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by Kelly Marshall
For some dog owners, bathing their pet can be very challenging, especially if they have to hunt the dog down when it is bath time. A regular bath is an important way to help prevent skin problems and keep the dog smelling and looking great. Comb and brush your dog's hair prior to bathing to remove any loose hair, tangles, dirt and other sediments.
Before bathing your dog, gather up all the necessary bath supplies so they are within reach. If you place your dog in a bathtub full of running water and then have to go look for bath items you have forgotten such as shampoo or towels, the dog could escape and shake water around the house. It is far easier and safer to fill the tub ahead of time, gather up everything you need, have these within arms reach and then find your dog.
Some of the supplies necessary to bathe your dog include shampoo; brush or comb; bath mat or rubber mat for the dog to stand on in the sink or tub; hair conditioner; dry fluffy towels; sponge; large plastic cup or hand held sprayer; and a soft bristled brush. You may need to have a nylon leash and collar on the dog if it is difficult to keep in the tub or tries to bolt. Be sure to wear old clothes, a rubber apron for protection or even a bathing suite because chances are you will end up almost as wet as the dog. Keep all the required supplies are within arms reach.
At some point, many dog owners end up having to deal with a dog that rolled in something terribly smelly and unpleasant or a skunk sprayed their pet. If you live in an area where there are skunks or you like to be prepared in case of an emergency, there are several de-skunking preparations available at pet supply stores or often at your local veterinarians. An old remedy that many people swear by is pouring tomato juice over the dog's fur if sprayed by a skunk. Leave this on the dogs coat for a few minutes, rinse and continue doing this as required. Dogs with white fur sometimes end up with temporary pink or orangey tinged coats. A little dog shampoo, one-quarter cup of baking soda and a quart of hydrogen peroxide also works well but may require several shampoos.
To avoid vet bills and to keep your dog as healthy as possible, clean your pet's teeth, ears, eyes and watch for any signs of injury or infection. Some of the products or tools required for monthly grooming include:
* Moisturizing or canine eye drops * Cotton balls * Tear stain remover if necessary * Dog toothpaste and toothbrush * Mineral oil, ear wash or ear powder * Small scissors and/or tweezers * Heavy gauze or rags if anal glands require emptying
Along with these supplies, always keep a dog first aid kit handy in case of emergency.
About the Author
For more information recommended by Kelly Marshall, see these recent articles Chihuahua Dog Breed and Dental Care for Your Dog or Cat.
Going Through An Animal Rescue Group
by Jay Schindler
Animal rescue organizations or groups offer you a great place to get your next family pet. These groups are all different, but they do have common goals. These groups work hard to locate a permanent loving home for unwanted or misplaced cats and dogs. Many of these rescue groups rely on volunteers and donations to care for these pets while they are between homes.
When you begin looking for a rescue group to work with, you will find that most of these groups do rely on their hard working volunteers and support from the local community to operate. You will also find a wide variety of animals available through these rescue groups. Many of these groups handle all types of animals and you will find kittens, puppies, and even older pets available for adoption. You might be surprised to learn that some groups even offer exotic pets such as reptiles, pot bellied pigs and even guinea pigs.
As you begin looking at pets available through rescue groups, keep in mind some of these animals have had very hard lives. You may find a dog that was abused by its owner. You may find a female cat that has just given birth. Their owners have relinquished many of the animals offered by rescue groups because they are moving or can no longer care for them. In addition, some of these groups take animals that live in kill shelters or as strays living on the streets. Some programs also offer spay and neuter release program for feral cats.
Rescue groups do a good job of screening animals before adopting them out to new homes. They also screen potential pet owners. IF you find a pet offered through a pet rescue group, you will be asked to sign a contract saying that you agree to care for the pet long term. You will also be asked several questions about your home, your children and other pets you may have. This is not to be nosey-it is simply to help match an owner with the right pet. If the animal suffers from a medical condition, such as diabetes, the new owners know this up front before adopting. Having the animal's health history at the time of adoption helps the animal find a permanent home.
