San Francisco, CA - A new bill making it's way through the Board of Supervisors here is designed to limit the number of dogs a professional walker can have at one time to eight, as well as require liability insurance, and permits to conduct the walking. In a city where the number of pets outnumber the number of children, this news is important, as dog-walking is big business in San Francisco. There are nearly 500 professional walkers there, with only about 70 signed up on the Dog Walking and Professional Services Referral List operated by the office of Animal Care and Control. Supporting the legislation is San Francisco Professional Dogwalkers Association president, Angela Gardener, who said, "For the many professional dog walkers who are well-trained, who know how to care for dogs, and who respect the city property they use, this legislation will legitimate them and will require dog walkers who lack ...
Cat Goes from Rags to Riches
Rome, Italy – Maria Assunta, a wealthy widow of a property tycoon has left $13 million dollars to her adopted cat Tommaso. At the age of 94, Maria Assunta passed away and gave her fortune to her cat that she rescued from the streets of Rome. Tommaso’s new fortunes include cash, as well as properties in Rome, Milan and land in Calabria. The fortune places Tommaso number 3 on the list of wealthiest pets, behind Kalu the chimp and Gunther IV the German shepherd. In an effort to make sure Tommaso was taken care of upon her demise, Assunta worked with her attorney’s to “identify an animal welfare association or group to which to leave the estate and the commitment of looking after Tommaso,” according to the Daily Telegraph. Unfortunately, they were unable to find a satisfactory association, organization or group that would make sure Tommaso was loved and cared for ...
Pet Safety First For The Holidays
Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada – Many of the decorations and treats we enjoy during the holidays can be toxic to our pets. Dr. Jaime Lecky, a Veterinarian at the Whitecourt Clinic offers some tips and advice for pet owners. According to Dr. Leckey, people food may be bad for your pet. "Some food is very dangerous but most people food is just unhealthy for your pet, even if it doesn't kill them. The best advice is to just avoid giving your pet any people food." Many pet owners give in to their pets begging over the holidays and provide them with table scraps which can make them sick. “Chocolate and the darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is to your pet, says Lecky, chocolate contains theobromine, which is harmless to humans, but toxic to pets.” “Grapes and raisins, according to Dr. Lecky, “are also harmless to humans, but can cause kidney failures in ...
Japan No-Go Rescue Window Opens
Fukushima, Japan – The Environmental Ministry of Japan along with the Fukushima prefectural government announced today that private animal protection groups will be allowed into the 20 kilometer no-go zone for around five hours to rescue pets. These animals have been struggling to survive since the March 11th nuclear disaster at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant caused by a tsunami. Those wishing to rescue any pets in the zone must receive an official permit from Fukushima officials which is issued only after they can prove that the pets’ owners have asked them to rescue their animals. They must be able to shelter the animals once found and show plans in advance that they have secured adequate shelters. Many residents are concerned that their pets will not be found in the slim five hour time frame. The permits will expire on December 25th. Immediately following the nuclear disaster, residents and rescuers ...
Military Dogs Suffering Combat Stress Too
San Antonio, TX (Photo Credit: Bryce Harper, New York Times) - Of the approximately 650 military dogs deployed with American combat forces, nearly five percent are coming down with symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome). Used to hunt down the enemy, clear buildings of bad guys, and sniff out non-metallic mines, these furry warriors are under the same duress as their human counterparts in the battle field. Canine PTSD has only been a diagnosis being used by military veterinarians for about 18 months, but it accurately describes the behavior exhibited by the dogs after exposure to gunfire, explosions, and other combat scenarios in the theatre of Iraq and Afghanistan. Dr. Walter F. Burghardt Jr., chief of behavioral medicine at the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base, describes behavior that can differ between different dogs, yet generally results in the same outcomes. Some become clingy or aggressive, ...
Let’s Make It A “No Pets For Gifts” Holiday Season
Lake Charles, LA - It's that time of year again when families contemplate the idea of purchasing a family pet as a holiday gift for a child or the entire family. While the thought is based in good will, the reality is that it continues to aggravate the problem of overcrowding at pet rescues and pet shelters. A thoughtful alternative for a young family member who may not have the maturity or responsibility to care for a new pet is to arrange for them to assemble and create a gift basket for a local animal shelter. This gift basket could include blankets, towels, toys, treats, and pet food as the shelter may need. In the process of creating the gift basket this future pet owner will learn about the plight of animals shelters and all the things that are needed to take care of a pet. It's a wonderful exercise in developing ...
Economy Taking Toll On Pets
As we continue to hear stories that the economy is in recovery the vast majority of people are not convinced, mostly due to consistently high unemployment figures. While families that struggle are likely to sacrifice many things they would like to buy, one thing that has increasingly become a burden is pet care. A new AP-Petside.com poll sites that 20% of pet owners did not take their companion to the vet in the last year, with about one-third of those saying that cost was the factor that prevented a visit. Most pet owners, however, acknowledge that veterinarians generally do not order treatments that are unnecessary, and that most pet owners trust their vet to give accurate and good advice. The average for all pet bills was $505, with the bulk of that cost being driven by the one in six pets with serious illnesses. Most vet bills for the year came ...
Most Effective and Humane Ways to Handle Fearful Dogs
There are many reasons why a dog can become fearful, shy, anxious, or even aggressive. Maybe he has survived a tragedy which leaves him scared and unsure or he has come from an abusive household. No matter what the reason for a dog exhibiting signs of being fearful, there are effective and humane ways to handle them and help them learn that they can be happy and fun-loving once again. In order to help people understand why their dog behaves the way it does and the most effective training techniques to change problem behaviors, Debbie Jacobs has created the FearfulDogs.com website to help people learn about the most effective and humane ways to handle fearful, shy, anxious and aggressive dogs. Debbie Jacobs is a professional dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of fearful dogs as well as the author of ‘A Guide To Living & Working With A Fearful Dog’ which was ...
A Possible Answer To Reducing Stray Pets
For the family who has lost a pet, the idea of their furry loved one being captured and summarily executed by animal control is a nightmare indeed. Some pets escape purely by accident, while others continually find ways to escape into the great outdoors. Either way, in many cities around the country animal control can swiftly capture an animal, and you may never be notified, even when they are properly licensed. For most families, making sure the family pet is protected is something they long to have more control over. Pets that provide a challenge to keeping them at home where they should be need an additional method of watchful care. Many veterinarians and pet shelters recommend that owners invest in a pet GPS system. Such systems, like Loc8tor are easily attached to the pet's collar, and make tracking them extremely easy. No more waiting for Fido to come home, you ...
3 Ways to Save Money When Stuffing Pet Stockings This Year
Pet owners across America are looking forward to spoiling their dogs and cats with treats, toys, and new things on Christmas morning, just like parents do with children, but you don't have to spend a fortune on stuffing their stockings. As much as we pet owners like to think that our furry family members know the difference between a $10 toy and a $1 toy, they don't! Here are a few tips to spoil the pants off your pet while keeping as much hard earned green in your pocket. 1. Put together a goodie bag of treats you already have - Instead of buying 5 new bags of treats for your dogs and cats, how about just buying one new kind and mixing those in with a few of the bags you already have. Guess what? They can't tell the difference between a red, green, or clear plastic bag either, so instead ...