Are you thinking of adopting this holiday season?  I am all for that if you are adopting for your own family.  Taking on the care of another living being is a huge responsibility, and should not be thrust upon someone under the guise of a gift.  Giving a pet to your child or mate is a very loving gift.  You, as the “gifter” have given a pet that will love the recipient for the rest of their life.  You need to be ready to step in if the recipient is unable, or unwilling to care for the pet.

Have you ever heard that dogs are like little kids and cats are like teenagers?  Dogs need someone to take care of their needs. They need someone to provide food and water, take them for walks, and to love them.  Dogs thrive on companionship.  Without it they are miserable.  And they really are like little kids.  Leave them to their own devices and they will get into mischief.  Dogs are always in school with you as their teacher.  Cats really do seem much more independent.  Cats, like dogs, depend on your for all of their needs: food, water, a clean litter box, and companionship.  While cats love companionship, and love to cuddle, they can be aloof.

So where do you go to find a pet?  The shelters and rescue groups always have a large assortment of potential pets. Puppies and kittens are cute, and just like human children they need someone there to teach them and help them learn as they grow. They are babies that don’t know what is expected of them so they will need your time and attention to teach them how to behave. Older dogs and cats need homes, too.  Older animals can come with their own problems, but many are already housebroken. Some are trained in other ways, and ready to live in a household.

Rescue groups have a good handle on the dog in the foster home.  If you go that route you will be matched to a dog with a personality that fits your lifestyle. Some shelters know the personality of the dogs in their care.  Some don’t.  If you choose to adopt from a shelter be sure to talk to the staff about the behavior of the animals in their care.  Take the dog for a walk to see how he reacts with you.  Shelter dogs spend a great deal of their time in a run or a cage.  I have seen some pretty fancy shelters run by rescue groups.  These are more like homes and the caretakers really know their animals. Taking the dog for a walk will help them expend some energy and give you a better feel for their personality.

Books have been written on this subject, and this post just barely scratches the surface. Go to our bookstore links for Amazon or Barnes and Noble and type in “Adopting a Pet.”  Hundreds of books will be returned.  You may think you don’t need a book.  All I ask is that you don’t go into this blind.

The American Humane Association has a good article on what to expect when you adopt a cat or dog.  Go here to read the article:  http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/is-a-dog-right-for-you.html

If you decide you want to adopt, and need help finding a rescue group I would be happy to help you.

You can email me at : Dave@yourpetspace.info

Dave Jones is an insurance sales desk supervisor by day and a professional magician by night.  He lives with his wife Joy in Anderson, Ohio, but grew up on a farm with pigs, chickens and cows as well as dogs and cats.  You can follow Dave here on Facebook.

My name is Robyn Moore and I am the founder of Lil’ Paw Prints Animal Rescue Haven.

I founded the rescue in 2006 a year after my father passed away. My father was an animal lover and would bring them home and rehome them to new homes. I wanted to keep his memory and passion about animals alive which is why I created the rescue.

The rescue is made up of all volunteers. All the animals (we refer to them as “pets”) are housed in foster homes where they get socialization with humans and other pets. Being in foster homes also gives the pets the comfort and security they need to be rehabilitated in order to to be re-homed with the perfect family. All pets are spayed/neutered, dewormed, groomed, up to date on vaccinations and placed on a flea/tick/heart-worm preventative before they are able to be adopted.

The rescue is a self funded organization, which means the funds we get for a pet to come into our rescue and the pet’s adoption fee is what we rely on to keep the rescue running. We also depend on the generosity of the public with donations and sponsorship of the pets.

We hold a fundraiser every month to also help with the funds we need to help the pets. We are currently working on getting the funds to get our 501(c)3 for our non-profit status.

We pull dogs and puppies from high kill dog pounds/shelters before they are due to be euthanized. We also take owner surrendered pets. We specialize in medium/large birds, ferrets and sugar gliders aside from our dogs and puppies.

You can view all our pets, make a donation or sponsor a pet all through our website, www.lilpawprintsanimalrescuehaven.org. You can also see us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lppanimalrescuehaven and follow us on Twitter at @lpparh.

Your Pet Space is very pleased to announce that Lil’ Paw Prints will be the first local rescue to benefit from sales of our Pitch Your Breed Books!  So if you haven’t already, please consider contributing to this worthy project.  Thanks!

This week–performing pets!

Since it’s snowing here, we thought pets in snow would be fun!

I recently had a health scare with our greyhound, Seba.  As happens so often, once the stress was over, I wanted to share it with our readers…

She had been alternating between diarrhea and constipation for at least four hours, then that evening was pacing around the house, anxious and crying in obvious pain.  Greyhounds are a vocal breed, and Seba’s no exception.  But this was different.  Ironically, I’d just finished reading The A to Z Of First Aid and Emergency Care For Dogs and Cats by Aaron Glover.  One of the first things it says is, know your pet.  Well, this was just not Seba.

