I recently heard about this story - it is very sad, and I cannot even comprehend why someone would do something so terrible to an animal.  As I am writing this, the perpetrators have not been caught, but citizens with any information are asked to call animal officials in Uniontown, PA the number is:  (724) 438-3121.

A mixed Border Collie was found roaming the streets in Bullskin Township, and noticed he had an unusual collar around his neck.  Neighbors called the SPCA who came out to retrieve the dog.  Since being found, the dog has been named Hooks and has undergone surgery to repair a hole in his neck from the collar.

15 fish hooks had been attached to the inside of his collar and when SPCA officers found the dog, the collar was incredibly tight.  One of the fish hooks created a hole in Hooks’ neck and he underwent surgery to remove it.   Animal officials are unsure of how long Hooks was walking around, but they do know that if he hadn’t been spotted, and they hadn’t been notified, he would most likely have died within a few days.

Hooks was found without any type of identification, and officials have no idea who is responsible or why they would do something so awful.  The officials there are working hard to solve the case, but they need the help of the public!  If you have any information as to who the owner might be or how the dog may have ended up in the condition he was in, please contact the animal officials in Uniontown, PA.  Once again, their number is:  (724) 438-3121.

Thanks for reading!  As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!! 

We all know that feeding our dogs chocolate can be toxic….but did you know there are other common “people foods” that can be deadly to your pet? In today’s post, I am going to go over a few foods that can be toxic to your pet.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a sweet face, and when a dog is begging, looking at you with those puppy dog eyes, it is incredibly hard to say no. It’s not a bad thing to let your pet try people food every once in awhile, but you need to be aware of the dangers in certain foods. Some foods are better left for you to enjoy, and many others can be shared with your pet. It is good to keep in mind that too many treats may cause your pet to become overweight, so make sure you are giving your pet treats sparingly.

Dangers:

#1: Avocados- believe it or not, this fruit is toxic to dogs, cats, and many other animals. They contain a toxin called persin which can cause damage to the heart, lung, and other tissue in your pet. Keep that guacamole in your bowl!

#2: Beer- some people may find it humorous to give a pet a beer, but it is actually very serious. The alcohol in beer and other alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to the liver and brain as it does in people. Since animals are much smaller than we are, the effects can be deadly to them. The smaller the animal is, the more deadly the reaction will be. A tiny amount of alcohol can cause damage to the brain and liver as well as vomiting.

#3: Nuts- the worst kinds of nuts to feed your pet are walnuts and macadamia nuts. They can cause anything from vomiting to paralysi to death. Symptoms usually appear about 12 hours after eating the nuts and you will notice your pet having trouble standing or walking, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature/extreme fever), weakness, or an elevated heart rate. It is never a good idea to feed your pet nuts covered in chocolate. The effect of this toxic mixture can cause kidney failure.

#4: Chocolate- if eaten in large quantities, the chemical theobromine can be toxic to dogs. The most dangerous type of chocolate is dark chocolate and unsweetened bakers chocolate. The theobromine can cause rapid heartbeats in cats and dogs - which could become deadly if your pet is exercising.

#5: Candy- steer clear of anything with the ingredient Xylitol (this is a common sweetner found in diet products). This chemical can cause a sudden drop in your pet’s blood sugar, seizures, and loss of coordination. If immediate veterinary care is not sought, this could lead to death.

#6: Caffeine- as I said before with the beer, the effects of caffeine are intensified because animals are much smaller than we are. Just like in humans, the caffeine stimulates an animals central nervous and cardiac systems. Restlessness, heart palpitations, and death could follow depending on the amount your animal consumes.

#7: Grapes and Raisins- a single serving of grapes or raisins can be enough to kill your pet. Eating grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure. The effects are cumulative which means that if your dog eats one or two raisins/grapes per day, the toxins will continue to build up in your pets system and will lead to death.

#8: Onions- I know we all love onions on our burgers, but this food for your pets is a huge no no. Onions destroy an animals red blood cells, and lead to anemia, weakness, and difficulty breathing. The effects of onions are also cumulative.

Now I would like to give you a few examples of foods that are good for your pet, and ones that he will enjoy eating!!

Delights:

#1: Lean meats- any cooked lean meats should be perfectly fine for your pet. Meats with high fat content are not recommended, they can lead to intestinal problems which can be incredibly painful to your pet.

