SENATOR KRUGER & LOCAL BUSINESSMAN DELIVER NEW PUPPY TO GIRL WHO LOST “BEST FRIEND”
January 21st, 2008
Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) was joined today by businessman David Dietz, owner of the Puppy Paradise pet store, in personally delivering a new puppy to Zoe Del Toro, 8, the heartbroken child whose dog, Phoebe, died during a routine visit to the groomer last week. Dietz decided to donate the puppy after learning of the tragic story.
“Nothing can replace Phoebe, but I know this new puppy will have a place in your heart,” said Sen. Kruger of the tiny brown and white Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
“David Dietz is to be commended for coming forward in the spirit of generosity and making a little girl’s day,” he said. Dietz, whose store is located at
, is a longtime dog groomer who supports Sen. Kruger’s legislation.
Last Wednesday, Phoebe, a three-year-old shih-tzu owned by Zoe and her mom, Tina Del Toro of Bergen Beach, died after she was left in a drying cage too long at the Brooklyn Zoo & Aquarium, Inc.
Sen. Kruger, who held a news conference last week outside the Brooklyn Zoo, is introducing legislation in Albany to license pet groomers “in order to establish training, testing and standards of care” in this currently unregulated industry. The bill (S. 8279) also calls for a ban on the use of drying cages. The specific type of cage in which Phoebe died reaches a maximum of 136 degrees.
“Currently, a person may open a pet grooming shop without any formal training, no education, no certification and with no oversight,” said Sen. Kruger. “This lack of regulation can lead to irresponsible pet groomers harming and even causing the death of unsuspecting people’s pets.”
“This bill would ensure a regulated standard by which all pet groomers and pet grooming facilities would operate,” he said.
Dealing with a difficult dog
January 18th, 2008
Have a problematic dog? Sometimes even the most nervous or out-of-control dog can be calmed with a few simple training exercises. Below is one; you can review the rest at our website.
“Smart Tip: If you have to drag your dog to the car or he trembles uncontrollably during the ride, ask yourself whether you take him in the car only when he has to go to the veterinarian or kennel (or somewhere else that he might find unpleasant). If the answer is yes, take him for a ride around town or go somewhere pleasant, such as a playground. Do this several times so that he gets the idea that a car ride doesn’t always lead to a scary place.”
Read the rest of this article at puppyparadise.com.
Don’t turn a blind eye to animal abuse
January 11th, 2008
At one time or another, many of us have seen the sad sight of a dog permanently tied up in the backyard, covered in filth and often lacking in fresh food or water. Such animal abuse isn’t just cruel, though — it’s against the law.
As both a responsible citizen and as someone who cares for animals, it’s your duty to report cases of possible animal abuse to the authorities. Reporting can be done quickly, safely, and anonymously through the internet or a simple phone call.
Since animal cruelty laws differ by state, it can be difficult to find the proper agency to report cruelty to. The ASPCA has a great tool on their website that allows you to choose your state, then see which organization in your state has the authority to investigate animal cruelty matters. Click here to use this tool.
Animal abuse is a crime that can often be stopped by one phone call or email. If you know of an animal that is being abused, please contact the authorities in your state.
And the “Most Popular Dog” winner is…
January 4th, 2008
Going by American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations, here is the top ten list of the most popular dog breeds of 2007. What will 2008 bring?
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Dachshund
7. Boxer
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Miniature Schnauzer
Taking care of your puppy in 2008
December 28th, 2007
You probably already take great care of your puppy, but there are bound to be a few things that even the most loving owner didn’t know. For the new year, think about the following list of care items from Puppy’s Place:
“Make a ’safe puppy space’ in your home. Whether you live in a house with a yard or in an apartment, your puppy should have a space that is safe and just for her.
She should have a safe place to go if she is scared or scolded. Beds, baskets, and especially crates make an ideal place for puppy. She should have dog toys of her own all over to dissuade her from things that are not. She should have a special place where her toys are kept so she knows which are hers.
Make sure her home environment is a safe puppy space. If you can, get down on her level and crawl around looking for hazards. It is amazing how the view differs from down there! Look for electrical cords, small balls and toys that pose a choking hazard. Make sure all cleaning products are put well away. She should have no access to medications or cleaning supplies of any type.
Things like onions and chocolate can be toxic to your puppy. Never feed your puppy anything except her food. Changing her diet regularly or offering table food could cause her serious illness.”
Read the rest of this article at Puppy’s Place!
Why giving a puppy as a gift is a bad idea
December 21st, 2007
No matter what holiday you’re celebrating this season, please remember that it’s almost never a good idea to give a new puppy as a gift. You may have heard this before without being sure of the reasoning behind this statement. Petrescue.com has an excellent article that sums up many of the reasons why, including this one:
“THE ATMOSPHERE OF CHRISTMAS MORNING FRIGHTENS THE PUPPY.