I knew it couldn’t be bloat, because she hadn’t been outside running around either before or after eating, but I felt along her abdomen anyway, to see if she would react.  She didn’t.  That was a good sign, but she still would not stop pacing and whining.  It was obvious she needed to go outside, and the telltale greyhound gas cloud was conspicuously absent.

But you see, the thing about Seba is: she’s terrified of the dark!  This has been the case since we rescued her.  At first, we thought it was a visual issue, but for her we concluded that something happened at the track to frighten her–perhaps the same reason she is afraid of brooms, who knows?  So of course, she had a diarrhea episode in the kitchen and then hid, because she was so ashamed.

I flipped back through the A to Z guide…but diarrhea was in the section on vomiting, with emphasis on the latter–and there was no vomiting!  In fact, Seba had gobbled up dinner and water as usual, then tried to mooch for more.  The crying started about an hour after.

Now I began to worry that she had a bowel obstruction.  She had enjoyed both a rawhide and a natural beef knuckle bone just a couple of days before–was it possible a small piece of either had broken off and was caught in her digestive system?  That could mean an expensive surgery was ahead.  Worst of all, greyhounds have been known to die from the simplest procedures requiring anesthetic, because they have so little fat on their bodies that the dosages have to be very delicate and precise.

Overnight, she got me out of bed several times, crying to let her outside. She would hover a long time near the open back door, then dash into the dark to go and I would wait by the door to let her right back in.  In the morning, she ate and drank as usual, but seemed exhausted and miserable from the night before…

I went into the office, and let my boss know right away that I would be going home for lunch to check on her condition and, depending on what I found, might not return that day.  Lucky for me, he and his wife have two dogs of their own, so he immediately understood my concerns.

When I got home for lunch, I was relieved to find no new accidents in the house.  But she did still have diarrhea in the yard.  So I called our vet’s office, and explained her symptoms.  Upon hearing that she was still eating and drinking, they felt it was unlikely to be a blockage, but instead some weird bacteria picked up in the yard. Apparently, this happens to a lot of dogs that like to experiment with eating things like grass, gnawing on downed tree branches and eating other animals’ poop.  Yum, right?  But they wanted me to bring her in for a stool sample, to be sure.

Once there, they felt around her abdomen just as I had, took the sample, then after testing it, prescribed an anti-biotic followed by a probiotic. Long story short: the anti-biotic worked almost immediately and she is feeling back to her old self. I’m so relieved!! (And not just because it was a $60 vet bill instead of $6,000).

Now, I told you that story to tell you this one: I’m not sure I would have taken the same steps with as much speed when this cropped up if I hadn’t been reading this book at the time…

Also, I discovered some interesting facts I didn’t know and you might not either.  For instance:

Checking for Dehydration:

1) Check the skin by using the turgor test. (Pinch a small area of skin together in your fingers–at full hydration it should spring back almost faster than the eye can see, and more slowly if the pet is dehydrated).  If the skin does not return to normal, the animal is 10-12% dehydrated and likely in critical condition.

(I actually did this for Seba, since I didn’t know for sure how long she had been having the diarrhea.)

Bee Stings/Insect Bites:

1) Certain stings can cause your pet to faint!

2) Never put pressure on the venom sack of a stinger still in the wound.  It can cause it to inject more of the venom into the pet.

Eye injuries:

1) Any time the pet’s eyelid cannot fully close, you can use pure honey to keep it moist until it can be treated.  Honey also gives an anti-bacterial benefit.

There’s this and so much more inside–so we definitely recommend this book!

Joy Jones is a syndicated columnist living with her husband Dave in Anderson, Ohio.  When not working on Your Pet Space, she writes a metaphyscial column called The Midwestern Buddhist as well as urban fantasy and humor.  You can e-mail her at joy@yourpetspace.info as well as follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

18 Tear-Jerking Moments Of Soldiers Reuniting With Their Dogs

From a Chihuahua to a Great Dane, dogs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and display an array of temperaments. Studies suggest that the type of dog breed that you choose can tell a lot about your personality. The following are a few generalizations about what owning a certain breed says about your personality. How similar to your dog breed do you think you are?

Bulldogs

Bulldogs are determined, persistent, and do not give up easily. People who own bulldogs are said to be silly and love to laugh but can be viewed as stubborn at times. They are extremely efficient and methodical in completing tasks. While they appear intimidating, bulldogs are gentle and loving members of the family known for being hopeless romantics with sentimental streaks.

Terriers

Terriers are energetic, fun loving, and playful companions. People who own terriers are said to be flexible and able to focus on the task at hand. Just like the dogs, terrier owners are often feisty, brave, and competitive. They are extremely talkative and have good sense of humor.

Labradors and Golden Retrievers

Labs and golden retrievers are friendly, good-natured, and make wonderful family pets. Owners of these breeds put their families first and said to be easy going and carefree. Labs and goldens are known for having an active lifestyle and loving the outdoors. People who own these breeds are social butterflies who are honest and lovable.

