Care to Your Dog!

Anyone who has ever started looking around for an animal to add to the family knows that getting a new pet can be very expensive, and it seems almost impossible to find a free pet. Many breeders ask for several hundred dollars, even for the smallest dogs or cats. Golden Retrievers are usually $700 to $800, Maine Coon cats can cost up to $900 or $1000, and rare exotic animals run much higher.

However, considering all of the pets in the world who are currently homeless, and are living in animal shelters without a loving family, it seems unreasonable and nonsensical to spend hundreds of dollars for a pet when there are so many who need to be saved.

While there are a number of animal rescue organizations and pet shelters around the country, there is only one resource which you should always start with, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Healthy Pets Aren’t Always Free

Before we examine why it’s best to start with the ASPCA, which does charge some fees for adopting and rescuing pets, it’s important to note that it is possible to find a free pet, if you are careful and follow a few important guidelines.

Searching through the classified ads in the newspaper or online classified ads like PetsAds or PetsClassifieds.us, you can locate listings for free pets that people are giving away. It’s critical to understand that most free pet ads are from people who are giving away their pets for the following reasons:

• They are moving to a place that doesn’t take pets.
• They can no longer afford to have a pet.
• They found a stray, but can’t keep it.

These are usually well-meaning people, but keep in mind that if they have a pet that they can no longer afford to keep, the pet may not be 100% healthy. If you do decide to take the classified ad route, just remember that most of the things that the fees pay for at the ASPCA, you will have to pay for anyway – including all shots, medical checkups and neutering.

It is perfectly okay to find free pets on your own, just remember that pets are never “free”. You will need to pay for the up-front (and continuing) health care for the rest of it’s life.

ASPCA and Pet Adoption

The ASPCA is a wonderful organization that helps to promote animal shelters and rescue organizations that take excellent care of animals across the country. At the ASPCA Website, you can adopt and save homeless animals in the following ways:

Find a Shelter

By clicking on the “Find a Shelter” link, you are taken to a search page where you can search for local animal shelters by city and state. The ASPCA doesn’t technically endorse the shelters listed by this utility, but it provides the search function to animal lovers who need a resource to find local shelters.

This is a very comprehensive National Shelter Directory, and it is a service to help families with lots of love to offer to connect with animals that need the love. Buying a pet from a local shelter is essentially like getting a free pet, because the fees to adopt a pet cover many of the upfront medical costs you were incur if you’d picked up the animal as a stray or free from a classified ad. Animal shelters take care of the upfront health concerns, so that when you adopt a pet from a shelter, you can be certain that the animal is healthy and well cared for.

In addition, many shelters offer a unique incentive for people to have their pets properly neutered by offering a discount or refund for the procedure with local vets.

ASPCA Adoption Center

The ASPCA Adoption Center provides listings of hundreds of cats and dogs who need a home. The main page of the adoption center explains everything you will need in order to adopt a pet. This is good to read even if you aren’t going to the ASPCA, because most shelters require the same information. Things you will need if planning to adopt a pet:

· Two forms of identification with your address on it (at least one picture ID)

· Two personal references who can be reached by phone

· Proof of vaccination for the pets that you already own.

· Proof of income

While this may seem excessive to some people, it’s important to understand that there are a lot of people out there who would not think twice about harming or being cruel to animals. The job of the ASPCA and all animal shelters across the country, is to protect animals from cruelty, and to make sure that animals are placed in homes where they have the best chances of being as loved and cared for as they deserve to be.

The benefits of adopting through the ASPCA (many animal shelters offer these same benefits):

• 14 days of free follow-up vet care
• A leash, collar, and pet carrier to help bring the animal home
• Educational literature about pet behavior and pet care
• Free spay/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and registration, all provided as part of the adoption fee.

Obviously, the only good option for finding a free pet is going through the ASPCA, or through a local animal shelter. This will ensure that you are getting a healthy pet, and you can feel good about doing your part to save an animal from a live without a home, and without love.

Support Animal Rescue Efforts With a Portrait

When you adopt your new pet, show people how much you love your new furry friend by having a pet portrait done by professional artist Nikky Hughes of Los Angeles. Nikky was classically trained at the Mission Renaissance art school, and she focuses on capturing not only the beauty, but the unique character of each animal. She will accept photos through the mail of pets, and then create stunning portraits from those pictures. Pet portraits are ideal because they can be done from a photo (as apposed to getting the pet to “pose” at a studio.)

The great thing about Nikky is that she’s a pet lover herself, and this is reflected in how she runs her business. Nikki donates 5% of every commission to an animal rescue foundation. This is a wonderful way that you can help to support the cause of animal rescue – and receiving a stunning portrait of your new pet in the process.

I don’t do a lot of my shopping at pet stores, but it’s not for the reason that you may think. Many people who avoid these types of stores do so because they cannot afford the higher prices for pet foods and other accessories. My problem is that I know I will buy too much. When I do bother to venture into a pet store, I always see at least 20 things I would like to buy for my cats. I suspect there are many people who are exactly like me, and this is why pet stores are so successful.

I do love to take my daughter into pet stores however. When we go inside I see her eyes light up with wonder. Many children feel this way about animals, and they will have a good time if you go into pet stores. The only problem with this is that my daughter wants to touch every thing and every animal that she sees. She has even gone as far as to try to put her hand in a fish tank. This was when I knew it was time to leave the store.

Pet stores to have an advantage over your average department or discount store. If you want something special for your pet, pet stores are the best places to get them. Not only will they have more items from which to choose, they will generally have items that you cannot find anywhere else.

