Say Woof to Pet Adoption

A positive relationship between the human being and a pet is unanimous. When the love and care is unconditional it works wonders for the mind body and soul- for the pet and the owner. Pets have always been a source of strength, symbol of understanding and need for us humans to balance the nature around us. Pet adoption of different breeds of dogs, cats, horses, exotic animals are now available even online. Pet adoption has become easier with the help of the internet and now even children can choose the pet they want. Pet adoption can be done through various other ways like approaching the animal shelter, friends, rescue centers and communities that encourage people to adopt. Most people like adopting dogs and cats that are easier to domesticate. It is also easy to look after them and if need be take them along while traveling. They are perfect companions who can be trained to bond with humans. They are particularly easy going with children. But it isn't easy trying to find an animal to shelter especially if one is looking for a 'play thing' for children. Even adults have problems trying to cope up with animals they adopt. Hence a little care and wisdom before adoption helps, especially when it is being done to please children.

What you should know if you are buying a pet for a child.

A 6 year old child sees one of its peer groups playing with a dog or a cat and may want one. But not all children understand the meaning of having a pet to play with. They don't know anything about allergies they may develop, or may not know how to care for the pet either. Hence it becomes the duty of the parents to guide and the best thing is to approach professionals who can prove to be of assistance if the child is adamant on buying a pet. Approaching a reputed animal shelter is essential. There are numerous websites that have listings for pet directories. Find one that will put on leash all the queries that to be tackled. A small puppy or a growing kitten, there are plenty of choices for pet adoption. Read up material on the breed you wish to adopt, if it is your first time and the child needs it badly. Pets need to be trained, inoculated and given their own space too.

Pet Care and Messes - How Hydrogen Peroxide Can Make Your Life Easier

This is an unusual article for me. I am a Life & Spiritual Coach, not a vet, but I do have a lot of experience with my 20+ year old cat. I am so excited about how hydrogen peroxide has made my life easier that I want to share my ideas with you.

Animals can be messy. Especially, old ones. There are hairballs, vomit, and accidents. And of course, our pets love to step in things and track them all through the house. With two long hair cats, I have spent a fortune on oxy cleaners and other products that dissolve and clean the unwanted gifts they left me. The results were not so great. I have light colored carpet and tile in my home. Some of the products left stains or didn't completely remove the colorful spots in the carpet. Some of them would even attract dirt to the area. The carpet cleaner assured me my carpet was clean, just stained. He could get the stains to disappear for a little while, but they always seemed to return. He just kept recommending new brands of the same type of cleaners.

I cut myself one day and got a couple drops of blood on the carpet. When I checked online I learned that hydrogen peroxide would remove blood stains. I tested it on my light color carpet and there was no damage at all. And, it worked great. I felt inspired! How else could I use it? It cleans! It disinfects! It dissolves organic matter! And, it's healthier to have in your home than bleach!

Here are some of the ways that I use it now:

1. Spot clean and disinfect carpet and upholstery. (Test it on an out of sight area first to make sure it does not discolor first. It probably works best on light colors.)
2. It even helped older recurring spots that the carpet cleaner could not resolve.
3. Clean the floor around the catbox.
4. Clean areas on the tile where pets have tracked in dirt or other gross stuff. Organic materials dissolve and can be easily wiped up.
5. My old cat sometimes steps in her own stuff in the catbox. It can get pretty embedded in her feet and fur. I simply pour a little peroxide over her feet, let it dissolve for a minute or two and then dip her feet in a pail of water to wash. It's much easier on both of us than a bath or long struggle to get them clean. (Yes, this is possible to do with a cat.)
6. I also use it around the house for cleaning and disinfecting. I even clean my toothbrush with it once in awhile.

While I am not an expert and can make no specific claims, I can tell you that my life is a lot easier since I discovered the wonders of hydrogen peroxide. I have also saved a lot of money by not buying special pet products. Give it a try. Maybe you will get excited about it too.

Life Coach, Linda Luke, supports clients in reconnecting with their own inner guidance system and clearing the thoughts, fears, beliefs, and habits that get in the way of their having the life they want. Linda does this through one on one coaching by phone or in person. She also leads teleclasses and workshops and is available for local speaking engagements.

Hitting the Road With Hungry Pets

When you're planning to travel with your pet, remember that consistency is key to a complete and balanced companion-animal diet. Don't assume you can just feed whatever you find on the road, even if you're staying at the pet-friendliest hotels that offer menu options just for pets. You'll still need to bring a supply of Spot's regular custom pet food along for the trip, whether you're traveling across the country or just across town.

Planning a road trip? Bring along enough of your pet's food to last the entire trip. Along the way, Spot will register the enticing aromas of fast-food rest-stops long before you do, but please resist the urge to treat him to french fries and other greasy, salty treats. They're as detrimental to his health as they are to yours.

If Spot is accompanying you on a camping trip, don't count on splitting the day's catch with him; pack enough of his custom kibble to last the entire trek. Do share your supply of clean water with your pet. Letting Spot drink from lakes or streams is as bad for him as it is for you - it's a sure way to contract giardia.