You can gain a lot of personal satisfaction by adopting your next pet through an animal rescue organization. You know you have done something to help and your new pet will show its appreciation. If you are interested in adopting through one of the many rescue organization, it is easy to find one in your area. Your vet can give you the contact information for organizations near you. Most of the time, these pets are kept in private homes (foster homes) until they are adopted. This gives the animal time to be socialized with other pets, children and time to get used to living in a home. Sometimes, animal rescue groups will bring their animals that need homes to pet stores or other locations for interested people to see and meet the animals on certain weekends.
When you choose a pet in a rescue program, be prepared to go through an interview and application process. The organization wants to know these pets will be well cared for the long term. You will probably be asked about other pets you may have, the age of your children, the size of your yard and your thoughts on a cat with claws if you are looking at a cat. This is to help match the pet with the right owner. Adoption fees vary by each organization, but you can expect to pay $100-$200 for a rescued animal. These groups do not make a profit. These fees cover the cost of the animal while it was in the care of the organization. This adoption fee usually covers vaccinations, medical exams, spaying, and neutering.
Getting your next pet through an animal rescue organization is a responsible way to get your next family member. You can also find many volunteer opportunities through these organizations.
About the Author
To learn about elephant facts and wolf facts, visit the Animals Facts website.
RIVERSIDE - With trembling hands and tears in her eyes, Mary Michael clutched tightly several photos of her dog, Rebel, who died after car thieves left her in a locked, hot vehicle and refused to help.
Michael called for justice as a woman charged with the Aug. 16 vehicle theft and the dog's death was arraigned Tuesday in Riverside Superior Court.
Another suspect was arraigned last week.
"We are hoping that these cowardly and heartless people will get the maximum penalty allowed by the law, and that Rebel will get justice for all that she needlessly went through," Michael said at a news conference from the front of the courthouse.
The photos showed the white wolf-malamute mix back when she was a puppy purchased 16 years ago in Mission Viejo to just weeks before she died.
Rebel was inside the Michaels' Ford Excursion, which was stolen at Riverside National Cemetery on Aug. 16. The couple were standing several feet away when a woman slipped inside the Excursion, with its engine running to provide air-conditioning for Rebel, and drove off.
Authorities found the vehicle the following evening in Moreno Valley with the windows rolled up. Rebel, who weighed 75 pounds and had hip dysplasia, was dead in the back seat from heat exhaustion.
"She's in my heart, and she'll always be there," said Michael, with her husband, Craig, close by.
Prosecutors and Riverside County sheriff's deputies identified three suspects
in their investigation.
Sheriff's deputies say a man and woman in a second vehicle pulled up to the Excursion about 2:30 p.m. while the Michaels were visiting the cemetery. The woman, identified as 31-year-old Gabriela Adela Briones, drove off with the Michaels' sports utility vehicle, according to Superior Court documents.
Mary Michael's purse and cell phone were also in the vehicle.
Briones reportedly confessed to taking the Excursion and parking it in Moreno Valley during an Aug. 25 interview with a Riverside County sheriff's deputy at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, according to a search warrant declaration written by sheriff's Cpl. Christopher Porrazo.
Michael Juan Deharo, 27, is suspected of driving the vehicle that dropped off Briones at the location.
A third man, Rhett Hermanson, 18, is accused of depositing personal checks from Mary Michael's checking account into his own account.
Briones pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and animal cruelty at her arraignment Tuesday morning. Deharo was arraigned Aug. 29 on charges of vehicle theft and receiving stolen property.
Hermanson faces one count of using a fictitious bank note, in a case separate from Briones and Deharo.
The Michaels also hope to change a policy that did not allow them to have their cell-phone provider track Mary Michael's own phone using GPS equipment without a signed warrant.
