. Nor, is everyone inclined to start weekly allergy shots just to keep their new pet. It would be better if the person had a chance to be exposed to someone else’s pet first to see if they have any reaction. Or, that they can go with you to select the pet they want since they know best if they are allergic to a particular pet.

4. The pet you adopted for them is not the one they wanted. It’s true, not every breed or type of pet is right for everyone. Perhaps the lizard you bought for your son is not the exact kind he wanted. Or, the breed of dog you chose may not be one that is suitable for an older person or for a child. The beauty of waiting until the gift recipient can go with you to adopt that pet is that he or she can actually be the one who decides which pet is right for them. Buying a sweater that fits can be difficult when you are buying it for someone else. How much better is it when they can try it on? It’s is the same with pets. Owners need to meet the pet first to know if he or she will be a good fit for them and their lifestyle.

5. The person you adopted the pet for is unable to care for the pet. In these hard economic times many people are dealing with financial issues of some sort. You may not know everything there is to know about the person and their financial status. Perhaps he or she is about to lose their home, or perhaps they just lost their job. Buying a pet as a gift may be one of the worst things you could do right now. Financial trouble is stressful. Adding a pet into the mix could increase that stress and would likely mean the pet would be returned to the shelter – which is stressful for the pet too.

All of us want to find that “perfect” gift for the person we love. Pets can often seem like the perfect choice (especially if the person has mentioned one before), but they also come with a lot of responsibilities.

So, before you shop for that perfect pet to give as a gift, here are 5 gift alternatives…

1. Purchase a gift certificate at your local animal shelter that can go towards the adoption of a pet when the time is right. Even if the gift recipient doesn’t get a pet right away, they can still go look and see what they might be interested in and then adopt a pet when the time is right.

2. Create your own gift certificate that says you will go with the person to adopt the pet at their convenience. This makes the most sense and is best for everyone involved – pet and owner.

3. Donate money to your local animal shelter in the name of the person you are buying the gift for – the money will be much appreciated by the shelter and the person will be touched that you were so thoughtful in your gift choice.

4. Buy the person a book about the animal you think they may be interested in getting in the future (like a book about dog breeds). That way they can learn more about the animal they want before adopting it.

5. Buy the person a stuffed animal with the promise of adopting an animal after the holidays. This allows you to show your love but also gives you and the person time to prepare for the pet before actually adopting it.

My wish for this year is that every animal finds the right home with the right owner. What a beautiful story that would make if no animals were returned to the shelter after the holidays this year. Won’t you help make my wish come true?

I am thankful…

On this beautiful day of Thanksgiving it is customary to write about the things we are thankful for and I am no different. So here goes.

I am thankful for…

1. Two wonderful years with my dog Daisy. It was 2 years ago this week that I brought home a scared, lonely and sad Labrador Retriever to foster. I am so thankful that she stayed with me and that she has made so much progress in the past two years. Daisy you are my light and shining joy. Thank you for being such a wonderful doggie and for trusting me, your mom, with helping you to get there. I know it wasn’t easy.

2. My lovable little Sheltie, Jasper. It has been a year full of surprises and wonderful memories. You may have chewed up rugs, my entertainment center and dug a few holes in the yard, but you have also given me a lot of wonderful memories. You have also been a wonderful companion for Daisy and you have made me laugh often. Thank you little Mr. McFlirty.

3. My clients. When I started my business I had no way of knowing if it was even a viable choice. Was I being foolish to think people would pay me to do what I love to do – work with animals? Could I make a go of it? It turns out the answer is Yes. I am thankful to all of my clients for the honor of caring for your pets and for trusting me to do so in the first place. Each and every one of them is special and unique andso lovable. I love being a part of their (and your) lives. Thank you.

4. Family and Friends. Many people have helped me to get through this first year of business. Whether you encouraged me, helped me to understand what it takes to run a small business, helped me to set up a blog and use social networking as a marketing tool or just plain didn’t discourage me, I am grateful to you. And, you know who you are too! I could not have taken this leap of faith or made this jump in my career without you. Thank you.

And, if I’ve forgotten anyone, please know that I am inspired each day by the people and animals around me. You have made a difference too. And, I am truly grateful for your help, knowledge, experience, encouragement and presence.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

“Alpha” What?

Today I read a great article on Pack Theory (“Pack Theory – Pack It In!”) and why we should stop using this theory when it comes to relating to our dogs.

I would like to supplement this article (which I highly recommend reading if you use the terms “alpha”, “pack leader” and “dominance”) with some additional information.

Did you ever wonder where the term “alpha wolf” came from? Or, how it came to be a part of our public discourse when discussing wolves and dogs?

It all started with a Senior Research Scientist named L. David Mech. Back in 1968, he wrote a book called “The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species.” It was published in 1970 and republished in 1981 and is still in print today. In that book, David Mech described something called the “alpha wolf”. “Alpha” wolves were described as “competing with others and becoming top dog by winning a contest or battle.” At the time this book was written, there was a belief that wolves competed for “Alpha” status and therefore led the pack and held all of the power within the pack. It was based on research at the time and on studies done on an artificial wolf pack (not a wolf pack living in the wild).

In the 40 years since that book was published a whole lot of new information has been discovered about wolves and wolf packs. It turns out that the concept of there being an “Alpha” within a wolf pack is no longer accurate. Take a listen to L. David Mech as he describes how the term came about and why it is no longer accurate when it relates to wolves out in the wild.

So why does the concept remain a part of our vernacular? And, why is it used to apply to dogs?

I think the article I mentioned above does a good job with answering these questions. What I will say is that we need to stop using the term “Alpha” when talking about wolves. It is no longer applicable, even L. David Mech (the man who coined the term) says so. And, it certainly should not be used to describe dogs, who are not in any way like wolf packs. We do not need to be “alpha” in order to have well-behaved dogs. The reality is that the amount of dedicated time and training you do with your dog are what really works. “Alpha rolls” or pining a dog down do not. And, if you don’t believe me, then read this and learn what the newest research tells us about what works in working with dogs.

God bless our soldiers and the dogs they leave behind…

If you’ve been on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube in the past week then you’ve likely seen the video of a dog welcoming it’s owner back home. In this case, the owner is a soldier returning from a stint in Afghanistan. The dog cries after realizing her owner is finally home. A very touching video. It certainly brought tears to my eyes.

Today, I saw the rest of the story as reported in the LA Times. I encourage you to read it. In the article, Captain Andrew Schmidt reminds us that our servicemembers are still serving in the Mideast and should not be forgotten. He also talked about the “virtues of pet adoption” and told how Gracie (the dog in the video) was adopted by the Schmidt family just one day before she was scheduled to be euthanized. He also said “she’s been the best dog and a vital part of our family for the past five years.”

It’s easy to remember our soldiers during the holidays. The media covers them more at this time of year than any other. But, we need to keep them in our minds every day. And, while we are at it, let us not forget the families and dogs they leave behind.

And one additional note: Shelter dogs can be some of the most loyal and loving pets you could ever hope to have in your life. Gracie is proof of that.

Dogs Love Sweet Potato Chews!

I’ve been looking for healthier treats for my pups and recently came across a recipe link for Sweet Potato Chews on Raise a Green Dog.

After buying three sweet potatoes at the store last week, I decided to give it a try. The recipe is easy to follow and the chews are even easier to make. And, even better, Daisy and Jasper loved them. In fact, Jasper kept coming back into the kitchen to get more!

So, if you are interested in a healthy snack, give them a try!

Sweet Potato Chews