For every new fan we received in the month of November we have donated $1.00 to the OVC Pet Trust Fund. With that being said, we have raised $1402.00 (plus $75.00 from our staff) for this great cause.

Thank you to all those who became a fan of Petsecure and helped FURther the fight against this deadly disease!

Link: http://blog.petsecure.com/my_weblog/2009/12/index.html

Find the Right Collar:  The most common type is a buckle collar. It’s ideal for small pets like cats and small dogs. If your pet is active, and you have difficulty restraining him, a breakaway collar is a good option. For training purposes, a training collar is another choice. Talk to your veterinarian for the best collar for your pet.

Find the Right Size: Most collars are adjustable. It’s important to select a collar that is sized just right for your pet. Measure your pet’s neck with a tape measure. Once the collar is around his neck, make sure you can comfortably slip three to four fingers in between the collar and his neck. You don’t want the collar to be tight. You can also ask your pet store owner to help you with the fit. Some pet stores will custom order large and small size collars for your pet.

Find the Right Style: There are so many designs to choose from—from frilly to plain to fashionable.

Choose the Right Materials: Collars are made from leather, canvas, plastic, and metal. For those of you in hot climes, canvas is a good option because it’s cooler than leather and lets the skin breathe more easily.  Make sure the material is durable.

Don’t Add a Lot of Extras on the Collar: I hate bells on cat collars. I just think I wouldn’t want to hear a bell ringing all day long. I also make sure that any attachments—like I.D. tags—are securely attached and cannot be swallowed.

 Link: http://www.petnewsandviews.com/2009/12/04/5-tips-on-finding-the-right-collar-for-your-pet.aspx

Eleven years ago, Iams partnered with Helen Woodward Animal Center and organized 14 San Diego area shelters and found homes for 2,563 orphaned pets. The program has now gone nationwide and the goal this year is to find homes for 1.5 million pets before Jan. 4. As of Dec. 2, the Home 4 the Holidays Web site was showing 496,657 pets adopted for 2009. “Shelter pets are not damaged pets, quite the contrary,” said Steve Fries, division manager for Moreno Valley Animal Services, “New shelter pet owners report great success after adopting.” Each pet is sent home with a “Welcome Home” package that includes Iams product coupons and other items to help the new pet owner get a good start. “The great payoff in adopting a shelter pet is a daily experience for the new pet owner,” said Fries, “companion animals offer much and ask for little in return.”

Link: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_petcolumn07.3b38333.html

“The implications involved in keeping exotic animals as pets are great,” said Sinclair. He said many people bought the animals on impulse and did not understand their feeding and housing needs. It could also be expensive to keep them.

The SPCA had found that some people were even keeping social animals, such as meerkats and marmoset monkeys, as pets.

“They forget that these animals require a social network among same species to ensure normal and non-aggressive behaviour,” said Sinclair.

Link: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=nw20091207110509122C177876

Ticks: Although tick nymphs peak in the spring months, the number of adult deer ticks is higher in the fall than it is during any other part of the year. Deer ticks are the ticks that are responsible for spreading Lyme disease—which can be just as much of a danger for your pet as it is for you. If you’re worried you might have a dog tick problem, there are several things you can do to help.

Link: http://www.bringpetshome.org/community/blogs/petlovers/archive/2009/09/09/seasonal-pet-tips-autumn-is-tick-tick-ticking-closer.aspx

Eating Well
Most dog or cat food kibble you will see at the supermarket is so very bad for our pets. In these cases the animals used to make many pet foods are classified as “4-D,” which is really a polite way of saying “Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Down (Disabled)” when they line up at the slaughterhouse. Unless that can of Friskies or Dog Chow is labeled FDA Food Grade Meat than its not fit for people to eat but for some reason its okay for our pets? I don’t think so!

Natural and organic pet foods use meats that are raised in sustainable, humane ways without added drugs or hormones, minimally processed, and preserved with natural substances, such as vitamins C and E. Certified-organic pet foods must meet strict USDA standards that spell out how ingredients are produced and processed, which means no pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients or genetically engineered ingredients.

Poop Cleanup
Make sure to use biodegradable doggy bags. And for kitty cats avoid clumping clay litter at all costs. It’s really harmful to the planet and if the cat was to ingest some, it could be very hazardous to your cats health. Clay litter contains sodium bentonite that acts as the clumping agent and it can poison your cat through chronic ingestion through their constant need to groom. Because sodium bentonite acts like expanding cement—it’s also used as a grouting, sealing, and plugging material—it can swell up to15 to18 times their dry size and clog up your cat’s insides. I would highly suggest an Eco friendly kitty litter such as FelinePine.