Publishers Weekly
One of the reasons why dog books continue to outsell cat books and other categories of pet books has to do with the very nature of what makes dogs unique,” says TFH publisher Christopher Reggio. “People want as much information as they can find about their companion, which creates a demand for a great variety of books relating to dog ownership.”
And variety is what publishers are offering these days—from baking doggie treats to knitting Fido a cap to reading him poetry, there's a growing array of titles for every breed and every need.
One of the most recognizable names in the panoply of dog titles is Cesar Millan—thanks not only to his several bestsellers, but to his TV hit, The Dog Whisperer. Millan's latest book, A Member of the Family: Cesar Millan's Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog, written with Melissa Jo Peltier, is coming next month from Harmony with a 750,000 printing. It covers, says executive publicist Tara Gilbride, “all of the essentials and answers the common questions families have about living with and caring for a healthy, happy dog.”
Another noted author of dog titles is Jon Katz, whose Izzy & Lenore: Two Dogs, an Unexpected Journey, and Me will be arriving in stores this month. In the words of Villard publicity director Brian McLendon, Katz “examines two of his exceptional dogs—Izzy, an abandoned three-year-old border collie, and Lenore, a jet-black Labrador retriever puppy—and the mysterious power they have in their interactions with the humans around them.”
Also coming from Villard is a novel by Merrill Markoe, Nose Down, Eyes Up, about a 40-something man who won't grow up and his relationships with his four talking dogs and the women in his life. PW termed Markoe's 2007 novel, Walking in Circles Before Lying Down, “offbeat enough to stand out of the pack”; that 2006 title has more than 100,000 copies in print.
Dean Koontz, while not a dog author per se, is well-known for his affinity to all things canine; he began adding dog characters to his bestselling novels with 2003's Watchers. Koontz's golden retriever, Trixie, gained many fans as an author in her own right (well, through Koontz) and as a blogger on Koontz's Web site, where she signed off each entry, “Life is good. Bliss to you.” Now Koontz fondly remembers his beloved friend, who died last year, in Bliss to You: Trixie's Guide to a Happy Life (Hyperion, Sept.), wise words on finding joy and living life to the fullest.
Two publishers—and their respective pooches—would seem to be seeking Marley-dom: to replicate the mega-success of John Grogan's irrepressible yellow lab hero, whose tale spent 81 weeks on PW's list, has four million copies in print and a movie version heading for multiplexes everywhere. Skyhorse plans radio and TV interviews for its January release of Mornings with Barney, the true tale of a mediagenic beagle who revitalized the career of his television reporter “dad,” Dick Wolfsie, by relaxing nervous TV guests, making sure the sets were stocked with his favorite toys, and even encouraging the producers to do more segments on digging. You go, Barney—maybe right onto the bestseller charts?
St. Martin's Thomas Dunne imprint bills Wally's World: Life with Wally the Wonder Dog as “a memoir about companionship and the lessons learned from a personality loaded, soccer-playing Bull Terrier whose face looks like a bicycle seat with eyes and whose preferences run to organic beef and high-thread-count sheets.” (Author Marsha Boulton is in fact Wally's proud mom.)
Doggone Funny
Two publishers have jumped on the wordplay bandwagon this season, with PhoDOGraphy and Indognito. The former, from Watson-Guptill's Amphoto Books, is subtitled How to Get Great Pictures of Your Dog and considers such topics as b&w versus color, indoors versus out, composition and more. Kim Levin's October title follows up her bestselling Cattitude; her 15 books have sold more than 400,000 copies and are published in six languages.
Indognito: A Book of Canines in Costume (Little, Brown, Oct.) is precisely that, with each page featuring a particular breed in finery that would do a Broadway designer proud (“chicken + pug,” “jailbird + Jack Russell terrier,” etc.). Photographer Karen Ngo, whose dog images have been published in magazines and on calendars, founded Scout, the first dog boutique in New York City's East Village.
