Archive for the ‘Animal Rescue Groups’ Category
Pet-igrees
August 28, 2009 — by Ronald A. RoweAnimal Rescue Groups, Dogs, General Animals, Pet Adoption
What is the deal with pedigreed pets? I don't get it. Why are people willing to pay $800 for a dog? You can get one for free from the pound. And I can pretty much guarantee that the pound dog is going to be more loving and less high maintenance than the purebred.
Everyone I know who has some type of hoity-toity, fancy purebred pet has to go through a laborious care regimen that just doesn't exist with the real American mutt. My friend has to spray his English bulldog's jowls with a special solution to keep...
Dogs — Lost, Found, and Microchipped
August 7, 2009 — by Jane WangerskyAnimal Rescue Groups, Dogs, General Animals, Veterinarians
By now, you’ve likely heard of Muffy, the lost dog who was found a thousand miles from home, nine years after she disappeared. She had somehow migrated from Brisbane, Australia, to Melbourne, where she was reported to the RSPCA as neglected. The society found her in “a squalid backyard”. She had fleas, a matted coat, a bad skin condition – and a microchip implanted under her skin.
Muffy’s story has traveled much further than she ever did – and I don’t think it’s just because summer is a slow news season.
For one thing, many of us have had to... Animal Hoarding: Yes, You Can Have Too Many Pets
July 6, 2009 — by Jane WangerskyAnimal Rescue Groups, Cats, General Animals
This week, the Vancouver Sun ran an article about a man who turned out to have a hundred cats living in his barn. None were spayed or neutered, and many had upper respiratory infections. Stories like this are fairly common in the media, but not everyone is aware that this behavior has a name: animal hoarding.
Tufts University, which has sponsored research on animal hoarding, says it consists of:
1. Having more than the “typical” number of pets
2. Inability to care for them adequately
3. Denial that the situation is a problem.
The stereotypical image of an animal hoarder is a single woman...
Fostering Takes Love, Not Money
June 30, 2009 — by Jane WangerskyAnimal Rescue Groups, Fostering, General Animals, Pet Adoption
Maybe you’re not financially prepared to adopt a pet. But if that’s the only thing holding you back – if you have a love of animals, a sense of responsibility, enough room in your home, and enough time and energy -- maybe you’re ready to foster a pet.
As Kim Croom, Director of the Pet Foster Network, said in an interview with RedPlum: “[Fostering] doesn't cost the foster home anything at all. Most people just don't know that."
Fostering is giving a pet a temporary home as an alternative to an animal shelter. This can last anywhere...
Where to Find the Perfect Pet
November 18, 2008 — by Rosanne LorraineAnimal Rescue Groups, Baby Animals, Birds, Cats, Dogs, Pet Adoption
So, you’ve determined that you’re mature, responsible, and caring enough to have a pet. Now, the next question is where is the best place to find a pet?
If you want a low-maintenance pet, such as a fish, bird, rodent, or lizard, the local pet store is your best bet. Not all stores are created equally, though. You may want to look around to find out which stores care for their animals best. Avoid pet stores that look run-down and dirty. Chances are the animals they keep aren’t healthy. Look for a well-lit pet store that with a knowledgeable staff that...