There are usually two reasons why dogs are stolen. They are stolen for monetary gain or to be used in illegal animal fights. It’s important that you are aware that this can and does happen more than you would expect.  To protect your pet, all you need to do is use a little common sense. Never let your pet wander freely without supervision. Never go into a store or restaurant and leave your pet tied to a post or tree outside. I’m sure you’ve seen this frequently especially if you live in an urban area. Secure your yard with the proper fencing.  Make sure that your pet is wearing identification tags. Consider getting your dog micro chipped. This is a procedure where a small chip in injected into your pet. It contains all of the necessary information for tracking his owner. It’s painless and can be done anytime by your vet.  Keep updated pictures of your pet on hand. Make sure the pictures contain any special markings on your dog. Finally, some pet insurance plans offer assistance if your dog is lost or stolen.

Remember, your pets count!

Going on vacation with a dog could be rough. It’s just as hard leaving your dog in the care of a pet sitter while you’re gone. There are things that you should do to find a reputable one. The first thing that I would recommend  is to check with your vet.  You may find that one to the staff members does siting on the side. It”s also a good idea to check with other pet owners. See if they could recommend someone to you. Pet sitting is a word of mouth business.  You may prefer to hire a professional pet sitter from a nationally recognized company. Try searching through the National Association of professional pet sitters  or  Pet sitters International you may find just what you are looking for. Always check references and have a great time!

Remember, your pets count!

Did you ever wonder why your cat always rubs up against you? They are putting their scent on you. It’s a sign of affection.  Cats have scent glands in their head and on the sides of their mouth.  When they groom themselves, their scent gets spread onto their fur. When they rub up against you, they are including you as part of their little world.  They want you to smell familiar because that’s reassuring to them.  The cat is really saying that he likes you and feels safe around you.  They also have glands in their paws which is one reason why when you’re stretched out on the couch watching your favorite TV show and having a snack, they will walk all over you. So don’t get mad if they make you spill your beer, they’re only saying that they love you!

Remember, your pets count!

Dog hair mats are impossible to comb. They are masses of shed and un-shed hair, dirt and debris. Long, thick, curly or silky haired dogs are most vulnerable to mats.So are dogs that like to play in water. How can you prevent these awful mats from forming?  Brush your dog daily with a good quality brush to remove shed fur.  If your pet has long hair, consider a hair cut. Clear fur is less likely to mat so bathe your pet regularly. Excessive licking or scratching also causes mats so promptly treat the source of your pets itching. A strong, healthy coat begins with good nutrition.  If you do find a mat, eliminate it immediately before the situation becomes worse.

Remember, your pets count!

It’s funny, but it seems that my cats know when I’m distressed or not in a good mood. They also know when I’m in a good mood. When you’re in a bad mood, your dogs may hide but cats tend to get more clingy.  I have a friend who does not like cats , especially my older cat Mollie. For some reason, Mollie knows that my friend does not like her. She doesn’t come around  and stays away from my friend.  Dogs and humans have similar  social systems. We both have tight knit families, like to to socialize,  and have a complex  range of body posture, facial expressions and vocalizations that promote bonding. Cats, on the other hand  bond in a different way since that aren’t as social as dogs.. Cats watch us all day, studying our moves and emotions . Dogs  are watching as well and are better watchers than humans. They know when to run and hide or when to beg for a treat. Through our body language, our pets can read us like a book so don’t think that they’re not paying attention. When you’re happy, they know it and when you’re upset, you cannot hide it from them.

Remember, your pets count!

Dogs are born with many strong natural instincts including barking, digging and being very affectionate to humans. When is comes to swimming, most dogs fall into one of three categories.  Those that are natural swimmers. and love to be thrown into a swimming pool or lake, those that can be taught to swim and those who won’t go near the water. Water spaniels, golden retrievers, Irish setters, English setters, and the water-loving Newfoundland fall into the first category. They all are all excellent swimmers. This ability is probably genetic and also because they have strong limbs. Dogs that don’t know how to swim are the lovable breeds like bulldogs, dachshunds and boxers. Their short legs can’t keep them afloat. Small dogs such as the Maltese and Chihuahua are sometimes good swimmers, but may become easily chilled or frightened in the water, which can increase the risk of drowning.

Remember, your pets count!

Dogs like to have their own dog food bowls, but do you really need more  than one water bowl for more than one dog?  What about the germs in each dog’s mouth?  Just like humans, dogs have a lot of bacteria in their saliva. Lets not call them all germs because many bacteria serve a useful purpose. Bad bacteria usually gets zapped by acid in the dogs stomach when it swallows. Some diseases that dogs pass along are respiratory. Some are transmitted by fecal contaminants. Dogs with healthy immune systems can safely share one water bowl. Just make sure that you keep plenty of water around. Adult dogs are 60% water and it should stay that way.

Remember, your pets count!

All cats spends at least 85% of their time either sleeping of resting. Don’t you wish you had that much time to rest?  A young kitten will sleep pretty much all day and night.  It was thought that in the wild, a cat or kitten is safe when it’s asleep.  Cats frequently take a catnap or a light sleep.  When a cat takes a catnap, their bodies are not completely at rest. If they had to, they could get up and run  away quickly.  During the night, cats have two types of sleep. How soundly at cat sleeps depends on it’s age, diet and environment.  Older cats sleep more than young cats. My cat Mollie is 13 years old and sleeps a lot more than my younger cat, Millie. If a cat is over weight, they will spend more time sleeping. Cats can sleep deeply during the day. A cat in a deep sleep lies either flat or curled up. His total body is in a relaxed state.  Cats do dream and sometimes you’ll notice his face twitching.  Another sign of deep sleep is rapid eye movement.

Don’t worry about the fact that your cat is sleeping too much, it’s perfectly normal and part of his lifestyle.

Remember, your pets count!

In this extreme heat, your dog can get overheated easily. If you notice signs that your dog is overheated, take the follow steps right away:

• Remove your dog from the heat. Take him to an air conditioned house.
• Use a cool, damp cloth to moisten your dog’s face and paw pads.
• Immerse your dog in cool water. Wet all of his coat. Do this as soon as possible.
• Use a well regulated rectal thermometer and check your dog’s temperate every 5 minutes.
• You can move your dog safely when his temperature is 103 degrees or below.
• Towel dry him

Take him to the vet right away to check him further and make sure that he didn’t suffer from heat stroke.

Be careful with your pet in this hot weather.

Remember, your pets count!