Publisher/author David Ash at Basho Press in Mukliteo, Wash., has just added Haiku for Dog Lovers to his burgeoning Haiku for Life series (Poker Players, Catholics, Chocolate Lovers, etc.): “She hits a high C—/ Just outside the concert hall,/ Strays form a quartet.” Bypassing the dog lovers, St. Martin's Griffin imprint this month offers haikus written by Steve D. Marsh from canines' perspectives. Among the selections in Dog-ku: Very Clever Haikus Written by Very Clever Dogs is this joyous entry: “I found Nirvana./ It was right here all along/ In the kitchen trash.”
Equal Opportunity Publishing
Not wanting to play favorites, some publishers offer “matched sets”—dog and cat titles released in tandem. HCI launches a series next month with The Ultimate Dog Lover: The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Dog with Stories and Photos of Incredible Canines and The Ultimate Cat Lover: The Best Experts' Advice for a Happy, Healthy Cat with Stories and Photos of Fabulous Felines. The four authors—noted vet Marty Becker, pet-care columnist Gina Spadafori, animal-rescue volunteer Carol Kline and journalist Mikkel Becker (and Marty Becker's daughter)—says HCI's Kim Weiss, “have fielded just about every question under the sun pertaining to our furry friends' health, wellness, training and behavior.”
Also playing no favorites is Barron's, whose What if My Cat... (Jan.) follows last year's What if My Dog..., both of which dispense their practical information and concerns with a substantial dollop of humor. Says publicity manager Steve Matteo, author Claire Arrowsmith “covers all the bases with the book's subtitle—fights other cats... toilets around the house... scratches the furniture... kills birds... has mad moments... etc.?”
Two intriguing questions are posed in a pair of September Sterling titles: Why Do Cats Bury Their Poop? More than 200 Feline Facts, Fallacies, and Foibles Revealed and Why Do Dogs Like Balls? More than 200 Canine Quirks, Curiosities, and Conundrums Revealed by D. Caroline Coile and Margaret H. Bonham. Organized under such headings as Behavior, Emotions, Intelligence, Care, etc., the books provide answers to such queries as “Do dogs get sunburned?,” “Why do some cats lick people?” and, well, hundreds more.
As the number of dog owners grows apace, an increasing number of publishers are focusing on specific breeds. Willow Creek Press lends a waggish touch to two fall titles: The Yorkie Diaries: Inner Thoughts, Secret Antics & True Confessions by Melissa Sovey claims that there's more going on inside those furry heads than one might imagine; while Kim Leighton's offering sounds like a potential topic for Oprah or Dr. Phil—Lawless Labs: When Good Labs Go Bad considers such transgressions as disorderly conduct and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Meanwhile, the shoe is on the other paw with Your Inner Dog: Discover What Your Favorite Breed Says About You by Diane Morgan, an October TFH release that's targeted to pet parents who wonder what their choice of dog reveals about themselves.
Canine Health and Happiness
In Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life (Trafalgar Square, Oct.), Nancy Kay, a board-certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, navigates the confusing (and often expensive) world of veterinary medicine with reference sections on common symptoms, lists of questions to ask the vet and more. (Senior editor Rebecca Didier notes that the book's editing was overseen by company CEO [Canine Executive Officer] Laslo, the publisher's Vizsla.)
How to give not just Spot, but all our pets the best and happiest life—on their terms, not ours—is the premise of Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals. Publisher HMH has announced a 250,000-copy printing for this January title and plans a major promotional push, including a multi-city tour for authors Temple Grandin (Animals in Translation) and Catherine Johnson, online advertising, live Webcasts and more.
Judging from some publishers' new titles, “creating the best life” can often translate as simple pampering. Accessorizing one's pooch, it appears, might be as critical as accessorizing oneself. Pet Projects: The Animal Knits Bible (Taunton Press, Feb.), however, doesn't play favorites: in addition to canine coats, collars and caps, authors Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne provide instructions for a horse blanket, a hamster house and flowers for your koi. Don't ask. Coach leather, Louis Vuitton, filet mignon—not just for humans any more, says Ilene Hochberg in Posh Pups: Dogs Who Live Better than You Do, coming next month from Sterling.