Pet stores are also known to carry hard to find pet foods. There may be times in your pet’s life when they need a special diet, and you may have to go to pet stores to find these foods. Though it may cost you more than you wish to spend, your pets health will be worth it.

Some of my favorite things in pet stores are the really neat pet trees. No, these are not trees that are made out of pets, but rather furniture designed to allow your cats to climb high up in the air. Many cat owners don’t realize it, but cats love to be as high as they can be. They love to be up above everything else so that they can keep an eye on their territory.

When you go into pet stores you can find many of these trees available for purchase. Though there are some people who love to build these on their own, many people do not have the time to do so. You can find the very best of these in pet stores.

The next time you sip your morning coffee while watching your favorite pet feline methodically groom herself for the day, consider this: your pet cat might have been revered, even worshipped by Egyptians thousands of years ago. These ancient Egyptians were a technologically and intellectually advanced society for their time. What exactly about your pet would they find so worthy of adoration?

To better appreciate this race’s amazing allegiance to their four footed companions, one must have a modest understanding of history. The Egyptians wisely utilized the waters from the Nile River, and its surrounding fertile soil to grow a variety of crops. Those seasons when the crops failed, the economy suffered horribly, and thousands of people went without food. This ancient culture relied heavily upon the wild, or feral cats of their era to protect their prized grains and harvested crops from disease carrying rats and mice. With their long, graceful limbs, large eyes, and sleek form, these agile felines were perfectly suited to catch vermin. It is suggested that terrible plagues were avoided just from the cats keeping the local rat population in check.

While feral cats were doing their part to protect important Egyptian grains and produce (as well as the local economy), in their cities and villages, domesticated cats served another significant purpose. Household cats were bread for their abilities to protect their beloved owners from snakes, rats, and other harmful pests. Cats were known to risk their lives for their owners, attacking and killing venomous cobras to protect their families. They kept young children from harm, and roamed the houses at night, using teeth and sharpened claws to safeguard the premises.

The cleverness, resourcefulness, agility, and grace of the Egyptian’s domesticated cats inspired this ancient culture to associate them with the goddess Bast. Bast’s spirit was often personified in feline appearance, and was frequently seen in the form of statues, paintings, and sculptures of the period. At times Bast was depicted with the face and head of a feline. On other occasions she was portrayed as a wise, regal cat. Bast was eventually given her own beautiful temple so that pilgrims could travel to revere her spirit in her own place of worship. Inside this structure, the priests of Bast cared for the many temple cats that dwelled in the sanctity of this holy place. In time, the sacred practice of mummification was extended to cats, for their owners adored them, revered them, and wished to be with them even in the afterlife.

In modern times, cats are still of importance to society. As the ancient Egyptians correctly realized, there are many advantages to having cats in the household as well as in the community. Although most cats in modern society are not required to save their owners from deadly cobras, many have been known to (depending on the local climate) protect against rattlesnakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, and disease carrying rats and mice. Many farms, vineyards, and orchards continue to welcome cats for their ability to contain the local pest populations.

Scientists have spent vast sums of money trying to unlock the secrets of feline nocturnal vision. Cats’ nerves, reflexes, and musculoskeletal systems are presently being analyzed with the hope of making medical advancements that would be of benefit to humankind. Hundreds of years from today, we will still be learning about our feline companions, and benefiting from their presence in many ways.

Now would an ancient Egyptian have worshipped my pet cat? It’s quite possible. Would I worship my cat? Possibly, if she were able to reorganize my DVD collection, tidy up the kitchen, and organize my computer desk. I would definitely have to consider it.

Similar to leaving your child at home some may even have pets at home that are left alone when the owners go to work. Pets also need attention and love to be poured by someone. The only solution to get rid of this problem is to seek help from the pet daycare service. Keeping such things in mind there are pet day care centers organized by many people. They will feed, groom, train and play with them in the absence of the owners.

The pet day care is divided into two different categories: actual day care and boarding services. Boarding services are open to animals from horses to hamsters. Usually, the pets whose owners are away for a long time are taken care of. The duration varies widely from even overnight to a period of six months or even more. Such day cares are approached if there is a lack of space at home for large animals like horses and others. They are provided with toys, feeding dishes and sleeping space.

Unlike this there are even pets that are left alone only during the working hours of the owner. For such cases there pet day care centers that function for these kind of animals every day. The pets are left in these centers and are later picked up after their work. Usually they are mainly opened to small dogs and sometimes other animals. As usual feeding bowls, toys and bedding are provided by the organizers. At certain doggy day cares exclusively for dogs they are trained by staffs for better health management, safety and for good dog behavior.

Usually the puppies are taken care of separately away from the older ones. Puppies are given special attention providing them a separate area. They are given the basic training and are always kept active and playful. There is always time allotted for naps and play. Basically doggy day care centers have many features and the best day care suited to us can be chosen.

These days the current trend is day care for pet spas. The focus is basically on smaller animals. Here they are exercised, pampered and groomed in the similar manner as done to humans when they visit a spa. Their hair, teeth, nails and ears are taken care of and they are massaged, walked and played with. They have trained staffs to take over these tasks. These services are exclusively for small animals like ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and cats. Even overnight stays are provided along with boarding facilities. There are do-it-yourself centers where the owners have to train and groom their own pets to increase the bond between them. The spa provides the necessary space and also shampoo, grooming equipments, wash basin and nail clippers. They can serve the best for such animals.