Safe Cleaning Products
None of us wants to live in a chemically toxin filled household. So I would eliminate all bleach products in your bathtubs or sinks. I know after a shower one of my cats loves to lap up the leftover water in the tub for some reason and if it were cleaned with bleach that could be very harmful to their health. And we know dogs are known for getting into the toilet water. So make sure you use cleaning products made from safe natural and non-toxic ingredients to prevent exposure to the hazardous synthetic chemicals conventional cleaners often contain.

Play Green
Many toys these days are dangerous and harmful for our pets. I came across this sad story of just how dangerous they can be zootoo.com. Not only can accidents happen through accidental ingestion or other ways alot of pet toys are known to contain elevated levels of deadly toxins. Some tests have revealed high levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium as well as lead, so it is a combo platter of lethal chemicals. You wouldn’t let your child put a toxic toy in there mouth, so why let your pets (which most people consider there babies) do so? Shop for green pet toys at Shopgreenpets.com or find them in your local pet store.

Link: http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/2009/06/top-green-pet-tips.html

Here are a few suggestions from the experts at GoPetFriendly.com, armhammerpets.com and woofreport.com:

Warn guests
• Before guests arrive, tell them you have a pet and describe its size and personality. Ask them if they suffer from pet allergies and how to best alleviate their sensitivities. Most people with pet allergies are generally sensitive to dander, saliva and urine.

Brush up on obedience
• Simple commands such as “stay,” “down” and “drop it” can keep a dog from bolting out a door, greeting guests inappropriately or ingesting something that could be harmful.

Clean up
• Thoroughly clean and vacuum your entire home, and pay special attention to your guest room. Open a window, run a fan to circulate air, and place fresh flowers around your home. However, be careful that these don’t create hazards for your pet. After the room is prepared, limit pet access. It is also helpful to keep a lint brush handy.

Rearranging
• If you’re moving furniture to accommodate visitors, do so a few days before they arrive so your pet can get used to the new arrangement. Put away pet toys and bedding.

Make a retreat
• Many pets can become overwhelmed with holiday gatherings. Having their bed or crate, favorite toys, food and water in a quiet room creates a welcome refuge where they can relax away from the foot traffic and unfamiliar faces in their home.

Keep schedules
• Take your dog for a walk before your guests arrive, and try to keep to his regular routine because dogs love the predictability of their feeding and exercise schedules.

Make introductions
• Many little visitors to your home might not have pets of their own. Show them how your cat likes to be petted, what treats the dog likes and how to behave around the animals. Make sure an adult is with the children whenever they are with a pet.

Treats
• Many foods such as onions, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate and alcohol served at the holidays are toxic to your pet. Poultry bones splinter and can cause serious health issues. Any unfamiliar foods can lead to gastrointestinal distress. Keep your dog’s favorite treats on hand for your guests to offer him. This will not only make sure he enjoys their company but also will prevent unauthorized snacking on people food.

Guard the door
•  Since visitors may not know that your dog or cat plans to make a run for it every time the door opens, it’s best to share your tips for keeping the pet inside when entering and leaving. A “Keep Pup/Kitty Inside” note on the door also may help when you’re not around. Also make sure your dog is wearing a collar with current ID in case of any mishaps.

Monitor your emotions
•  Overexcitement, anxiety and stress are common emotions around the holidays. Remember that your pet will pick up on your feelings, so relax, stay calm and have fun.

The pet food industry is big business — and with good reason. There are well over 100 million dogs and cats living in American homes, plus who-knows-how-many more in shelters, catteries, and kennels across the country. To top it all off, you have thousands of people feeding strays. If you figure a single cat can go through some 90 pounds or more of cat food in a year, we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars being spent annually, just to feed the kitty.

Just like human food, there are some tasty feline treats that are good for cats and some things that are basically junk food. An occasional snack of the not-so-healthy stuff shouldn’t do any permanent harm but don’t make it a regular part of your cat’s diet.

Can Cats Be Vegeterians?

The wild ancestors of the modern house cat were hunters — an instinct your cat still has. Whether Tabby is bringing you gifts of demised birds and mice or pouncing on a piece of lint, she’s expressing a powerful natural drive to stalk and kill prey. If you doubt that your cat is a natural-born meat eater (and predator), just take a good look at her teeth the next time she yawns. Those fangs are not designed for eating alfalfa sprouts.