#2: Vegetables- carrots, green beans, cucumber, and zucchini are all good for your pet!

#3: Fruit- apples, oranges, bananas, watermelon are all good treats for your pet. Just make sure you have removed all the seeds before feeding!

#4: Baked Potato- cook the potato all the way through - do no feed raw potatoes! Also make sure they are completely plain.

#5: Bread- again, this needs to be completely cooked (no dough), and make sure it is free of nuts and raisins!

#6: Rice and other pastas- they must be plain and completely cooked.

There are signs to watch out for if you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous. They include: muscle tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, redness of the skin, ears, or eyes, swelling, and bleeding. If you see any of these symptoms, RUSH YOUR PET TO THE VETERINARIAN NEAREST YOU! These could be signs of a serious emergency, and you need to act fast.

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!

For more information about the food items listed above, please check out this link!

A shelter in Marion, IN will be closing it’s doors on or around the end of June. Any animals remaining at the shelter on the day they close, will be euthanized. This is an absolute tragedy and we should not stand for it.

I am encouraging all my readers to look at this link (also located at the bottom of this post), check out the biographies of the pets available there. Maybe you know someone who has been looking for the right dog - this is the perfect opportunity!!

There are many different breeds and ages still waiting to be adopted. Knowing about this, and seeing the faces of the puppies and dogs that will be euthanized makes this incredibly hard to just stand by. I am really hoping for the best with this. I would absolutely love it if all the animals were adopted and the shelter was completely empty on the day it closes. That would be perfect. Let’s try to work together and get these dogs a home!

I know lots of you out there are dog people, and if even a handful of you adopted one of the dogs it would make a huge difference. One dog’s life can be saved by you visiting their shelter and adopting one of the amazing animals they have. Once you see the pictures and look in their eyes - it is hard to just sit back and do nothing. I know each of the animals I saw on the site has about a month and a half left to live unless we change that.

Please pass this post on to whoever you can think of - together we can make sure all the dogs find a good home and none are put to sleep. It seems odd that closing a shelter would mean euthanizing all the animals - but if all area shelters and pounds are full, what choice do they have? I know the volunteers at the Marion Grant Humane Society are contacting breed rescue groups to find placement for some of the animals, but their time is running out. Let’s help them out.

Here is the link: http://picsbycindy.com/marion_grant_dogs.htm”

Please leave me a comment if you were able to adopt a dog or just to leave your thoughts and opinions on this topic.

Thanks for reading!! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

In New York City, the crackdown has begun on owners who fail to clean up after their pets.  It seems kind of sad that people feel it is unnecessary to clean up after their dogs and leave their messes for others to stumble upon.  More and more people today are utilizing dog parks and are walking their pets as much as possible.

Pet owners caught red (or brown) -handed in New York can pay a fine of up to $100!  So far this year, the sanitation department has written around 775 tickets (compared to 327 at the same time last year).  Dog owners welcome the new ticketing practice and the sanitation workers have noticed a better compliance with the law.

Late spring/early summer are the peak times for officers to catch pet owners in the act.  Officers from the Parks Department are also on the lookout and can ticket you for failing to pick up your dog’s waste.  The Sanitation Commissioner says they currently have 15 officers assigned to dog poop patrol.

Even in Canada, scooping poop is the duty of the pet owner, and they hold events to clean up their parks.  Most pet owners don’t think much about leaving their dog’s mess in the snow - but when the Spring thaw comes - it can be particularly messy.

The population in some of Canada’s cities is on the rise - some people may not come from a city or town with scooping laws, so they assume there are none in Canada.  What pet owners fail to realize is the huge health risk feces can have if left sitting in the open.  Feces can soak into the ground and can contaminate ground water.  If a dog plays in it he will become sick.

The parasites and bacteria found in dog feces can create flu-like illnesses in adults and children.  Some owners will carry extra bags with them to the dog park to hand out to those who may have forgotten theirs.

Picking up after your pets is incredibly important.  Cities all around the world are instituting fines for not cleaning up after your pet.  One of the worst feelings in the world is stepping into a pile of dog doo…..it seems like the stink stays on your shoes forever!  We should all be courteous to our fellow man and pick up after our pets!  If you have a problem picking up the dog doo for any reason, you should think about how you felt the last time you stepped into a steaming pile - do you want someone else to go through that?