Once your pup has a new wardrobe, it's time to think about food—no, not canned: homemade. Just in time for the holidays comes Parragon's Baking for Your Dog, which includes 30 recipes for cookies, brownies, muffins and more, all especially created and tested for Fido and Fifi. The publisher also offers a related gift: the Baking for Your Dog Tin Boxset features the book, cookie cutters and a tin for storing the dog biscuits. Yum.
Pampered or not? Holt's One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food (Sept.) is by journalist Michael Schaffer, who, according to the publisher's catalogue, lives “with his wife... and their well-loved—but not freakishly pampered, they insist—pets, Murphy the Saint Bernard and Amelia the black cat.”
Two October titles from New World Library bring a spiritual dimension to the category. Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs is edited by June Cotner, whose 23 books collectively have sold more than 800,000 copies. The 10th book by Linda and Allen Anderson, founders of the Angel Animals Network (www.angelanimals.net), Angel Dogs with a Mission: Divine Messengers in Service to All Life, collects true stories of the achievements of working dogs.
Continuing in a spiritual vein is a January Fireside title, All Pets Go to Heaven: The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love by noted psychic Sylvia Browne. Says associate publicity director Ellen Silberman, “Browne explains how pets 'live' in the afterlife, how we will see our deceased pets on the 'other side' and how animals fit into creation.”
In the interests of prolonging Rover's time on the planet, Quarry Books offers The Safe Dog Handbook: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Pooch, Indoors and Out by Melanie Monteiro; included in this March 2009 release are first-aid basics, travel tips, a dog-friendly plant guide and more.
Petfinder.com, a company that knows something about keeping dogs safe (since 1996, the largest searchable database of adoptable pets on the Web has facilitated 11 million pet adoptions) is joining forces with Collins Living on The Adopted Dog Bible: Your One-Stop Resource for Choosing, Training and Caring for Your Sheltered or Rescued Dog (Jan.).
Dogs and cats too commonplace? Think rodents. According to TFH publisher Christopher Reggio, “An estimated half million U.S. households own—by choice—a rat or mouse as a pet.” Useful training tips and fun ideas, he says, can be found in this month's The Complete Guide to Rat Training: Tricks and Games for Rat Fun and Fitness.
Almost Perfect
Mary Shafer, a marketing consultant in Ferndale, Pa., has four spirited cats, all rescued from shelters. This foursome, however, shares an unusual bond: they are each in some way disabled—like Idgie, for example, who was born without eyes. When Shafer, who started WordForge Books in 2005, couldn't find any titles on pet disabilities, she decided to publish one—the result, out next month, is Almost Perfect: Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them. As the book's press release notes, “It's easy to be happy when life has been safe and protected, but it takes a special kind of critter to triumph over brutal circumstances that would make most people give up.” In Almost Perfect, 11 writers—Shafer is one—share true tales of courage, ingenuity, perseverance and inspiration on the part of companion animals that have become disabled either through birth defects or injury. And it's not only the animals' stories, Shafer points out: “it's about the humans who found love enough to welcome them into their hearts and homes.” Shafer's marketing background is serving her in good stead: she's planning a postcard mailing to U.S. and Canadian public libraries and U.S. school libraries; using her contributors' media contacts to connect with broadcast and print media; inundate the blogosphere via publishers and authors; and target pet-related media with ongoing e-mail publicity.
Kitty Litterature
It's often stated that there are more feline pets than those of the canine variety; ardent dog lovers, however, claim that in fact more households own dogs. The difference, they say, lies in the fact that more cat owners than dog owners have multiple pets. Whatever side one takes, it seems that the number of new cat titles is multiplying as fast as, well, as fast as the kitties themselves.