Here's another good time to bring along a stash of Spot's custom kibble: If your pet is coming to the office with you (Take Your Dog to Work Day is June 25th this year) or joining you for a special occasion in an unfamiliar setting. Whether you feed him a full bowl of his food or dole out the kibble as treats, piece by piece, the familiar taste of home will help him acclimate nicely - and earn you brownie points for Spot's good behavior.

When it's warm out, urban dog lovers enjoy bringing pets with them to dine at outdoor cafes. To avoid having to fend off your dog's begging advances all evening - especially if the menu isn't vegetarian! - feed Spot a half portion of his regular food at home, then bring along the other half for him to enjoy at the restaurant. That should help him display good table manners.

Filtering Out the Filler in Your Pet's Food

People can learn a lot about good nutrition by feeding pets a high-quality diet - and what we learn can help us and them stay healthy and fit. This may sound like a daunting task, but it's really not. Practicing healthy eating is easy and fun, for you and Spot!

We've all heard the diet gurus' warnings about empty carbohydrates packing on pounds. Carrying excess weight isn't just unattractive; it's also unhealthy, as it can lead to a variety of conditions ranging from joint pain and ligament rupture to diabetes and heart disease. That goes double for our pets.

Restricting pets' carbohydrate intake is easy if we remember that dogs and cats are carnivores, not carb-ivores. When choosing a kibble brand, take care to select one that's high in protein and free of the high-carb fillers corn and rice.

Corn is a carb that happens to be a staple filler of many brands of pet food. Think about it: all over the world, for centuries, corn has been fed to pigs to fatten them up, and it's worked. To keep pets slim and trim, avoid corn in their diets. This will also prevent flatulence, as many pets - like many people! - have trouble digesting those sweet, yellow kernels.

Another staple of many pet food brands is rice, but this grain too can pack on pounds, and should be avoided. Plus, if you're serious about preventing cancer in your pet, you'll avoid gluten as much as possible. Besides rice, another source of gluten is, of course, wheat, which in addition to being the basis of pasta is also used as pet-food filler. Rice and wheat should both be avoided if your dog has epilepsy, as grains can trigger seizures.

Wheat and corn are both common allergens that cause itchy skin irritation in pets who are allergic to it. Many pets are also allergic to soy, so that too is an ingredient to avoid; it's commonly used in "vegetarian" pet foods as a meat-free protein substitute.

Now that you've trained yourself to filter out empty-carb fillers in your pet's diet, consider raising your own food standards. Try substituting rice and pasta with the gluten-free, protein-rich grain quinoa at your mealtime, and your diet will be as healthy as your dog's!

Dog and Cat Urn Choices

Anyone that has owned a dog or cat knows how important he or she is to the family. They liven up a room, keep you company on a lonely night, comfort you in times of sorrow, and your constant confidant for many years. When the pet passes away, you go through a grieving process just as you would if you lost a person you were close to and missed. Deciding to have your pet cremated is only half the decision; you must have a suitable urn.

Picking out Your Pet Urn Based on Your Budget

If possible, you should choose the cremation urns before your pet passes away. The main reasoning behind this is many veterinarians only offer one or possibly two choices, which may or may not be suitable for you.

There are several varieties of discount pet urns that you can find online, and you have a larger selection to choose. When you are on a budget, the wooden pet urns will be your cheapest option, but they are still very beautiful and something you will be proud to display.

Those that have a mid to higher budget, obviously have several other options including glass urns, ceramic, stone, and many unique pet urns. Although, any urn you select, will be beautiful, regardless of how much it cost.

Engraving Plates and Plaques

There is an option that allows you to have an engraved plaque or plate especially to place on the pet urn. You can think of these much like a headstone in a graveyard; it is your final thoughts to your pet and you can add the years he or she lived.

Where to Place Your Pet Urn When You Get Home

When the time comes and your pet passes, your veterinarian will arrange to have him or her cremated, and you can leave your urn that you chose earlier with them. Once the pet has been cremated, and the remains placed in the urn, the veterinarian will call to let you know you can pick it up.

Where you place your pet's urn is up to you. Some people choose to place the urn on the mantle above the fireplace. Other people have a distinctive small table in the home that is dedicated to the pet and the urn is set on the table. Regardless of where you place your pet's urn, it can be a source of immense comfort during your initial grieving period.

As time goes on, and even if you get another pet, you will always have your pet's urn with you as a reminder of your bond and the love you shared.

Final Thoughts

Giving your pet the very best you can afford when they pass away, is possibly more for you than the pet, but it is a way to help you heal from your loss and honor your pet, one last time.

Pet Cremation Urns, Varieties, and Meanings

There was recently a story in a newsletter concerning someone that had lost her dog that was 18 years old. The owner had the dog since he was just 6 weeks old. The dog was with her through thick and thin and was at her side for 18 years. The owner knew the dog was getting much worse as his hearing was completely gone by the time he turned 15, but he continued to play with his toys and was quite active. He developed arthritis and getting around was a bit more difficult than it had been just the previous year, but he was a trooper. At age 17, the dog developed a collapsed trachea, but with a short course of steroids, he bounced right back.