People who study canine development and behavior have found that puppies, like children, go through developmental stages. The first fear/avoidance period in a puppy’s development occurs roughly between 7-12 weeks of age. However this is also when the puppy is developmentally best capable of leaving its litter and beginning to form bonds of attachment with its new family. Most breeders agree that this is the right time to send a young puppy home with its adoptive family. However, it is also extremely important not to over-stress or unduly frighten the puppy during this vulnerable time. Fears learned during this first fear/avoidance period can be very, very difficult to overcome later, even with the very best training or behavior modification techniques. In other words, traumatic experiences at this point can have a permanent impact on your puppy’s personality as an adult dog.
Your puppy’s experiences of leaving its mother and litter-mates, and its arrival in its new home and introduction to its new family, can permanently affect its ability to bond with and trust humans. The puppy needs to be introduced to its new home and family during a relaxed and quiet, gentle time, with a minimum of loud noises, flashing lights, and screeching children, ringing phones, visiting company, and other types of general hub-bub. Christmas morning is absolutely the worst time, in terms of the puppy’s developmental needs, for introducing this newly-weaned youngster to its new family.”
Read the rest of this article at http://www.petrescue.com/library/no-pups.htm. Thanks, and have a happy holiday!
Playing safely with your puppy
December 7th, 2007
Paw-rescue.org has some great tips on how you can make sure that you and your children are playing safely and appropriately with your dog. A must-read for all dog owners!
“Screaming, laughing children racing about with a dog chasing them. Someone grabs a stick and starts playing tug-of-war with the dog. The dog grabs a sleeve and starts to yank. Another child holds up a ball and encourages the dog to jump for it. Another child snatches the ball and runs off. The dog gives chase, the children scream even more. Then the children “pig-pile” and start to wrestle with the dog.
How often do we see situations like this? Are we aware that all these games can lead to a child being bitten and undesired behaviors in our dog? Playing in the manner these children are encourages jumping, chasing and even biting. The sounds and speed of the children can excite a dog to the point where he forgets not to use his mouth. Play like this can also make a dog feel threatened. Part of having safer children and dogs is playing safer games and knowing the rules of all games.”
Read the rest at paw-rescue.org.
Who needs store-bought? Make your own dog treats
November 30th, 2007
Many manufactured dog treats contain lots of empty filler that offers your dog no nutritional value, and in fact may even cause him to gain excess weight. So why not make the treats yourself?
Check out this article on wikiHow for a great recipe that makes delicious — and healthy — banana pupcakes.
How To Make Healthy Dog Treats (wikiHow)
Taking care of your dog in the winter
November 26th, 2007
Here are a few tips from the ASPCA on how to best take care of your dog in the cold winter months ahead.
- Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
- Never leave your dog alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
- Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Protecting Your Dog With Identification
November 16th, 2007
What Type of Dog Identification Should You Choose?
There are many different ways to help your dog be identified if she becomes lost. The most common types of dog identification are described below.
Collars and identification tags
These are the traditional way to identify a pet. Both metal and plastic identification tags are readily available and are not very costly. These tags can be personalized with your name, address, and telephone number so your dog can be easily identified and you can be notified.
The disadvantage of simple identification tags is that they can easily be removed or may fall off your dog’s collar. Without his identification tags, there may be little hope for finding a lost dog or puppy. Some people will remove a dog’s collar or tags so they can keep the dog for their own. Identification tags will not prevent these thieves.
Microchips
Microchip identification for pets has been an option for several years now. Today, most microchips operate on a 134.2 kHz frequency to be compatible with international systems, but the first microchip identification in the United States worked on a 125 kHz signal.
About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip identification is surgically implanted beneath the dog’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The tiny computer chip contains the name and address of the dog’s owner and is read with a specialized scanner. Microchips can be read at most animal shelters, as well as by many veterinarians.
Tattoo Identification
Tattoo identification is quick, simple, and doesn’t cost very much. Most dog identification tattoos contain the dog’s name and the owner’s phone number. These tattoos are usually placed on the dog’s ear or stomach and can protect against theft as well. The only downfalls to tattoo identification is that the tattoo may lose color and become difficult to read or the tattoo may be altered so the dog cannot be identified.
Joann Henry operates “Doggie Health Care” http://www.DoggieHealthCare.com a blog all about our beloved four legged family member’s health. She loves to give away free stuff! If you sign up to receive her newsletter, not only will you get some free tips to keep your dog healthier, but FOR A LIMITED TIME, she’ll give you a FREE ebook. For more information, please visit: http://www.DoggieHealthCare.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Henry