For animal lovers, this can mean a double dose of giving: along with donating some canned goods or a sack of groceries at the grocery store, consider dropping off an unopened bag or cans of cat or dog food, or even a bag of litter to your local Humane Society or pet shelter as well.

Not only do the food and supplies benefit animals at the shelter, but many shelters nationwide also distribute items to people who are in need of them, and whose pets may not be able to eat without the help of the donations.

For more information on what is acceptable to donate, be sure to contact your state’s Humane Society, SPCA, or other local animal shelters. Many are also in great need of things like towels, washcloths, litter pans, etc, and monetary donations are also always welcome.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Don’t Forget Shelter Pets at Thanksgiving

Within the next few hours we’ll be getting a litter of four kittens who will likely only be with us overnight, as we’ll have to take them into Petco tomorrow for an adoption event, and there’s a very good chance they’ll all find new homes. I’m very excited just the same, and think this is going to be a great experience for all of us.

If you’re interested in cat fostering, get ahold of someone at your local Humane Society, which is who runs the adoption events at the Petcos in my area (or talk to one of the volunteers at the store itself). We heard back from the coordinator within a few days of filling out an application, and the home inspection basically just consisted of making sure you have the room to keep the animals.

The Humane Society will provide all the necessities — from the food, to litter, even the litter box and, of course, vet visits if needed — so you won’t be out anything monetarily, except for a drive down to the pet store on the weekends to drop them off!

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Fostering Cats, Part 2

~ Let your pets celebrate Halloween with you! Bring out the pet treats and grab a small piece before you open the door to trick-or-treaters. If your pup sits without making a fuss when the door is opened, give them the treat.

~ Go easy on the costumes. Instead of a constrictive outfit, tie a cute bandanna or a Halloween collar on instead.

~ Put your pets’ safety first. If you know they won’t handle the commotion of a ringing doorbell well, put them in a quiet room to keep them calm and keep them from trying to escape. A surprising amount of dogs and cats will bolt out of a front door on Halloween just to get away from what they perceive as a stressful atmosphere. Even if you do put them into a safe spot, make sure they’re wearing an up-to-date ID on their collar.

~ Keep your pets indoors. What would be nothing more than a Halloween “prank” to rowdy teenagers could end up meaning heartbreak for you and your family. Bring the outdoor pets in, even if it’s just for a few hours.

~ Make sure your decorations are pet-friendly. Don’t use open flames on candles or in jack-o’-lanterns — use a battery-powered one instead. Not only could your pet’s fur catch fire if they brush against a flame, but the candle or pumpkin could be knocked over as well, causing more damage than just some singed fur. Don’t use crepe streamers either as the water-soluble dyes can discolor your pet’s mouth and cause stomach upset.

~ Never, ever allow your dog or cat to be around the candy bowl! Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats and can be deadly if ingested. Keep all chocolate and other candies out of reach. Even turning your back for a second to answer the door is plenty of time for a determined dog to grab a mouthful, regardless of wrappers.

You can follow the Humane Society on Twitter and Facebook.

Post from: Blisstree

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Coco Conundrum struggles to free herself from the grasp of Tru!

Rick says we need a family dog. I’m a cat person. I’ve never lived with a dog. Growing up, Rick had dogs. He says every boy should have a dog, and according to him, our son is missing out.

Truman says he doesn’t want a dog until his cats “die and go up to heaven.” He worries dogs would hurt his two cats. Our cats were strays. We’re lucky to actually see them in eyeshot of Truman. They are frightened of him, and yet he adores them. He begs me to catch one so he can hold it. When he does, the cat yowls and threatens to rip him to shreds.

If we got a dog, I would be the primary caregiver. I work from home and would be spending most of the day with the pup. I would have to walk him and feed him and make sure he is potty trained. Since I’m not sure how dogs work, I told Rick I wanted to buy some books and take a class before a dog joined our family. And I gave him a distant deadline – Truman’s 6th birthday. But that deadline is drawing near.

Sweet Little Probie needs a home.

The other day the humane society brought an adorable field-breed golden retriever on Rick’s show. Probie is 13 months old and very mild tempered. And he’s adorable. Rick sent me this TwitPic of him. Over the weekend we went to the shelter and visited Probie. He was very sweet with our little boy and Truman enjoyed playing with him. Since we were about to leave town I suggested we not make any hasty decisions. And so we’re waiting. And waiting. And I suspect someone will snatch up Probie before we are (I am) ready for a dog. Which would probably be a good thing. Still, I’m just not convinced I want a dog. And Truman seems lukewarm.

After a few minutes playing with Probie, Truman’s focus immediately turned to the cats. He was smitten. Unlike our strays back home, the kittens there had been around people since birth. They were rag dolls in my son’s arms. One even purred as he slug it around.

Rick rolled his eyes. He says it’s beginning to look like we may end up with another cat rather than a new dog. I think two cats are plenty for this household. Truman says he wants a kitten. And a lizard and a bluebird and a tree snake and a fish and a mouse.

We’ve got about six months before Truman’s birthday. I’m just not sure… What do you think? Can I grow to love a dog like I love my kitties?

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Dogs vs. Cats – Which Pet to Get?

So the news just broke yesterday that after an 8-month investigation by the Humane Society it’s been found that PetLand pet stores use puppy mills to breed the dogs they sell while telling customers that they come from upstanding breeders.

I thought everyone knew this already? I first heard it years ago when I was going to buy rat supplies at one of their stores and a friend told me that she won’t buy anything there because their dogs and puppies come from mills. A little research online revealed that a lot of people knew this then, too. Just looking in a window at one of their stores should tell you all those dogs are not coming from reputable breeders, you know?

You don’t need a pet store to be the middle man for a specific breed! Do a little legwork and find a breeder you can work with directly, or better yet go check out your local Humane Society and animal shelter and adopt a homeless pet instead.

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

PetLand Uses Puppy Mills? You Don’t Say