Purebred Rescue Clubs

For those looking for a more specific breed when it comes to adopting a pet, a purebred rescue club might be the perfect alternative to a breeder or a local shelter. These rescue clubs work hard to find purebred animals in shelters and adopt them out to the best possible owners. In many cases, the clubs will send volunteers to shelters to remove specific breeds. These purebred rescue clubs then put prospective owners through a long and detailed interview process. During this process, members will often do a home visit to make sure that the would-be adopter has the right setting for the breed.

Because of this detailed process, rescue clubs often have a higher adoption success rate than traditional rescue shelters. These clubs are devoted to finding the right owner for the right breed. They hope and strive to make the adoptions final.

These specialized rescue clubs are for more than just dogs. There are clubs for horses, birds, cats and other exotic pets. For more information on adopting purebred animals from these clubs, you can contact your local vet or turn to the internet. To search on the internet, use Google and type in your breed preference + your local area + “rescue” and you should see a list of area clubs.

Natural Disaster Preparation for Pet Owners

Each year many pets are lost due to natural disasters and not returned because they are not properly identified. Many pets can also be injured or become sick during natural disasters. Knowing this information, it is important to put an emergency plan into action so you can protect your pet and make it easier for them to be returned to you if they become lost

Here are some other tips that can help in preparation for a natural disaster

• Do not leave your pet if you have to evacuate. If you must evacuate, leave enough food and water for 48 hours, and post a note for rescue workers
• Have a leash and pet carrier available
• Keep the names and numbers of emergency vet care handy
• Keep the names and numbers of local shelters. Call these first if your pet does get lost
• Have your pet micro chipped and well identified
• Pack a pet first aid kit. Include the following items in this kit
1. Vaccine records
2. Pet food and water
3. Any prescriptions your pet is taking
4. Adhesive tape, bandages, cloth and gauze
5. Muzzle for dogs

These tips should cover most natural disasters but it is a good idea to get more information about the natural disaster that is most prevalent in your area. For more information contact your local vet or Humane Society. You can also visit www.avma.org, the site of the American Veterinary Medical Association, for more tips on pet safety.

Swimming Basics for Dogs

With the summer heat in full swing, many owners and their dogs are taking to the water for some cool relaxation. Whether you will be hitting the beach or the pool in your backyard, you need to make sure your dog can swim. Not all breeds are meant to be swimmers, but with a little encouragement and practice, you can teach your dog to keep up with the best of them. Below are some tips for training your dog to swim.

- To help keep your dog calm, start in a quiet place with little distraction. Some dogs will be nervous around the water and few distractions will help keep them calm and their attention on you and swimming.

- Use a happy, upbeat voice to keep encouragement positive. Use a favorite toy or treats to aid in the encouragement process.

Photo Credit: http://www.ewashtenaw.org/news/2007/assets/doggie_swim2_in.jpg

- Don’t throw your dog in the water. This can traumatize him and make him more reluctant to learn. Gradually expose your dog to the water. If they don’t want to go in at that time, don’t force him. Positive reinforcement will help your dog learn the basics. Use treats and toys when necessary

- Safety is key – Purchase a dog life vest to help with the learning process. This vest should also be worn by the dog while on boats, docks and other places the dog may go near the water. For teaching purposes, the life vest can be used for support and to get the dog out of the water easily.

- Once your dog becomes proficient, it is still important to watch your dog while he is in the water. Try to be in the water with him so you can help if he gets into trouble.

With a little practice and positive encouragement you and your dog will be enjoying many summer swimming outings for years to come.

Teen Detects need for Pet Car Alarm

A 13 year old Canadian boy is working with local businesses and technology agencies to develop a pet car alarm. The alarm will alert pet owners to dangerous heat and humidity levels for cars. Brian Larson is trying to reduce the number of pets that suffer from heat stroke and die in cars that become too hot. Larson first had the idea two years ago when his aunt and uncle lost two Chihuahuas to heat stroke. He said the windows and vents were open, but the heat was too much.

Larson will be conducting research all summer to determine what temperature and humidity levels can reach in the interiors of cars. He will use this information to produce the prototype pet car alarm. The alarm will have two separate parts. The first part will be an electronic temperature gauge installed in the car. The second part will be a device carried on the key ring that receives signals from the electronic temperature gauge. When temperatures reach dangerous levels, the gauge will send a signal to the owner alerting them that the heat levels are increasing and may not be safe for pets. Once the research is complete, they anticipate that the prototype should take two months to build.

Hot cars and pets don’t mix, so until this product is available to the general public, here are a few things you can practice to ensure your pet’s safety this summer.

· Have extra water available

· Never leave a pet in a car unattended, even with the windows down

· If your pet is acting unusual because of the heat, get them to a vet immediately as it might be the first signs of heat stroke

· If your pet becomes overheated, get them to a cool area and wet them down with water or a cool sheet or towel

Microchipping your Pet

Recently, the Today Show featured a story about a Beagle named Rocco who had been returned to his family after being lost. The reason this story is so incredible is because Rocco was found 850 miles away from where he was lost, 5 years later. In 2003, Rocco slipped under a fence in New York City. The Villacis family placed posters and signs around their neighborhood and surrounding area in hopes that someone would return Rocco. Some time passed and Rocco wasn’t returned. While they feared Rocco was lost forever, now 11 year old Natalie never gave up hope that Rocco would come home.

On July 5^th, 2008, the Villacis family received a call from Liberty County, Ga., Animal Control. The family was surprised to learn that the shelter said they had their dog. The Villacis family didn’t believe it at first, but when the shelter revealed the name of the dog, two members of the family hopped a plane to go retrieve him. Rocco is reunited with his family. Because he was microchipped, the shelter was able to access his data from a database and contact the family.

This goes to show you how important it can be to microchip your pet. The process is virtually painless and for a small subscription fee, you can have the peace of mind that your pet can be returned if lost. A unique ID number is assigned to each chip which is readable by scanners provided to shelters and vet offices.

For more information about microchipping your pet, contact your local shelter or veterinary office.