When the dog turned 18, he developed a mass near his spleen and of course, he was much too old to undergo surgery. They did not know what the mass was, but the owner decided not to put him through any additional testing and allow him to live out his final days in the comfort of home. Later that year, the mass ruptured, and her dear friend had to be put to sleep. She was right there by his side until his last breath and wept as if she had lost her dearest friend, because in reality, she had.

The story noted that the owner opted to have her dog-friend cremated, chose a marble urn, and displays it on the fireplace mantle to this day. She has since gotten another dog, but always remembers her little 18-year old dog-friend whenever she looks at his urn.

Most people that have pets feel exactly the way the person in this story felt about her dog. They become part of the family and it is marvelous that cremation services and urns are available for pets. It provides such a comfort to the owners in their time of grieving and serves as a memorial to their pet for many years.

Types of Urns

It is truly remarkable that there are such varieties of unique pet urns, which include wood pet urns, which is the most common type that many veterinarians offer their clients. There are special cat urns and dog urns. They come in a variety of styles and materials including metal, glass, stone, ceramic, and angel urns, to name just a few.

Final Thoughts

People love their pets, and they are one of their family members, which is the bottom line and why cremation urns are so valuable in helping people cope with the death of their friend. It is also a way of providing a memorial to their pet by providing their final resting place either in a beautiful urn or spread in a special place. If you know the end is coming for your pet-friend, take the time now to make the arrangements by getting an urn to have ready when the day comes. You then have your preparations in order, and it will make the entire process much easier.

The Best and Worst Pets For Your Kids

Looking for a furry friend for your kids? Or maybe a slimy one? Before you bring a pet into your family find out which animals makes the best... and worst pets for little ones. (You might be surprised at which animals fail the test!)
Fancy Rat - Best
Fancy Rats make great pets for kids... that is if parents can get past their "eek" factor. While they require a large caging area, if kept in a busy room of the home the rat will bond with the family and become a member of your clan in no time. Fancy Rats also enjoy being held and are actually highly intelligent.
Fun Fact: In Victorian times rich women would often take attic rats as pets and domesticate them. They would even dress them up!
Fish - Best and Worst
Goldfish can live up to 25 years... but usually they don't. A fish is a great starter pet for kids because they are easy to manage and require little cost to keep. However, goldfish are notorious for going "belly up"... so if you have a sensitive child they could be a crying session waiting to happen.
Turtle - Worst
Turtles are among the most desired pets to children. They are adorable and easy to handle. However, they pose a hidden danger that many parents aren't aware of. Turtles actually carry semolina. Cleaning the cage of a turtle or handling one without proper sanitation can lead to a doctor visit.
Dog - Best
Dogs are perhaps the favorite pet of families around the world. Not only do they have a generally long lifespan they also make fast friends with their owners.
While dogs are wonderful pets some are better for kids than others. Small dogs are often not a good choice for children as they require delicate handling. Their tiny bodies are also easily tripped on as children run and play. This can be dangerous not only for the dog but also for the children.
Golden Retrievers make excellent family dogs and English Bulldogs are another great addition. They are very loyal and good with children - however, they are very protective if strangers enter the picture.
Ponies - Worst
While ponies are great fun they are very difficult to manage. They require lots of space to run, a daily routine and they have a high cost of feed and maintenance.
Goats - Best and Worst
Goats are very intelligent. In fact, many goat owners argue that they are even more loyal than dogs. You can teach them tricks... and as a bonus they mow your grass and provide you with milk. However, the thing about a goat that requires a second thought is the fact that they are little escape artists and they do require a daily routine.
Lizards - Worst
Lizards are very difficult for kids to handle. Not because they cannot be handled but because they are VERY fast. Lizards also require the feeding of bugs and the use of heat lamps so the upkeep can be rather intensive. Heat lamps are also a cause of concern for some parents who fear they will get too hot and set fire.
Guinea Pigs - Best
While they smell to Timbuktu Guinea Pigs are actually a great pet for kids. They enjoy being held, have a 2 to 5 year lifespan and aren't known to bite as often as hamsters. Guinea Pigs are also easier to handle as they don't require as delicate a touch as mice and hamsters.
Ferrets - Worst
Ferrets are cute... but they give off a musky scent and even worse they can give you a very bad bite. This is especially worrisome to parents of small children. Bites can easily become infected by little hands. So while ferrets are adorable and we loved them in Rikki Tikki Tavi... until kids are older we'd steer clear.
When it comes to pets only you and your family can decide what pet is right for you. While a dog might be a great choice for one family, a snake might suit another just fine.
Sit down with your family and decide what kind of responsibility you can comfortably take on, plan for bumps in the road and whatever you choose... choose to love it for life. When you do it will pay you back by loving you for a lifetime.