One of the season's contenders for “top cat” is Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter, out this month from Grand Central. Dewey (full name, Dewey Readmore Books) was found abandoned some 20 years ago in the returned book drop of the Spencer (Iowa) Public Library by library director Myron, who ensconced the tiny kitten in the library, where he charmed neighbors—and eventually the entire country—for the next 19 years. When Dewey died in 2006, his obituary appeared in more than 250 newspapers, including the New York Times and USA Today, and his passing was announced on national TV news programs. Executive publicity director Matthew Ballast says, “We're so excited to be publishing Vicki's book that we're pulling out all the publicity stops, starting with a CBS Sunday Morning segment on Sunday, September 21.”
I Can Has Cheezburger? (Gotham, Oct.) collects more than 200 LOLcats from the enormously popular eponymous Web site, where some 100 photos are submitted daily and which has received more than 30 million page views since its January 2007 launch. The idea, explains associate publicity director Beth Parker, is that cat owners take a picture of their pride and joy, pair it with a zany caption and voilà: an LOLcat.
Author Jake Page shifts gears from his 2007 title, Dogs: A Natural History to ask Do Cats Hear with Their Feet? Where Cats Come From, What We Know About Them, and What They Think About Us (Collins, Nov.), which, according to the publisher, “traces the evolution of cats from the time they first adapted their essential feline form about 20 million years ago to the current multiplicity of domestic variations.” There must be something in the water: Steve Duno's another author who's following up his 2007 dog book, Be the Dog, with Be the Cat: Secrets of the Natural Cat Owner, just published by Sterling. Duno deplores the fact that many owners don't “think like a cat,” which he says results in frustrated pets with behavioral issues. Instead, he advocates a method of effective feline empathy—“how humans can sense and interpret the world with near catlike perception.”
Cat owners will certainly agree with the aptly titled Three Rivers Press December release It's a Cat's World... You Just Live in It: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Furry Feline. Questions both serious—“Can cats predict death or cancer?”—and less so—“How do I make my boyfriend like cats?”—are answered by vet Justine A. Lee, another author with a dog title to her credit: It's a Dog's Life... but It's Your Carpet was published earlier this year.
In November, St. Martin's brings back to print Cats in the Belfry, a 40-year-old classic that describes the tumultuous battle of wits and wills between author Doreen Tovey (and her husband) and Sugieh, a Siamese who ruled the roost with a vengeance. The new edition sports 20 specially commissioned black-and-white pencil drawings by animal illustrator Dan Brown. Another classic title being re-published—this one in an updated and expanded edition—is The Natural Cat: The Comprehensive Guide to Optimum Care (Plume, Dec.) by Anitra Frazier and Norma Eckroate, one of the first books to advocate natural cat care in its 1983 publication.
Are You Prepared to Give Your Dog First Aid If Needed?
By: Alton Hargrave
As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Whether a car accident has occurred or your dog has collapsed from health related problems, there are some things you could prepare yourself for. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.
Nobody expects you to know everything a veterinarian knows. But, don't sell yourself short. Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he or she will depend on you. And, sometimes the care you provide along the way will make the difference when you get to your vet. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.
Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective. Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant . An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. We frequently give a product called Nutrical to dogs when they appear to have a low blood sugar. A first aid kit should also include: ammonia water, antibiotic treatment, hydro cortisone ointment, eyewash, and antihistamine. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages, an enema bag, soap, and a plastic bowl for preparing dilutions.
Take some time to read those books you have in your doggie library. They will help you get familiar with first aid procedures for your dog. But, don't delay taking your dog to the vet when needed. Keep your vet's phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.
Author Bio
Alton Hargrave offers advice and resources for those interested in dogs. His website, Dog-Daze.net contains honest information regarding all breeds of dogs, diseases of dogs and how to maintain your dog.
