Resources at Our Dog Rescue Centers for Animal Lovers
Financial Assistance for Veterinary Emergencies
The HSUS provides a directory of organizations providing financial assistance to individuals facing financial difficulties at any of their dog and animal rescue centers. These organizations help those who are having difficulty caring for their pets.
Having Trouble Affording Your Pet
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html
Having Trouble Affording Veterinary Care
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html
Learn about Vegetarianism
If you care deeply about animals, you may want to consider becoming a vegetarian. There are plenty of resources out there and many organizations that will help. Going vegetarian is one of the best things you can do to help the environment and animals like the ones at our animal adoption center.
Vegetarian Resource Group
Vegetarian recipes and nutrition information dedicated to educating the public on vegetarianism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, and ethics.
Dog Walking Tips
If you have are a novice to dog walking here are a few tips from our dog rescue centers to help ensure a nice time out for you and your pet.
Things you will need for your walk:
Leash 5-6 feet long
Flat dog collar
Pet ID tag
Pooper bags (3)
Water bottle for longer walks
Crushable water bowl
1. Have a leash that is not too long, approximately 5-6 feet in length. The retractable leash is not a good idea if you are just starting to train your dog on walking. It’s good for your dog to have boundaries on their walk, and makes it safer for you and others.
2. A flat collar is recommended for the comfort of your dog. You may have seen metal collars that have prongs protruding from them at a pet store, these are painful for your dog and does not create a positive experience for the walk.
3. Have your dog drink some water before the walk. This will help them from tiring too quickly or getting dehydrated. If you or going on a longer walk, it’s important to give your dog water at a break along the way, and once more when you return home.
4. Keep your dog somewhat close to you during the walk. You should have a nice firm grip on the leash but not so much that you are yanking the dog. The point of the walk is to be a fun experience for both of you, but dogs are happier when they feel like they are performing a job. The walk is their job. It’s okay for them to sniff a little, but not every few minutes. You can help deter them with a small quick pull up on the leash, followed by a firm “No”, and continue walking.
5. If your dog starts pulling on the leash and you find yourself being dragged down the street, the best way to combat this is to give a quick pull, say “No”, and stop. Hold your stop for a few seconds until you are sure you have your dog’s attention. They should be focused on you and not looking for other distractions. Once you have your dog’s attention you can resume the walk. If the pulling happens again, perform the same steps. Your dog will learn that pulling equals a stop and no further reward by walking if they misbehave.
6. Your dog will undoubtedly need to perform a bowel movement while on a walk. Actually a walk is an effective way to get your dogs bowels working. If this happens simply stop and wait until your dog is completely finished then use one of your pooper plastic bags to retrieve the poop. You just place your hand inside the plastic bag, grab the poop, and then turn the bag inside out. You can then tie the bag at the top in a knot securely. Most large pet stores carry a pet pouch just for storing poop during a walk. They usually have a Velcro tie at the top that can be attached to your leash during the walk until you can dispose of the filled bag, and are washable. There are also some that have plastic clip attachments. A nice one can be found at: http://www.portapoo.com
7. If you come across another dog during the walk, stay calm, and continue walking at a nice brisk pace. If you wish for your dog to interact with the other dog for socialization, only do so if your dog has a temperament that is non aggressive and allows for meeting other dogs. In this case you would stop your dog and wait for the other owner to approach. Never directly approach another dog without acceptance from that dog’s owner. Their dog may be aggressive, so it is always good to ask “Can he/she say Hi to your dog?” and “Is your dog aggressive?” Once this has been established the pets can meet, but keep a firm grip on the leash and watch closely for any signs of aggression on either animal’s part.
Tips for Removing Pet Dander
Having a pet can be quite a rewarding and companionable experience. Research has shown that having pets in our lives greatly reduce the amount of stress and anxiety in our home. If you are an allergy sufferer, this may make it a little more difficult for you. Here are some tips that will make things a little easier to breathe.
1. Shampoo your pet regularly. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of washing your pet on a regular weekly basis. Maybe every Sunday after a nice walk. Make the bath as relaxing for your pet as possible; they will soon look forward to their baths.
2. In between baths, you can pick up some pet wipes at the pet store. These are similar to baby wipes, and come in unscented and scented versions. Just simply use a few to wipe your pet down and it will remove some of the dander on your pets fur.
3. Try to play outside with your pet to so tha the dander stirred up during play is released into the air outside rather than in the home.
4.You may want to think about having your upholstery cleaned our shampooed professionally twice a year, or even on a quarterly basis.
5. Many vacuum cleaners now come with a HEPA filter. This type of filter traps the dander when vacuuming so that it is not released back into the air in your home.
6. Dander gets trapped in drapes, rugs and carpets. You will want to keep these clean a dust free on a regular basis.
7. When buying a pet bed, make sure that it has a zippered or detachable cover so that it can be removed and laundered on a regular basis.
8. When dusting, use a wet cloth rather than a dry one. The wet cloth will trap the dander, while a dry one will usually stir up the dust and release it back into the air.
9. You should change the air filter in your home at least every other month to ensure fresh air is circulated.
10. Bedding in the home should be washed often. You can also purchase coverings for your pillows and mattress like the ones we have at our dog and pet rescue centers that are resistant to pet dander and other particles.