It only takes a second to bend down and pick it up!  The best method is to wrap a plastic bag around your hand (like a glove), pick up the dog doo, then you can turn the plastic bag inside out without ever having to touch it!  Carry plenty of bags with you everywhere you go and be sure to keep hand sanitizer close by!  Please respect others and respect the environment - clean up after your pets!!

Thanks for reading!  As always your participation in comments and discussions is encouraged and greatly appreciated!! 

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Pets can be a great addition to our families, but if you aren’t sure of what you are doing, it can be a disaster! New pet parents commonly make the 5 mistakes I am going to talk about in today’s post. Hopefully by reading this you are prevented from making them! Enjoy!

MISTAKE #1: Too much love

I know what you are thinking, “You can’t love a pet too much”……but the truth is you can. People who spoil their pets, or allow them to do whatever they please in the house are only making things harder for the animal. Owners want their animals to be able to feel free and comfortable in their new homes, so giving your pet everything she wants usually starts on day one. Just like children, pets need rules and boundaries to keep them in line.

If you fail to make rules and boundaries, will result in your pet making mistakes they are then punished for. A perfect example of this is elimination mishaps, or chewing on the wrong thing. It is much better for your pet if you are able to make the rules and boundaries clear from the very beginning. Many animals are taken to shelters because their behavior has become incredibly out of control - it has become their habit since they did not have clear rules and boundaries.

This is very easy to prevent and even if you are doing this now, it is easy to stop. You need to make clear to your pet that their behavior will not be tolerated. You can punish them by giving them alone time without you. Sit down with your family members and come up with a list of behaviors that aren’t acceptable and follow through with your plan.

MISTAKE #2: Focusing too much on punishment

Pet owners commonly react more to the mistakes their pet makes rather than the good behavior. We are concentrating so hard on punishing our animal, that we do not focus and reward good behavior. The best example of this is your pet urinating on the rug. This is usually due to lack of supervision (the fault of the pet owner) and the first thing we do is yell. This is not a good way to react.

Dogs do not think like people, they are very simple thinkers. Your pet could interpret your yelling as meaning you don’t like to see them urinating on the rug - this could result in them going places you cannot see to do their business. With this example, punishing actually does more harm than good - you are not resolving the problem, you are just making it worse.

Punishing your pet too much will also create tension in your relationship. You should focus on managing your pet’s behavior (keeping them on a leash, confinement, supervision, etc.) to make sure they are successful and get rewarded. Doing it this way will prevent problem behaviors from becoming habits and it allows you to praise and reward your pet!

MISTAKE #3: Confusing your pet for a person

When it comes down to it, dogs and cats are animals. No matter how human you want them to be, no matter how human you try to treat them - they will always be animals. I’m not saying you shouldn’t treat your pet as a member of the family, I am just saying you need to recognize the differences between pets and people.

Animals do not sit around all day and think about what they are going to do to get back at you, they have no concept of revenge or spitefulness. Pets think in much simpler terms than we do, so the next time you see your pet doing something wrong, don’t think she is trying to punish you or get back at you for any reason.

MISTAKE #4: Not having your pet spayed or neutered

I’ve talked about this topic a lot, and it is something most pet owners do not take very seriously. Spaying or neutering your pet will not result in laziness or weight gain, and you are not harming your pet in any way by blocking her from having a litter of puppies. The pet overpopulation in this country has gotten out of control, and most of that is due to breeding and pets that are not spayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering your pet will decrease their risk for diseases, it will get rid of their instinct to wander (wandering could cause a pet to become lost or hurt), for males, it may reduce aggression problems, as well as the instinct to “mark their territory” in the house. By having your pet spayed or neutered, you will make them happy and healthy!

MISTAKE #5: Lack of supervision

This is most common among children. It is very important to keep in mind that your pets may be incredibly tolerable of children, but it only takes one action (such as too much rough housing) to cause a pet to react. Animals should be supervised at all times - especially when they are around children.

The most likely person to be bitten by a dog, or scratched by a cat is a family member. Keep a close eye on your kids and make sure they are playing nice with your pet. Make sure you let your children know how to properly play with your pet, and talk about signs to look for when your pet has had enough playing.

Thanks for reading!! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

Did you like what you read? Find more information on pet ownership, and what you need to know before and after getting your dog, by purchasing my ebook. Click here for details!!