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How to Solve Cat Behavior Problems Like the Experts
By Paul Kramer
Some cats like to forage in the garbage can and eat leftovers. Aside from being messy, this habit can be dangerous. Your cat may accidentally come into contact with cleaning products or other poisonous substances, or he could eat bones that could splinter.
If you catch your cat in the garbage, do not rub his face in the trash. Clap your hands loudly and say no. Pick him up and move him to another room. To keep your cat out of the trash when you are not around, make sure that the garbage can lid is securely attached or buy a lid that he can not open.
You can also move the garbage can to a pantry under the hallway or place it in a cabinet under the sink. Another solution is to empty out the garbage before you go to bed. Most garbage picking adventures occur in the middle of the night.
Although behavior problems can be frustrating, do not give up on your cat and decide that he is not worth the time or effort to make him well again. Most cats turned into animal shelters have been given up on by their owners because they have a problem.
Cats do not misbehave out of spite, they may simply just be doing things that seem natural to them. Cats will often misbehave to get your attention. A sudden bout of unwanted behavior could be an indication of a medical problem. Cats who do not get enough play or interaction with their owners can become bored, restless, and develop behavior problems.
Sadly, these cats are often considered unadoptable and are never given another chance at life. With a little patience, understanding, and reinforcement, you can modify your cat's behavior problems and restore harmony to your home.
Ferrets - Getting Started With Your Passion
By G D Williams
Would you like to know more about ferrets but just do not know where to begin or look? There are millions of other ferret owners who are overwhelmed by the large volumes of information available to them, about this charming and often comical furry creature. You may be trying to get a pet ferret, or living with someone who already has a ferret. You may all so simply be interested in the behavior of these musk-producing mammals, here are a few basic things that you can consider first, before you get started with keeping a ferret and it becomes a passion.
Ferrets like skunk's are also able to produce musk. Some countries allow you to remove the glands responsible for their musk production, this obviously will stop them smelling so much. But in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia you will find that this is not really necessary.
There fur is shiny and smooth to touch because of the natural oils produced by them. Regular bathing will remove some of these oils, which is not a good thing for your pets health. They also grow long nails, so a regular nail-cutting session will be in order for ferret owners.
There are many different colors and breeds available for pet owners. Breeding them is quite easy, especially when the ferret is mated with a pole cat, this was often done in ancient times. The younger the ferret is, the more difficult it is to look after. But then if you are able to obtain one that is still a kit, you will have the advantage of training it from a very young age.
As they grow older, they will need the company of other ferrets. Older ferrets will often will display domination or superiority to the younger ferrets. They also have the tendency to develop very close almost family like cliques and may not be as open to accept new ferrets in their circle easily.
Regulations vary from country to country, so when you are caring for your ferret, always make sure that you are properly acquainted with the regulations of the country you live in. You will find that some countries do not allow ferrets to be domesticated and become house pets, while other countries have no restrictions on keeping them as pets.
By nature, ferrets are adventurous and curious creatures. you will need to interact with your pet at least once a day, this will help satisfy there curiosity and for them to be happy under your care. They also like to dance in a strange manner when excited and this may often look like they are ready to attack, but in reality, they are just expressing their enjoyment.
Since ferrets are extremely adventurous creatures, you will have to keep an eye on them frequently. They have the tendency to swallow objects that can be poisonous or damaging to their digestive system. On top of that if they are not constantly supervised, they may be prey to some other animals like snakes and hawks on there daily roam about,
Ferrets became popular as pets in America only in the 1980's. Ferrets have been used for hunting for many years, mainly rabbits and rats, this is because they are well capable of entering rabbit warrens and tiny spaces. Their natural curiosity and lack of fear, makes them really effective aids to hunters. Even the Romans found many uses for them.
This article was written by G D Williams, an up and coming expert on pets. Did you find this article on Ferret Help useful? You can find out a lot more about Ferrets by visiting to my site Free Ferret Help which is full of useful information.
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