The fact is your cat is so much of a carnivore, she can’t survive as a vegetarian. There are certain nutrients found only in animal proteins that your cat needs. One of these nutrients is an amino acid called taurine. Without taurine, cats can go blind and develop enlarged hearts, which will likely give out on them well before their time. And unlike dogs, cats require a dietary source of vitamin A and a fatty acid called arachidonic acid found only in animal tissue. That’s why you should never feed dog food to your cat. Dog food just doesn’t have enough of the right kinds of nutrients for cats. By the pound it may be cheaper to feed dog food to your cat, but it could cost your cat her health, her sight, or even her life.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should feed your cat raw meat or let her depend on hunting as her only source of food. It’s been hundreds of years since cats lived in the wild, so their hunting skills are more than a little rusty. Plus, cats that hunt or eat raw or undercooked meat can pick up several kinds of diseases — including some that might get passed on to you.

Link: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/how-to-care-for-a-cat3.htm

Many children, especially very young ones, do not realize that pets are living animals and not toys. Failing to teach a child how to handle pets properly can result in suffering on the part of the pet and, in some cases, injury to the child.

To prevent children and animals from getting hurt, it is wise to teach children how to properly handle pets. When introducing a pet for the very first time in a household that has young children, parental supervision is very important. Supervision is a must until parents can be certain that a child is able to handle and interact with the pet in a responsible and humane manner. Initial supervision also allows the parent to make sure that the pet is safe for the child. This is especially true with children under five years of age.

Children must be taught how to show affection towards pets. Most children tend to “pat” animals rather than “pet” them, and this could prove too rough for some pets. They must be taught to be gentle and not to push, prod, poke, or tease pets in any way. They should also be shown the proper way to stroke a pet, as well as the correct way to pick up a pet.

Whenever possible, children should be involved in the care, feeding, grooming and training of the pet. Involving the children in the daily care of the pet instils a sense of responsibility in the child. It also teaches the child that the pet is dependent on him or her for good health. Parents can put up a list of daily pet chores that the children can check off once they have completed the assigned chore. At the same time, parents must make sure that these chores are being completed, since failure to do so can result in suffering on the part of the pet. The family veterinarian can be of considerable help in these efforts by discussing the importance of health care, grooming and proper feeding, with children.

Respect for a pet’s privacy must also be instilled. Pets should have a “private area” such as a crate or a specific corner of the house to allow them to get away from kids from time to time. Children must be taught to respect this need for privacy and the existence of a private area.

Children should be made aware that quick and sudden movements or loud noises/yelling might startle or frighten animals. They must be taught that animals prefer to be handled in a gentle and quiet manner. Otherwise, pets may become frightened and reluctant to be approached or handled, or worse, may bite.

Before handling or petting an unfamiliar animal, children should be taught to first ask for permission from a parent. Not all animals are necessarily friendly and some may even perceive a child as a potential threat. In fact, animal bites most often involve children. In the case of dogs, children should be taught not to stare directly at a dog, as this may be perceived as a threat.

Pets have been shown time and again to be valuable tools in teaching children respect, empathy, responsibility and gentleness, traits which stand them in good stead throughout their lives. The bond between a child and a pet lasts a lifetime and enriches their lives as nothing else can.

Link: http://www.my-dog.info/getting-a-dog/children_handle_pets.asp

Do your research: find out all you can about the type of lizard you want, then carefully consider if you can provide the care required over the entire lifespan of the lizard.

• For many lizards, you are making a long term commitment.
• While a lizard may be inexpensive, the equipment needed to properly care for a lizard may cost many times more than the lizard itself.
• Find out how large your lizard will get as an adult. Those cute little hatchling iguanas grow into 5-6 foot lizards that need a lot of space and a lot of care.
• Be aware that all reptiles can carry Salmonella bacteria. Read about the risks and how to minimize them in Salmonella – Risk from Reptiles

About Choosing Your Lizard

Get a captive bred lizard from a reputable breeder, if possible. Wild caught lizards tend to be more stressed and prone to parasites and disease, and more difficult to tame. For more about the advantages of captive bred reptiles, see Should I Get a Wild Caught or Captive Bred Reptile?

You will also want to do a cursory exam of your lizard to check for any signs of illness: see Choosing a Healthy Reptile for areas and signs to look at.

What Kind of Lizard?

Lizards for Beginners

If you are new to lizards, start with one of the easier species to care for and handle. All of the following are suitable for beginners, if you are willing to invest in the proper equipment (proper UV lighting tends to be expensive, though there are more options than there were in the past):

• Leopard Geckos – the ultimate starter lizards: small, easy to handle, only need a small tank, and do not need special UV lighting. Crested geckos and fat tailed geckos have similar needs and are good choices too.
• Bearded Dragons – docile and easy to handle, but need a relatively large tank and UV lighting.
• Blue Tongued Skinks – generally docile, but need a good sized tank and UV lighting.
• Green Anoles – smallish lizards that are readily available and don’t need a huge tank, but do need UV lighting.

More info: http://exoticpets.about.com/od/lizardsaspets/a/lizardspets.htm