Beagles

Beagles are inquisitive, loyal, and willing to learn new things. Owners of Beagles tend to be open to new experiences, curious, and willful. Beagle owners make great friends and bring laughter and joy to everyone’s lives. They can also have a mischievous side.

Poodles, Chihuahuas and Toy Breeds

Owners of these breeds are sincere, fun loving, and loyal. Toy breed owners are said to love traveling since the small dogs make excellent travel partners and can be easily put into a carrier. Owners of these dogs take pride in their appearance, are very neat and keep very orderly homes. They are very versatile and can enjoy evenings in with a bottle of wine or a night out partying on the town. See article Where Are Toy Breeds Today?

Boxers

Boxers are busy dogs that exude high amounts of energy. People that own boxers are said to live life to the fullest and are known to be extremely playful. Boxer owners are busy, love life, and quickly welcome strangers as new friends. Boxers banish stress with their silly and playful demeanor and their owners are generally happy-go-lucky people.

Cocker Spaniels

Cocker Spaniels are sweet, respectful, and gentle. Owners of this breed are charming, trustworthy, and affectionate. Cocker Spaniel owners are said to lead busy lives but put spending time with their family first. They maintain a group of close lifelong friends, which they much prefer to spending time with strangers.

English Pointers, Weimaraners, Irish Setters

These breeds are naturally alert, likable, and well-rounded companions. Owners of these breeds enjoy being active, outdoor activities, and hunting. They have a great sense of courage, are highly intelligent, easily excited, and motivated. These breeds are very energetic and their owners enjoy intense activities such as all day hiking and extreme sports. They can get bored easily if not subjected to new experiences.

Greyhound, Whippet, Basenji (Sight Hound Group)

Owners of these breeds tend to be more relaxed, calm, and introverted. Sight hounds enjoy the company of close groups of friends and prefer social outings with small groups. They are highly organized, curious, and always alert. People who own sight hounds are fast and agile and often excel at sports, especially track and field.

German Shepherds

German shepherds are sometimes shy around strangers but warm up once they get to know you. Owners of German shepherds would do anything for their friends and make extremely loyal companions that are protective of those that they love.

Dachshunds

Dachshunds are stubborn and brave, often acting as if invincible. When owners of dachshunds want something, they don’t give up until they get it. Dachshund owners love gardening and just like the dogs, digging up things. They can sometimes be bossy and often dislike not getting their own way.

Rottweilers

Rottweilers are determined and are often described as intense. This breed commands a certain amount of respect and is considered to be a courageous breed. People that have rottweilers are confident and are loyal and devoted to their friends and loved ones. They are laid back but quick to react if someone rubs them the wrong way.

Pugs

Pugs are often viewed as the “class clowns” of the canine species. People who live with pugs are cheerful and have a zest for living life to the fullest. Just like pugs who will do anything for a good belly rub, their owners enjoy frequent massages and days of pampering at the spa.

Doberman Pinschers

These dogs are very serious, intense, and determined. Owners are leaders versus followers and love to plan and organize a situation. People who live with dobermans are said to be very organized and go about achieving their goals in a polite yet firm fashion.

Siberian Huskies

Siberian husky owners are huge sports fans. Whether it’s Monday Night Football or college basketball, it’s likely that they are out watching the game somewhere or within the comfort of their own home. Owners of huskies enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor sports. They can be strong willed but are lovable and welcoming to strangers.

Great Danes

Owners of Great danes are good-hearted and responsible. They tend to work hard and put one hundred percent into everything they do. Great dane owners enjoy staying up on news and current events and welcome the chance to debate important issues with others. This breed tends to be serious and enjoys relaxing around the house after the workday is done.

Bichon Frises

People who own bichons enjoy being pampered and are considerate of their appearance. Bichons are naturally sociable and are the happiest when they are part of a family or among a group of friends. Bichon owners are self-assured and gravitate towards a classy lifestyle. They are often wine connoisseurs and art aficionados who enjoy dining at 4-star restaurants and being seen around the town.

Australian Shepherds

Australian shepherds are active and thoroughly enjoy being outside. Owners of this breed enjoy playing Frisbee at the beach, going to the park, and camping outdoors. This breed has a passion for living life to the fullest and people who live with Australian shepherds are said to have a lot of friends. Aussie owners can be competitive, especially when it comes to a sports match.

Pit Bulls

Pit bulls have a strong desire to please and will do anything for their family or friends. Pit bull owners are courageous, full of vitality, and are constantly looking out for those they love. They enjoy being around children and make excellent parents and grandparents. There is no better babysitter than a pit bull.

Mixed Breeds

Mutt owners are fun loving, open minded, and carefree. They enjoy coasting along and riding the wave of life over following strict and rigid plans. They don’t sweat the small stuff and keep their eye on the bigger picture. In their spare time, mutt owners are often seen volunteering at or spending time with their diverse group of friends.

In the comments section below, tell us how similar to your dog breed you think you are?

Content courtesy of Cesar’s Way.

And today is dedicated to unusual pets!